TUSCALOOSA, AL- After a shaky start with an early season loss to Texas followed by a lackluster win at South Florida, the Alabama Crimson Tide has returned to its roots of running the football with its physical running game. Quarterback Jaylen Milroe seems to be settling in as the Tide’s starting quarterback after having a big game last week at Texas A&M.
The Hogs will return to the road for a fourth consecutive week that has seen them lose at home vs BYU and then followed by three losses on the road to the Aggies, LSU, and Ole Miss. Turning that streak around this weekend at Alabama will be a tall task for the Razorbacks.
Here are some pregame notes for this weekend’s game at Tuscaloosa as provided by the University of Arkansas:
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (2-4, 0-3 SEC)
AP/Coaches: NR/NR
Head Coach: Sam Pittman (Pittsburg State, ‘86)
Career Record: 21-21 (4th season)
Record at Arkansas: Same
• Arkansas, on the road for the fourth consecutive week, will look to snap its four-game losing streak when it goes up against SEC Western Division leader Alabama. Kickoff between the Razorbacks and the nationally ranked Crimson Tide is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, on ESPN.
• The Hogs’ Road trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., is their fourth consecutive SEC game away from the friendly confines of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. This season marks the first time since 1925 that Arkansas is playing each of its first four conference games away from home.
• Arkansas, seeking its first win in Tuscaloosa since 2003, has lost 15 consecutive games against Alabama dating back to the 2007 season. The Razorbacks are 8-25 all-time against the Crimson Tide, picking up four of those eight wins on the road in Tuscaloosa (1993, 1995, 1997, 2003).
• QB KJ Jefferson has completed 110-of-1164 passes (67.1%) for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns while also rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown through six games this season. Jefferson, who has thrown for at least one touchdown in each of his last 17 games under center, ranks first on Arkansas’ career touchdown responsibility list with 80 (60 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns).
• RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who missed three games earlier this season due to injury, entered the year as a preseason All-American and has rushed for 91 yards and two scores on 34 carries (2.7 ypc) in three games played. Sanders has also been a viable option in the Razorbacks’
receiving game with seven catches for 58 yards (8.3 avg).
• WR Andrew Armstrong has quickly emerged as QB KJ Jefferson’s go-to receiver, leading the Razorbacks with 35 receptions for 437 yards and four touchdowns through six games this season. The Texas A&M-Commerce transfer, who is in his first year at Arkansas, has recorded at least one
catch in 22 consecutive games dating back to 2021.
• LB Jaheim Thomas is the Razorbacks’ leading tackler through the first five games of the 2023 campaign, racking up 59 total stops with six tackles for loss, including three sacks. The transfer from Cincinnati has a team-leading four double-digit tackle efforts this season and has recorded
five double-digit tackle games in his career.
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.
