FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Auburn turned four fourth-quarter turnovers into 17 points and a much-needed SEC win, beating Arkansas 33-24 on Saturday at Razorback Stadium.
The Tigers trailed by 11 at halftime but dominated the final 20 minutes, taking control behind a late pick-six and a perfect performance from kicker Alex McPherson.
Auburn improved to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in SEC play, while the Razorbacks dropped to 2-6 and remain winless in the conference.
Arkansas starts fast, but Auburn adjusts
Arkansas looked sharp early behind quarterback Taylen Green, who threw a 58-yard touchdown to Raylen Sharpe and managed a balanced offense through two quarters.
Cornerback Kani Walker’s 89-yard interception return put the Razorbacks ahead 21-10 at the break, and the crowd of more than 70,000 roared as Arkansas appeared to seize control.
Green, however, couldn’t maintain the rhythm after halftime.
He finished 14-of-22 for 268 yards and one touchdown but was picked off three times — all in the second half. Tight end Rohan Jones led Arkansas with 127 receiving yards on three catches.
Auburn made a crucial change midway through the second quarter, turning to backup quarterback Ashton Daniels after starter Jackson Arnold’s early interception.
Daniels gave the Tigers a spark, completing six of eight passes for 77 yards while keeping the offense on schedule.
McPherson stays perfect, defense takes over
The Tigers leaned on their ground game and special teams to stay close. Running back Jeremiah Cobb carried 28 times for 153 yards, including several key third-down conversions that extended drives.
McPherson handled the rest, converting six field goals — from 36, 23, 43, 26, 47, and 37 yards — to account for 18 of Auburn’s 33 points. His final make with 1:06 remaining sealed the outcome.
The Auburn defense, which had struggled in recent weeks, flipped the script in the fourth quarter.
Cornerback Rayshawn Pleasant jumped a sideline route and returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown to give Auburn its first lead at 27-24.
Two more turnovers from Arkansas — a fumble by receiver O’Mega Blake and another Green interception — led to McPherson’s final two field goals and closed the door.
Arkansas fades again down the stretch
It was a familiar story for the Razorbacks, who once again couldn’t protect a second-half lead.
Arkansas had the ball for just 22 minutes compared to Auburn’s 37, wearing down a defense that spent much of the night on the field.
Interim coach Bobby Petrino, who took over after the midseason change, has now dropped three straight games.
Arkansas has not won a conference game this season and faces the possibility of missing a bowl for the second straight year.
“This one hurts,” Petrino said. “We played well early, but the turnovers were killers. You can’t hand a team like that so many extra possessions.”
For Auburn coach Hugh Freeze, the victory offers some breathing room after a rocky start to the year.
“I’m proud of our fight,” Freeze said. “We didn’t play clean, but we showed some real toughness when it mattered most.”
Momentum shift and what’s next
The Tigers’ defense held Arkansas scoreless in the final 20 minutes, forcing three punts and four turnovers after trailing by double digits.
Auburn’s front pressured Green repeatedly, forcing hurried throws and two of his late interceptions.
Auburn now heads home to face Kentucky, looking to build on its first SEC win of the season.
Arkansas returns to Fayetteville next week against Mississippi State, hoping to regroup before its November stretch run.
Key takeaways
- Auburn forced four fourth-quarter turnovers, turning a double-digit deficit into a nine-point win.
- Taylen Green’s three second-half interceptions cost Arkansas momentum and points in another SEC home loss.
- Hugh Freeze and Auburn finally broke through with a complete defensive effort and mistake-free kicking game.
