Arkansas Razorbacks 49, Texas Tech Red Raiders 28: Hogs Run Away

In an impressive display of old school power running, Arkansas blew away Texas Tech 49-28. It's Bret Bielema's first win over a Power 5 team as head coach, after losing ten straight, and the program's first since defeating Kansas State in the 2012 Cotton Bowl.

It looked like this game was going to be a high scoring shootout in the first half. Neither team looked all that interested in tackling. There were only three combined punts before the half, although Arkansas turned it over once and TTU three times. It was all of the fun contrast we were sold between Arkansas's old-school ground game and Texas Tech's new age Air Raid. The Hogs went into the half up 28-21, and we all braced for more of the same afterwards.

A funny thing happened in the second half, though. Arkansas's big guys up front just flat wore out the Red Raiders, controlling the game entirely. The Razorbacks ran 23 plays, 21 of them being runs, and though TTU scored a touchdown, they had the ball just 2:15 in the entire period. Arkansas scored again early in the fourth quarter, and just a couple of minutes later, Alex Collins housed it from 84 yards out to seal the win.

Arkansas rolled up 438 yards rushing, with Collins getting 211 and two TDs and Jonathan Williams getting 146 yards and four TDs. The defense held the Red Raiders to just 5.6 yards per pass and 4.6 yards per run.

The Hogs still face a brutal SEC schedule with the West division looking good and Georgia and Missouri coming from the East. Still, a performance like today's suggests they might break their SEC losing streak this year and possibly sneak into a bowl. Better bring your ibuprofen when facing this team.