Arkansas and Auburn kicked off their SEC play on a sweltering Saturday in Auburn.
In the first quarter, Arkansas began with possession but faced a delay of game penalty. After an incomplete pass, the Razorbacks managed to get a first down before seeing their field goal attempt from 41 yards blocked. Auburn took over but also struggled initially, resulting in both teams failing to score during their first possessions.
As the second quarter commenced, Arkansas pressed forward, and Ja’Quinden Jackson surged into the end zone from a yard out, giving the Razorbacks a 7-0 lead. Auburn then attempted to respond with its own offensive series, but a fumble in the end zone proved costly, allowing Arkansas to recover.
By halftime, the score remained 7-0 in favor of Arkansas after a series of turnovers plagued Auburn, including three interceptions thrown by quarterback Hank Brown, marking a challenging half for the Tigers.
Coming out of halftime, Auburn switched to Payton Thorne at quarterback, who managed to lead a scoring drive capped off with a touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, leveling the game at 7-7. However, Arkansas quickly answered with a touchdown of their own from Green to Isaiah Sategna, reclaiming the lead at 14-7.
As the game progressed into the fourth quarter, Arkansas extended its lead with a successful 43-yard field goal by Green, pushing the score to 17-7 with just over 12 minutes remaining. The Razorbacks’ defense continued to stifle Auburn’s attempts to rally, solidifying their position as the game cycled towards its conclusion.