:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40266444/456221000.0.jpg)
Kenny Hill struggled at times, but with Johnny Manziel on the sidelines, Hill led a Manziel-esque late comeback to force overtime as Texas A&M beat Arkansas, 35-28, in overtime.
The preseason narrative of these being the two worst teams in the SEC West could still prove to be true, but Arkansas looks to be significantly improved over 2013 and the Aggies are not suffering nearly the drop-off many predicted. While both teams have flaws, so does the remainder of the teams of the West. But the division has proven itself over the first five weeks of the season to be the best in college football, and both of these teams will still be a factor in who wins it.
Up by a touchdown with five and a half minutes left in the game, Arkansas looked to be running out the clock after runs of 12, 17 and 17 yards. A Brandon Allen fumbled snap stopped the Razorbacks momentum, and the series ended with a missed 44-yard field goal by John Henson. That was just the opportunity Texas A&M needed.
Hill hit Ricky Seals-Jones for a 14-yard pass, then connected with Josh Reynolds for a 59-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28 with two minutes remaining.
Hill opened overtime with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Malcome Kennedy on the first play to take their first lead since being up 7-0 early. A&M's defense stopped Alex Collins on a fourth-and-one to end the game. The loss was Arkansas' first in five games at AT&T Stadium and continued Arkansas' 14-game SEC losing streak.
For three quarters, Arkansas looked like they would snap that streak. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Razorbacks held a 28-14 lead and Arkansas' running game looked to be controlling the flow of the game. Through halftime, Arkansas' rush game had 194 yards and the Razorback defense held Hill to under 100 yards on 10-of-22 passing. Hill would come alive during the second half to finish with 386 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Arkansas' offensive front found big holes in the A&M defensive front on several occasions, and Collins finished with 132 yards on 21 carries; Jonathan Williams added 95 yards. With Mississippi State's power running game coming next week for the Aggies, the Bulldogs will surely look to have similar success against the Texas A&M defense.