Arkansas claims sole ownership of Texas, upset Texas A&M 20-10

WOO PIG BABY! Arkansas is the real deal. Arkansas enforced their will from whistle to whistle, dominating Texas A&M in the trenches all game long. Despite missing their star quarterback, KJ Jefferson, for the entire third quarter, the Razorbacks defense answered the call and shut down backup quarterback Zach Calzada and the Aggies offense, leading to a statement conference victory over a top 10 team, their first Top 10 win since 2016. This also marks the first time since 1988 that Arkansas has beaten both Texas and Texas A&M in the same season. Time to get Sam Pittman Rob’s hat.

Before getting hurt, KJ Jefferson was having his way with Texas A&M. Arkansas was dominating at half, and Jefferson was throwing the best he has all season. He was 6/11 for 202 yards with a pair of long touchdowns. The first came on an 85-yard touchdown bomb to Treylon Burks.

Burks had a phenomenal game, hauling in six of the team’s nine completions for 167 yards and that touchdown. Jefferson’s second TD of the game came on a wheel route he flipped out to AJ Green, and Green did all the work from there.

These two touchdowns helped catapult Arkansas to a 17-3 halftime lead.

Arkansas continued to roll into the second half until an apparent knee injury knocked KJ Jefferson out of the game for the entire third quarter. Backup Malik Hornsby came in and Arkansas’ offense stagnated, scoring just three points without Jefferson, and that short drive was set up by the game’s lone turnover, this beautiful interception by Montaric Brown.

As for Texas A&M, their offensive struggles were more than pronounced in this one. Their lone touchdown came on their lone big play, a 67-yard touchdown run from Isaiah Spiller.

This closed the game to 17-10, but A&M couldn’t continue any momentum after the touchdown. Zach Calzada definitely struggled, but it would be foolish to blame his inexperience for A&M’s offensive struggles. A&M’s offensive line got bullied all game. Arkansas tallied three sacks, nine tackles-for-loss, and totaled eight more pressures on the young QB. This brings us to today’s player of the game.

Player of the Game: Tre’ Williams

Missouri transfer Tre’ Williams was a monster, wrecking A&M’s line habitually. The fifth-year senior sacked Calzada twice and was a force in the running game as well.

His draft stock certainly climbed today as well. A dominant performance from the Razorbacks’ best pass rusher.

For Arkansas, no matter where this season goes from here, this picture will forever exist.

You can’t ask for a better start to a season if you’re Arkansas, and it’s a game to forget if you’re the Aggies. The Hogs could find themselves within the AP Top 10 soon as they head to Athens to take on second-ranked Georgia. As for Texas A&M, they will look to right the ship without Haynes King as they head home to take on Mississippi State.