Top 5 Overtime Games for the Arkansas Razorbacks
By Matt Jenkins
#1 Overtime Game with the Razorbacks in the New Millennium
Arkansas @ #1 LSU (2007), 3 Overtimes, Razorbacks win 50-48
Ole Houston Dale Nutt. In 2007, rumors ran rampant about this being Nutt’s last year as the Razorbacks head coach. While it wasn’t official heading into the LSU game, most people believed it was coming soon. Like it or not, he’s one of the most successful coaches to grace the Arkansas sidelines. He recorded 75-48 record as the Razorbacks head coach, including 3 SEC West division championships. Nutt was also a master motivator, and gave the Razorbacks confidence when they needed it most.
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So what is a better way to go out as Razorbacks head coach than to beat the #1 team in the country… on national television… in their house… and ruin their national championship hopes? Yes, LSU STILL made (and won) the BCS Championship game despite having two losses. But for a while, the Hogs had played ultimate spoiler, and you can’t take that away from us!
Darren McFadden, arguably the greatest running back in Arkansas history, rushed for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass. Peyton Hillis bullrushed for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns and had 5 receptions for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns. Casey Dick would add 94 yards and 1 touchdown at the QB position.
After a back and forth game, McFadden hopped in the wildcat formation and threw a 24 yard strike to Peyton Hillis and gave the Razorbacks a 28-21 lead with 5 minutes left to play in the game. LSU scored in the last minute of regulation, tying the ball game at 28-28 and sending it to overtime.
During the first two overtimes, Arkansas and LSU traded touchdowns and extra points, and sent the game to a third overtime, where teams are forced to go for the two-point conversion.
Peyton Hillis gave the Razorbacks the lead after a 3 yard touchdown, and Felix Jones converted the two-point conversion, and gave the Razorbacks the 50-42 lead. LSU responded with a Matt Flynn touchdown pass, but the Razorbacks deflected the two point conversion pass and got the shocking win. WOW!
I can remember watching that game on Thanksgiving, and I have never heard a more excited family than mine on that day. In the back of my mind, I knew that Houston Nutt was done. If there’s a better for a coach to finish his tenure as a head coach, please tell me because you cant script a last game any better for Houston Nutt.
And then Bobby Petrino happened…you could probably script a better ending than that.
I hope you have enjoyed my stroll down memory lane, with the top 5 overtime games the Razorbacks have been apart of since the new millennium. Do you agree with my selections? Did I miss one? Did I rank some too low or too high? Let us know in the comments!
Woo Pig.