Key No. 3. The defense has to step up and play like they did against Texas and Texas A&M for Arkansas football to win
The Hogs held Texas to their lowest point total of the season (21) when they upset them earlier in the season. They did the same thing against Texas A&M, holding them to 10 points, tied for their fewest of the season.
That stellar defense was worn down in back-to-back games against Georgia and Ole Miss, giving up a total of
Put another way, the Hogs need to force Auburn into one of their worst offensive performances of the season. A big part of that starts with shutting down the run game and forcing the Tigers to rely an an unreliable arm from QB Bo Nix. The junior quarterback had a game earlier this season in which he only completed 48% of his passes. Nix has just 6 touchdown passes on the season.
Auburn has two players who have rushed for 400+ yards this season: Jarquez Hunter and Tank Bigsby. Three of the top five SEC leaders in total tackles all play for Arkansas: Grant Morgan, Bumper Pool and Hudson Henry. They’ll have their hands full as they stack the box to make life difficult for Auburn’s rushing attack.
Coach Sam Pittman said it’s going to take a group of guys to stop the Tigers’ run game, especially to bring down the incredibly strong Bigsby.
“We’re going to have to gang tackle him, is what we’re going to have to do,” Pittman said in comments captured by the Montgomery Advertiser. He added, “we’re going to have to get a lot of guys around him and help each other get him on the ground, because is that special of a player.”