The Arkansas Razorbacks maintained their winning record with a hard-fought comeback victory over the UAB Blazers, edging them 37-27 in what proved to be a nerve-wracking home opener. While the win may look straightforward on paper, it was anything but easy for Sam Pittman’s squad, as they flirted with disaster throughout much of the game.
“It was one of those games where it felt like we never really found our rhythm,” head coach Sam Pittman admitted after the win. “But what we did well was run the football, and we executed on critical third-and-ones and fourth-and-twos.”
The Razorbacks’ struggles were evident late into the fourth quarter when UAB lingered within striking distance, trailing by just three points with 3:36 remaining. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green, who endured a tough day passing, managed to seal the game on a pivotal third-and-goal from the 9-yard line. After nearly fumbling the snap on the previous play, Green composed himself and used his legs to ice the game, avoiding what could have been a devastating loss.
Not a problem, still six pic.twitter.com/7Z40n2BvMB
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 14, 2024
Green’s day through the air was far from ideal. He was intercepted on Arkansas’ opening drive by UAB’s Michael Moore, setting the tone for a difficult afternoon. Green finished with a dismal 11-of-26 passing for just 161 yards, unable to find any real rhythm. Despite the passing struggles, Arkansas leaned heavily on its ground game to carry the load.
Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was the star of the night, rushing for 147 yards on only 15 carries, marking his third consecutive game with over 100 yards. With 397 rushing yards through three games, Jackson is only 50 yards shy of surpassing the Razorbacks’ leading rusher from last season, KJ Jefferson, who totaled 447 yards.
“I was telling them to give me the ball,” Jackson said. “It was working. Every time, it was working.”
Meanwhile, UAB quarterback Jacob Zeno kept the Blazers in the game by carving up Arkansas’ defense in the first half, utilizing short and intermediate throws to methodically march down the field. The Blazers stunned the 75,021 fans in attendance, the eighth-largest crowd in Razorback Stadium history and the largest for a non-conference game since 2006.
“We knew what we put on in the first half wasn’t our standard,” Arkansas linebacker Stephen Dix said. “When we came in at halftime, regardless of the score, we knew we had to address the standard of play.”
Arkansas’ offensive performance was also bolstered by wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, who hauled in eight passes for 137 yards. He was the only reliable receiving target for the Razorbacks, particularly in the first half when no other wideout recorded a catch.
Kicker Kyle Ramsey bounced back from an earlier missed field goal, hitting a 51-yarder just before halftime and later converting a crucial 40-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Ramsey’s kick gave Arkansas a two-possession cushion, which was critical in the final minutes of the game.
However, the Razorbacks’ struggles with tackling, which had haunted them in the first half, returned late in the game. UAB’s tight end Dallas Payne broke multiple tackles on a 21-yard touchdown reception from Zeno, capping a 12-play, 83-yard drive that brought the Blazers back within striking distance.
As Arkansas turns its attention to SEC play, they will need to clean up their mistakes. The Razorbacks face a tough test on the road next Saturday against Auburn, with kickoff scheduled for either 2:30 p.m. or 3:15 p.m., though the TV network has yet to be announced.
While Arkansas emerged victorious, the near-disaster against UAB serves as a reminder that no win in college football comes easy, especially with the SEC slate looming large.
