It took 14 tries and nearly two full years. But the Arkansas Razorbacks finally have an SEC win to call their own.
Saturday’s headline out of Nashville is a simple one that Arkansas beats Vanderbilt. The final was 31-21, and the Hogs did most of their damage the old-fashioned way.
I doubt it’s going to quiet the complaining going on with fans. Most of their complaining has more to do with things outside of the final score in the game.
For now they at least will have a better record than last season.
They kept the ball on the ground against the Commodores. They haven’t been able to do that consistently against anybody else in the first half of the season.
Nashville’s known for its music. This time, the Hogs played a simple tune of run left, run right and repeat. It’s a formula they’ve used in the past with varying amounts of success.
Arkansas racked up 187 yards on the ground against a Commodores defense that carried big expectations before the year started. Those expectations haven’t held up in the games.
The Hogs didn’t over-think it. Five different ball carriers got their turn, and the pounding never really stopped.
The result pushes Arkansas to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in league play. The Razorbacks hadn’t beaten a conference foe since 2024.
For a fan base that’s sat through a long dry spell, it will be progress for some. There will still be others that pointed out Vandy simply isn’t that good of a team because they have a terrible record, too.
Settles and Jackson carry the load
Cam Settles did the dirty work near the goal line. He scored twice and finished with 45 yards.
Nobody else reached the end zone more than once all night.
The quarterback wasn’t far behind. KJ Jackson led the team with 58 rushing yards. His biggest run came right after halftime and an 8-yard keeper made it 21-14 Arkansas.
He kept the chains moving through the air, too. Jackson hit on 21 of his 31 throws, which added up to 251 passing yards.
That kind of balance hasn’t always been easy to find for this offense. On Saturday, it showed up when it counted.
The best part for Arkansas might’ve been the timing. Vanderbilt never got to enjoy a touchdown for long because the Hogs had a reply ready each time.
That’s a habit that tends to keep a team from dropping its 15th straight league game.
Two picks make the difference
The defense delivered a pair of key plays.
Joker Johnson put Arkansas on the scoreboard by taking an interception back 25 yards for a touchdown.
Miguel Mitchell saved his moment for the end.
With 3:46 to play, Vanderbilt’s highly-touted freshman quarterback Jared Curtis had the Commodores knocking on the door. They’d moved inside the Arkansas 30, all the way to the 29.
Facing second-and-12, Curtis let one more pass fly. Mitchell came down with it.
Max Gilbert finished the job. The Razorbacks’ kicker made a 39-yarder on the following possession, turning a one-score game into a two-score game.
Curtis put up decent numbers in the loss, piling up 274 passing yards on 19 completions in 31 tries.
Run defense problems and bye week ahead
Makhilyn Young and Sedrick Alexander each found the end zone on the ground for Vanderbilt.
Still, the Commodores’ bigger headache came on defense.
For the second week in a row, their front couldn’t slow down a ground attack. Ole Miss gashed them for 196 rushing yards one week earlier.
Until that changes, Vanderbilt will have a hard time keeping pace in league games. Arkansas was happy to take advantage.
Now the Razorbacks get a bye week to rest up and enjoy this one. They’ll need it. No. 13 Missouri comes to Fayetteville on Oct. 31.
Vanderbilt doesn’t get a break. Next up for the Commodores is a road date with No. 15 Kentucky.
For now, Arkansas can stop hearing about the streak. That alone should make the off week a lot more pleasant.
There are still things they’ll be complaining about for the next couple of weeks.
Besides, another Saturday like this one nationally next weekend and even Missouri might look beatable to the Hogs.
