Although Arkansas Razorbacks football fans may not know everything they need to learn about their team, they did discover that they have an explosive offense, even as the Hogs played against an inferior Alabama A&M Bulldogs team. The Hogs demolished the Bulldogs 52-7 at Donald W. Reynold Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Fansided's Razorbackers staff writer Jackson McAfee accurately predicted the final score between the Bulldogs and Razorbacks.
While the first half had less-than-desirable moments on both sides of the ball, some of which are to be expected during the first game of the season, regardless of the opponent, the Arkansas Razorbacks gained momentum and complete control as the game progressed. In the second half, Alabama A&M was unable to do anything offensively or defensively against the Razorbacks, as the reality of playing a talented SEC team materialized.
The purpose of this article is to highlight a few Arkansas Razorbacks who performed well and two entire units that must improve as the Hogs confront more challenging competition beginning next week against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Studs and Duds: Arkansas Razorbacks football vs. Alabama A&M
Studs
Taylen Green
Without question, the best player on the field in this contest between Arkansas and Alabama A&M was the Hogs' starting quarterback, Taylen Green. Green's performance against the Bulldogs made Bleacher Report's decision to omit him from its preseason "2025 College Football Top 25 Quarterbacks Rankings" a demonstrably ludicrous one. A reasonable mind clearly resolves that Green will be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Last season, according to ESPN, Green amassed 3,154 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and 602 rushing yards, along with eight rushing touchdowns. In today's game against the Bulldogs, according to ESPN, Green had 322 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and no fumbles or interceptions. Therefore, in the first game of the season, he had nearly half of the passing touchdowns he achieved last season. Six passing touchdowns is the most Green has thrown in his college career.
Mike Washington Jr.
Mike Washington Jr. showed a few flashes of what he is a capable doing for the Razorbacks this season, as he led the team in rushing. Washington had nine carries for 79 yards. The team had 194 total rushing yards on 40 total carries.
O'Mega Blake
Although many wondered how Arkansas would recover from losing its leading receiver from last season, Andrew Armstrong, to the NFL, the answer seems to be O'Mega Blake. The Hogs may have found their next star wide receiver in Blake. In his impressive performance today against the Bulldogs, he had seven receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown.
Duds
Arkansas' offensive line
Alabama A&M has more talent than most will give the team credit for, and it has quality coaches. Still, the Razorbacks' offensive line exposed Green to too many hits, and he found himself running for his life on several occasions, especially in the first half. Even though the offensive line took control of the game by the end of the first half and almost the entire second half, having such struggles against an inferior team like the Bulldogs means Sam Pittman must address these deficiencies before the Hogs clash with the Red Wolves next week in Little Rock.
Razorbacks' defensive line
An SEC defensive line should dominate the Bulldogs' offensive line. However, Arkansas' defensive line failed to generate consistent pressure against Alabama A&M's offensive line, allowing the Bulldogs' passing attack to expose the secondary several times in the first half. Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams must find a solution to his defensive line's continued inability to produce pressure.