FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Taylen Green threw six touchdown passes, tying for the second most in a single game in Arkansas history, as the Razorbacks opened season with a 52-7 win over Alabama A&M on Saturday at Razorback Stadium.
Green, a transfer quarterback, completed 19 of 28 passes for 322 yards. He connected with five different receivers for scores, three of whom were not on the Arkansas roster last year. CJ Brown caught four passes, including two for touchdowns. O’Mega Blake, a transfer from Charlotte, led the Razorbacks with seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. Raylen Sharpe, Andreas Paaske and Jalen Brown each had a touchdown catch as well.
Arkansas lost 94% of its receiving yards from the 2024 season, making it crucial to involve new players early, Hogs coach Sam Pittman said. Ten different Razorbacks caught a pass in the win.
“I was proud that we were able to throw the ball to a lot of different people, get them involved,” Pittman said. “I think that’s going to help us in the future.”
Alabama A&M, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), scored on its opening drive to tie the game after Green’s first touchdown pass to Brown. The Bulldogs’ seven-play, 75-yard drive ended in a rushing touchdown by Maurice Edwards IV. That was the bulk of Alabama A&M’s offense, as the team managed only 160 yards for the remainder of the game.
Green exited after his sixth touchdown pass late in the third quarter, which gave Arkansas a 45-7 lead. Backup quarterback KJ Jackson entered the game and threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to running back Mike Washington Jr. on his third play from scrimmage. Washington led Arkansas with 79 rushing yards on nine carries, in addition to his receiving score.
Blake, in his first game with the Razorbacks, answered questions about his adjustment to the Southeastern Conference with a standout performance.
“Seven balls for 121, I don’t know if you can sustain that. I’d like for him to,” Pittman said. “Did I want him to do that? Yes. Did I know he could do that? Yes. If that’s the case, yes, we’ll expect that.”
Arkansas has played an FCS opponent every season since 2005, except for the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Five of the last seven have come against SWAC teams. The Razorbacks have won those games by a combined score of 268-27.
Arkansas’ offense appeared capable of finishing among the top 10 in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for a second consecutive season, though Pittman acknowledged the test will become tougher when the Razorbacks face power-conference opponents in mid-September.
Alabama A&M will host Alcorn State next Saturday. Arkansas will face Arkansas State next Saturday in Little Rock.
