Arkansas and Auburn kicked off their SEC season on a sweltering Saturday in the Plains.
In the first quarter, Arkansas started with the ball but faced early setbacks, including a delay of game penalty. After a series of plays that resulted in a first down, the Razorbacks struggled to advance, culminating in a missed 41-yard field goal attempt. Auburn took over but quickly encountered their own difficulties, with Hank Brown’s interception ending their drive. Both teams failed to capitalize on their initial opportunities.
As the second quarter began, Arkansas managed to score their first touchdown with Ja’Quinden Jackson finding the end zone from one yard out, giving the Razorbacks a 7-0 lead. Auburn attempted to respond but fell short, resulting in a series of punts. Arkansas continued to struggle with ball control after a missed opportunity led to another drive stalled by a fumble recovery by Arkansas in the end zone.
The game continued with a tense back-and-forth, as Auburn made a quarterback change to Payton Thorne. Their offense briefly found momentum but was hampered by turnovers, including multiple interceptions. Auburn finally equalized in the third quarter with a touchdown pass from Thorne to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, bringing the game to 7-7.
Arkansas quickly regained the lead with another touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna, making the score 14-7. However, Auburn was unable to respond, leading to another interception and more difficulties for their offense.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, Arkansas extended their lead with a successful field goal, pushing the score to 17-7 with just over 12 minutes remaining. The game featured both teams battling for control but Arkansas’ defense maintained pressure on Auburn’s offense, leaving their opponent with minimal scoring chances.