LIVE BLOG: KJ Jefferson puts offense on back but not enough for win

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas fans are going to be glad not to see one of these games against Alabama for a couple of years. The Crimson Tide’s 24-21 win showed the Razorbacks haven’t given up on the season yet, but also the Tide aren’t playing at the same level right now everybody has seen for a few years.

It felt like a blowout by the Crimson Tide early and the Hogs made it close. Tide coach Nick Saban’s comment on television immediately after the game was predictable. “We’ve got to learn to play for 60 minutes,” he told ESPN’s Tom Luginbill.

No matter how close it was, the Hogs are 2-5 and desperate for a win. It will be an interesting week as they get ready to face Mississippi State next Saturday at Razorback Stadium. The Tide are now qualifiied for a bowl game at 6-1 but it’s a good bet not many of their faithful are going to be really excited about it.

For the Hogs, they simply couldn’t get the ball back at the end when they need it. With no hope of a championship of anything left on the table, they have to find four wins somewhere just to get to a bowl game anywhere. It will be an interesting rest of the schedule.

LIVE BLOG

1Q 9:15: Razorbacks’ offense doesn’t look right. Dropped passes, receivers running into each other getting to same place and even KJ Jefferson making a horrible readon on the mesh for a handoff. Only thing saving them now is the Crimson Tide’s offense hasn’t settled in, either. Cam Little comes on with a 55-yard field goal and an early lead. Hogs 3, Tide 0

1Q 2:05: Hogs’ defense is looking right, shutting down Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide offense. Something isn’t really right there just about anywhere. Razorbacks get the ball back and move down before stalling and Little has to kick a 49-yard field goal that would have been good from 60-plus. Hogs 6, Tide 0

1Q :58: And just like that, Alabama shows one touchdown tops two field goals every time. Milroe hits a wide, wide open Kobe Prentice right down the middle for 79 yards. The Hogs’ secondary really got caught reacting to something they shouldn’t have been looking at. Tide 7, Hogs 6

2Q 8:52: Maybe Arkansas’ offensive coaches were paying attention there when Alabama got on the goal-line. They Tide use the “tush-push” where a bunch of big ol’ lineman just push Milroe, the ball and half the offensive line into the end zone for a score to cap a 10-play, 83-yard drive. Now they are just starting to hammer away. Tide 14, Hogs 6

2Q 4:41: The Crimson Tide are rolling and starting to pile it on. Milroe directors a 64-yard drive in just five plays with a 29-yard scoring pass to another open receiver, Amari Niblack, for an easy score. Tide 21, Hogs 6

3Q 7:47: It looks like the Crimson Tide is getting stronger as the Hogs appear to be wilting. Alabama drives 77 yards in 7 plays, but have to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Will Reichard. It’s hard to not get the feeling what is coming as Tide’s offense starting to click and lack of depth on defense starting to show for the Razorbacks. Tide 24, Hogs 6

3Q :33: This has been awhile. The Razorbacks finally get the offense untracked, taking advantage of a couple of penalties by the Crimson Tide to drive down for a score on a 5-yard pass from KJ Jefferson to Isaiah Sategna. Thy had not had a first down since the first quarter before that. Tide 24, Hogs 13

4Q 10:59: Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson has decided he’s about had enough of all this. Refusing to go down to the Crimson Tide’s pass rush, he has brought the Razorbacks back to make this a really interesting game. So much for the blowout. He throws to Rashod Dubinion for a 14-yard touchdown, then finds Andrew Armstrong for the 2-point conversion and all of a sudden, it’s a tight game. Tide 24, Hogs 21