Arkansas’ heartbreaking 32-31 loss to Memphis on the road in Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium was another hard game to watch for Razorback Nation. Not only was this another one-possession game that slipped through the Hogs' hands, but it was deja vu from last week’s defeat at Ole Miss. However, there are still some good aspects that we can take away from this game.
Arkansas football vs Memphis: 3 things I liked and 3 I didn't
I liked Braylen Russell’s performance.
RB Braylen Russell probably had his best game so far this season. Though he only ran the ball four times, he had 47 yards on the ground for an average of 11.8 yards per carry, along with a 16-yard touchdown he scored with 12:37 to go in the second quarter to give Arkansas a 14-10 lead. Even though Mike Washington Jr. is RB1, Russell is looking like the tailback the Hogs were hoping to see. The Benton, Ark., native has scored a touchdown in three straight games and has the possibility of really breaking out in his sophomore season.
I disliked that the defense is still suffering.
The defense is still a problem. Not only did they give up 489 yards for an average of 6.8 yards per play, but they also allowed Memphis to go 6-for-13 on third-down conversions. 290 of the Tigers’ total yards came on the ground for an average of 7.1 yards per carry.
The Hogs forced two turnovers, one in each half. The first came with 2:29 remaining in the first half when Memphis decided to run a trick play on the first play of the drive while down, 21-10. QB Brendon Lewis threw a backwards pass to WR CJ Smith, who threw it deep on the right side of the field. The pass was short and off the intended receiver, and DB Miguel Mitchell hauled it in at the Arkansas 48-yard line to put the Hogs right back on offense.
The second interception came right after the Razorbacks turned over the ball on an interception of their own with 13:55 left in the fourth quarter while clinging to a 31-26 lead. Memphis opened up the drive on its own 19-yard line with Lewis running for a three-yard gain and an eight-yard gain. RB Sutton Smith ran the ball for an 11-yard gain to put the Tigers at their own 41. On the next play, Lewis threw a deep pass to the right side of the field, but it was intercepted by DB Julian Neal. Neal returned the ball for 19 yards to the Arkansas 27-yard line to keep the Hogs ahead.
Arkansas has allowed 73 points over the last two games. The defense is in need of a midseason makeover, with the Razorbacks’ next games looking tougher than the last. Arkansas needs to make stops on defense, whether it is turnovers or stopping a team on third down.
I liked how strong the offense looked in the first half.
The Hogs were firing on all cylinders in the first half and have scored at least 28 points in the first half in all four of their games. 21 of those first-half points came in the second quarter. QB Taylen Green was making some big plays through the air and on the run. He did have an interception with 6:22 left in the first quarter that led to a touchdown to give Memphis a 10-7 lead, but he came back on the next drive by leading the Razorbacks to a score on six plays for 77 yards. The drive was capped off with Russell’s 16-yard touchdown run.
Arkansas had a 28-10 lead at one point with 1:35 left in the first half, but Memphis struck with a late score to cut the lead to 11, 28-17. The offense was not always looking great throughout the game. Which leads me to…
I disliked how Arkansas only scored three points in the second half.
The Razorbacks’ performance on offense in the second half was a completely different story from the first half.
The only time Arkansas scored in the second half came in the third quarter when Scott Starzyk nailed a 46-yard field goal with 4:16 remaining to put the Hogs back up by 11, 31-20. The Razorbacks could not find the end zone throughout the rest of the game, despite having several plays that went for 10 yards or more.
With the defense being inconsistent, the Arkansas offense is going to have to be more reliable in bailing the team out this season. The Razorbacks may have had 500 total yards on the day, but it is the point on the scoreboard that is the most important thing.
I liked how Rohan Jones looks like a versatile player.
TE Rohan Jones did quite a bit on the field on Saturday afternoon. His first catch of the day went for a 62-yard touchdown on the third play of the game with 13:50 left in the opening quarter to give Arkansas an early 7-0 lead. He would later score again with 7:41 left in the second quarter. On 1st & Goal at the five-yard line, the Hogs ran a TE sweep to Jones, who ran to the left side and forced his way into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. Along with his two scores, Jones finished the day with two catches and a team-high 102 receiving yards.
Jones is looking like a guy who can do it all for the Razorback offense. Not only is he making catches as a receiver and throwing blocks as a tight end, but he is also getting involved in the run game. The Montana State transfer is going to be another weapon for the Hogs with an already impressive wideout room.
Rohan's got wheels 💨 pic.twitter.com/WMhQqcR68b
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 20, 2025
I disliked how Arkansas lost on a fumble... again.
Now for the biggest point. Arkansas lost almost the same exact way it did last week at Ole Miss.
After Smith's huge 64-yard rushing touchdown put Memphis on top, 32-31, with 4:51 left in the game, the Hogs were looking to put together a game-winning drive on offense. On 2nd & 10, Washington ran for 17 yards for a first down, and Green connected with a seven-yard pass to WR O’Mega Blake to get the Razorbacks to their own 49. Washington was given the ball again and ran for a 12-yard gain to get Arkansas in enemy territory at the 39. Green completed a pass to Washington for a 10-yard gain, and Washington ran the ball once again for a nine-yard gain to the 20 to set up 2nd & 1.
Arkansas was hit with a five-yard penalty for an illegal substitution, but Washington kept the wheels turning with an eight-yard run to the 17 and another eight-yard run to the nine-yard line. On 2nd & 2, Washington was fed the ball up the middle and was ruled down at the seven to set up 1st & Goal, but the Memphis defense jarred the ball loose and recovered it. After review, the call was overturned, and the Tigers had the ball with 1:18 left in the game.
RB Sutton Smith was dropped for a two-yard loss, and QB Brendon Lewis ran for a four-yard gain, forcing Arkansas to burn two of its three timeouts. Lewis’ helmet had come off, and he had to sit out for a play, making Memphis have to put in backup QB Arrington Maiden. Maiden ran the ball up the middle and was met by the defensive line. He forced his way through while being pulled by 389-pound DL Ian Geffard. Maiden got the first down on an 11-yard carry to ice the game for the Tigers.
The Razorbacks lost a heartbreaker last Saturday at Ole Miss due to a late fumble by WR Jalen Brown with 1:52 left on the Hogs’ final drive of the game. The Rebels went on to force Arkansas to burn all of its timeouts and sealed the victory, 41-35.
The Hogs are now 4-14 in one-possession games since 2022. One-possession games have been the death of Arkansas for the past few years, going 1-5 in 2023 and 1-3 in 2024 in such events. The Razorbacks need to be more disciplined on both sides of the ball. The defense has been inconsistent, and the offense has been able to come through in big moments. Arkansas has the talent, but needs to filter out the issues.
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