After a disappointing loss to Liberty University last week, the Hogs will welcome the seventh-ranked LSU Tigers to Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium on Saturday. The Tigers will be riding an emotional high of having defeated Alabama last week and will be looking to close-out the season by winning the SEC West.
Arkansas was soundly defeated last week in every phase of the game, but perhaps the most surprising and disappointing aspect of the loss was the total domination of the Liberty defense against the Arkansas offensive line. In fact, there is just no other justification for the poor performance, other than, perhaps, lack of motivation or respect for the opponent. Whatever the reason, Arkansas will have no chance against the Tigers if the team repeats their performance from a week ago.
At the same time, the LSU Tigers, who started the season with a terrible loss to Florida State under new head coach Brian Kelly, have steadily improved and now have big wins against Alabama and Ole Miss so far in the season. The former Notre Dame head coach was under intense fire from the Tigers’ fan base earlier in the season, but, with what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for LSU has turned out to exceed even the most loyal Tigers fans’ expectations. LSU is in control of their destiny and can win the SEC West and possibly secure a berth in the college football national playoffs.
Here is a preview of Saturday’s game from notes provided by the University of Arkansas:
LSU TIGERS (7-2, 5-1 SEC)
AP/Coaches/CFP Poll: 7/8/7
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (Assumption, ‘83)
Career Record: 270-98-2 (33rd season)
Record at LSU: 7-2 (1st season)
• The Battle for the Golden Boot comes to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium this weekend. Arkansas, looking to hit the six-win mark for the second year in a row and become bowl eligible for the third straight season, hosts No. 7 LSU at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, on ESPN.
• The Razorbacks are the rightful owners of the Golden Boot after defeating the Tigers, 16-13 (OT), in Baton Rouge, La., last season. Arkansas is seeking back-to-back wins in the rivalry game for the first time since 2014 and 2015.
• With a win against LSU, Sam Pittman would become the fourth Arkansas head coach to earn bowl eligibility in each of their first three seasons, joining Lou Holtz (1977-79), Ken Hatfield (1984-86) and Houston Nutt (1998-00).
• QB KJ Jefferson does his damage both through the air and on the ground. Jefferson has completed 148-of-222 passes (66.7%) for 1,981 yards and 17 touchdowns with just three
interception while rushing for 425 yards and six scores in eight games. Despite missing one contest, Jefferson, who has eight career games with both a passing and rushing touchdown, is the only SEC quarterback with 15+ passing touchdowns and 5+ rushing scores this season.
• RB Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders is the Hogs’ leading rusher through nine games, totaling 1,101 yards on 173 carries (6.4 avg.) with seven scores on the ground. Sanders, who leads the SEC in both rushing yards (1,101) and rushing yards per game (122.3), only needed eight games this season to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark, matching RB Madre Hill’s program record of eight games set in 1995.
• WR Jadon Haselwood leads Arkansas with a team-high 44 catches for 553 yards (12.6 avg.) and three touchdowns through nine games. A transfer from Oklahoma, Haselwood has caught three or more passes in each of his first nine games as a Hog and has tallied at least one reception in 25
consecutive games played dating back to the 2019 season.
• LB Drew Sanders has emerged as one of the top defensive playmakers in college football, racking up 74 total tackles with a team-leading 11.0 tackles for loss and a team-high 7.5 sacks through nine games. His 7.5 sacks are the most by a Hog since DE Deatrich Wise Jr. totaled 8.0 sacks in 2015, which is tied for 10th most in a season in school history. Sanders, who has also forced an SEC-best three fumbles, leads the SEC in sacks, sitting a half-sack ahead of Auburn DE Derick Hall (7.0) and Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr. (7.0).
So, Razorbacks fans, which team will show-up on Saturday? That remains a mystery, but I do expect Arkansas to show more enthusiasm this week than they did against Liberty. And it will take that and much more to defeat a very good LSU team. Arkansas may have an advantage of a possible emotional let-down by LSU after the one point victory over Alabama in Baton Rouge. Tigers coach Brian Kelly has referred to the Arkansas game as a possible “trap game” for that very reason.
Kickoff is at 11 am. Saturday on ESPN as the five win Arkansas team will attempt to become bowl eligible with a sixth win of the season over LSU.
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.
