STILLWATER, Okla. — To pull off an upset in the Arkansas vs Oklahoma State matchup, the Razorbacks will have to be on their A-game Saturday.
That doesn’t necessarily mean resorting to trickery, although that might help, but it would help if they dial up some stuff they held back against UAPB for their 11 a.m. CT kickoff against the Cowboys, which will also be televised on ABC.
Luckily for Arkansas, it has one of the best offensive minds in the country calling plays in Bobby Petrino. He’ll almost certainly have a wrinkle up his sleeve at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Tight end Luke Hasz revealed one possibility during an interview on 103.7 The Buzz this week.
“In practice all week, every week in general, we do a bunch of two tight ends,” Hasz said. “Sometimes we do three tight ends, but we rotate a lot. We have a bunch of really good guys in the tight end room, so it’s really important for us to utilize everyone in the room.”
The three-tight end look — which is usually in 13-personnel, with one running back, three tight ends and one receiver — is something Arkansas has worked in fall camp, but didn’t deploy against UAPB.
It did, however, use several two-tight end formations. According to FayetteVillains, the Razorbacks ran eight plays in those sets and they gained a whopping 115 yards — one of which was Taylen Green’s beautiful touchdown pass to Ty Washington.
Even for a game in which they racked up 687 total yards against a terrible FCS team, that is impressive production. That’s an average of 14.4 yards per play, compared to 9.2 yards on all other plays.
The idea of using three tight ends is intriguing for Arkansas because it actually has several really good players at the position. Hasz is obviously the headliner, but Ty Washington and Var’keyes Gumms are also pass-catching threats and Andreas Paaske could be used as a blocker.
Any combination of those guys might prove fruitful for the Razorbacks against a veteran Oklahoma State defense that showed some holes against FCS powerhouse South Dakota State in Week 1.
Follow along below for updates from the Arkansas vs Oklahoma State game…
LIVE UPDATES — Arkansas vs Oklahoma State
Pregame Tidbits
The team captains for Arkansas are linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr., tight end Luke Hasz, safety Jayden Johnson and offensive lineman Joshua Braun.
Former Arkansas basketball star Devo Davis, who played four seasons with the Razorbacks before transferring to Oklahoma State this offseason, is here:
Arkansas WR Andrew Armstrong is dressed out for today’s game at Oklahoma State. He missed the opener with a lingering hamstring injury that also limited him in fall camp.
Arkansas won the coin toss, but – unlike last week – deferred to the second half. OSU will receive the game’s opening kickoff.
5:52, 1Q – Arkansas 7, Oklahoma State 0
An excellent punt by Devin Bale (and coverage by Tyrone Broden) followed by a 3-and-out forced by the Arkansas defense, the Razorbacks had great field position and made the most of it. They covered 45 yards on six plays, with Ja’Quinden Jackson scoring on a 5-yard run. Taylen Green is hurting the Cowboys with his legs, already with 42 yards on four carries.
1:31, 1Q – Arkansas 14, Oklahoma State 0
The Razorbacks drove 83 yards for another touchdown, capped by yet another 5-yard run by Jackson. Green had another long run to set up the score.
END of 1Q – Arkansas 14, Oklahoma State 0
8:50, 2Q – Arkansas 14, Oklahoma State 7
Arkansas was marching down the field with a chance to add to its lead, but on third down, Collin Oliver hit Green as he threw and it turned into a pick-six. Kale Smith intercepted it and returned it 73 yards. The play should have never happened, too, because Tyrone Broden let a touchdown go through his hands two plays earlier.
5:05, 2Q – Arkansas 21, Oklahoma State 7
The Razorbacks responded with a 7-play, 75-yard drive. It required having a fumble overturned, but they made the most of it. Jackson capped it with an 11-yard run for his third touchdown of the day.
HALF – Arkansas 21, Oklahoma State 7
The Razorbacks out-gained the Cowboys 351-77. Taylen Green was 13 of 20 for 193 yards and one interception, plus added 68 yards on 10 carries. Ja’Quinden Jackson had a huge half, running for 90 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries and adding another 13 yards on a reception.
Defensively, Arkansas held Ollie Gordon II to 11 yards on six carries.
6:45, 3Q – Arkansas 21, Oklahoma State 10
It looked like the Cowboys had a touchdown, but a blocking below the waist penalty wiped it out. Instead, Oklahoma State went backwards and had to settle for a 45-yard field goal. It’s the first points Arkansas’ defense has allowed.
0:39, 3Q – Arkansas 21, Oklahoma State 13
After a turnover by its offense, Arkansas’ defense did a nice job of holding the Cowboys to another field goal. It was a 35-yard kick by Ward.
END of 3Q – Arkansas 21, Oklahoma State 13
9:37, 4Q – Arkansas 21, Oklahoma State 21
Two plays after recovering a muffed punt, Oklahoma State scored a touchdown, a 7-yard strike from Bowman to Presley, and then converted a 2-point try to tie it up.
5:13, 4Q – Oklahoma State 28, Arkansas 21
The Razorbacks came up short on fourth down and Oklahoma State marked 80 yards down the field to take the lead. The score came on a 3-yard run by Brennan Presley.
4:01, 4Q – Oklahoma State 28, Arkansas 28
Luke Hasz’s first reception of the game is a 43-yard catch and run for a touchdown to tie it up again.
0:55, 4Q – Oklahoma State 31, Arkansas 28
Ward’s 38-yard field goal gives Oklahoma State the lead with less than a minute remaining.
0:00, 4Q – Oklahoma State 31, Arkansas 31
Despite some questionable time management, the Razorbacks managed to tie it up with a 45-yard field goal by Kyle Ramsey as time expired.
END of 4Q – Oklahoma State 31, Arkansas 31
OT2 – Oklahoma State 39, Arkansas 31
After a dumb penalty by Xavian Sorey Jr., Oklahoma State scores on a 12-yard run by Gordon. Gordon also caught the 2-point conversion.
How to Watch Arkansas vs Oklahoma State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium (Stillwater, Okla.)
Kickoff time (TV): 11 a.m. CT (ABC/ESPN+)
Commentators: Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter)
ESPN FPI: Oklahoma State has a 55.8% chance to win.
Odds/Betting Line: Oklahoma State, -9.5 | O/U 61.5 (BetSaracen)
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