FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It's the final Saturday of the season for Fayetteville, Arkansas, with the Razorbacks hosting Lousisiana Tech to close out their home slate. Entering the game, the Hogs sit at 5-5, needing to win at least one of their final two games to reach bowl eligibility.
Underperforming in home non-conference games is nothing new in the Sam Pittman era so the start to this game might've not surprised some fans.
Five minutes into the game on Arkansas's second offensive possession of the game, Taylen Green overthrew his intended receiver and was picked off by Louisiana Tech's Jacob Fields.
Thankfully for the Hog offense, their defense bailed them out with a stop helped out by a missed 43-yard field goal by the Bulldogs.
Neither team put up much offense in the first quarter -- just two first downs for each team.
To start the second quarter, the Arkansas offense showed promise on a pass to Andrew Armstrong. But right before hitting the ground, a Bulldogs defender punches the ball free. It was the second turnover of the game for the Hogs but yet again the Razorback defense held their own sending the ball back to the offense.
Finally, on their sixth possession of the game, Taylen Green and the offense got going. The Hogs marched 80 yards down the field capped off by an 11 yard touchdown pass from Green to Isaac TeSlaa with 5:49 left in the second quarter.
After the Hogs defense stifled the Bulldogs offense on the next possession, the offense got the ball right back and went back to work. Just when the drive appeared to stall with a 4th and 3, Taylen Green took off, scampering for a 41-yard touchdown.
The Arkansas defense continued to hold strong, and this game went into halftime at 14-0 Arkansas.
The second half started with much of the same, a the Arkansas defense forcing a punt and a turnover on downs. On their second drive of the second half, the offense found themselves again, to the tune of a second Green to TeSlaa touchdown catch and a 21-0 lead.
Of course, nothing can come to easy. Arkansas appeared to have an interception ion the end zone, but it as negated by a roughing the passer call, and Louisiana Tech took advantage of the break, cashing in a few plays later to make it 21-7.
Arkansas would finish the third quarter driving, and start it scoring, another Green rushing touchdown 30 seconds into the final frame to bring the score to 28-7.
The Bulldogs wouldn't go away quietly, but ultimately, Arkansas held on for a 35-14 win. The Hogs move to 6-5 on the season, officially bowl eligible for the first time since 2022. They will close out the regular season with a trip to Missouri next Saturday.