It’s the last trip to AT&T Stadium to face the Aggies and what Hogs’ coach thinks impact of that.
Metcalf’s big day against Auburn lands top SEC defensive honor
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Getting a couple of interceptions shot Arkansas defensive back TJ Metcalf into the SEC Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in the 24-14 win at Auburn in their league opener Saturday.
Metcalf had a role in four of the Razorbacks’ five takeaways with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a pass breakup that led to Doneiko Slaughter’s interception at the Arkansas 19-yard line on the Tigers’ opening drive of the game.
Three of the four takeaways he had a hand in ended Auburn drives in the red zone. Following the pass breakup that led to an interception, Metcalf jarred the ball loose from Auburn running back Damari Alston on the Arkansas five-yard line, which the Razorbacks recovered in the end zone.
Metcalf then made a diving interception of Auburn quarterback Hank Brown at the Arkansas eight-yard line with just 26 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The sophomore collected his second interception of the day with 14 seconds on the clock in the third quarter.
Metcalf also finished with four tackles and two pass breakups.
The Birmingham native became the first Arkansas defender with at least two interceptions, two pass breakups and one forced fumble in a game since defensive back Kenoy Kennedy accomplished the feat against South Carolina in 1999.
He also became the first Razorback to register an interception in consecutive games since Dwight McGlothern accomplished the feat in 2022-23. Metcalf was the first Razorback with multiple interceptions in a game since Alfahiym Walcott (2) vs. FIU in 2023.
Metcalf is one of just two SEC defenders with two interceptions in a game this season, joining Alabama’s Keon Sabb. He currently ranks third nationally in interceptions per game (0.8). Through four games this season, Metcalf leads the Arkansas defense in total tackles (26), interceptions (3) and forced fumbles (1).
He is the second Razorback to earn SEC weekly honors, joining Fernando Carmona, who was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Sept. 2. He is the first Razorback to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors since Lorando Johnson on Nov. 6, 2023.
Arkansas continues its conference slate by traveling to Arlington, Texas for the annual Southwest Classic matchup with Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Information from Arkansas Communications and the SEC is included in this story.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 9-23-24
Big C hops on the mic with Tye to rehash a GRITTY 24-14 win for the Hogs at Auburn. They take calls, answer the hard-hitting questions that still nag at this team through four contests and recap NFL action from over the weekend.
Rare case of Razorbacks being at top of SEC standings now
It’s not often you can look at the SEC Football standings and see Arkansas sitting at the top. If you check out the SEC’s official website, that is where we are today.
Granted, we are one game into conference play and I am certain the list of the 1-0 teams is in alphabetical order, but I will take it with a lighthearted laugh. It is about how everyone will stack up as the season deepens, and that is another conversation for a later day.
There is a long way to go in conference play and you can already see the end results of the season may be harder to predict than normal. Yes, this week went about as expected in the wins and losses columns, but the scoreboards and on-the-field play have been somewhat unexpected. Week 4 was no different from Week 3 in that aspect.
Here are three key results followed by the rest of the results in order of importance.
Three Takeaway Games
Vanderbilt 27, (7) Missouri 30: On my agenda for today is taking time to watch this game from start to finish to get a better analysis on why it took two overtimes to provide us a winner when it should have only taken one half. Just based off the scores and the stats, it seems as though both teams’ defenses played average, both perhaps giving up too many yards per play. Each offense racked up over 5-yards a snap. In retrospect, allow me to offer my apologies for deferring watching this one in favor of other contests; however, I just honestly thought this game would be more one-sided despite the Commodores playing either at a pinnacle or at an all-time low in the first three weeks. The Tigers control their own destiny, so this does not impact their long-term goals for 2024. They will need to hope Vandy plays well throughout the season … unless the voters did what I did and put this game on the backburner, only looking for a ‘W’ or an ‘L’.
(6) Tennessee 25, (15) Oklahoma 15: The game was not as close as the score looks, and even that is not impressive. The Vols owned the Sooners in every aspect of the game. Josh Heupel’s return to OU showed two things. One, he is the better coach. And two, he has the team with the most talent, especially given the game was played in Norman. There were a couple of shining moments by the Sooners too late in the game to make a difference, but apparently none worthy of remembering the next day. Brent Venables is a good coach. He just needs to learn what it takes to lead a top-tiered, historical program like Oklahoma. Tennessee will take this upcoming weekend off while it prepares to travel to Fayetteville to play Arkansas.
Bowling Green 20, (25) Texas A&M 26: Two things to question were revealed to me in this closer than expected contest. Why are the Aggies so inconsistent, and will this carry over into their matchup with Arkansas next week? And why on God’s “Bowling Green” Earth do the Falcons not have a trace of green within their school colors? Their Ohio hometown does. I looked this up, and I learned their city was named after a city with the same name in Kentucky. Stop me now, I have to get back on track here. A&M will probably fall out of the Top 25 this week – a ranking I feel is too high – but a small percentage of voters seem to love them. Given they pull a couple of upsets and win the ones they are expect to, they are still only a bubble’s chance of being ranked high enough at season’s end to make the playoffs, and this close win at home hurts that possibility.
Remaining SEC Results for Week 4
Arkansas 24, Auburn 14: I have not looked, but the six interceptions thrown in this game may have been more than or equal to the rest of the SEC combined yesterday. I am tongue-in-cheek with that comment of course, but it is a possibility. These are two teams who struggled in the West last year and now both hope they are on the rise, but it was the Hogs who took the next step towards validating their mark in the conference. Also, I lost a lot of respect for Hugh Freeze in this game. I have frequently rooted for him in the past, yet there was far too much crying from him on the sideline, and his comments regarding Arkansas not stopping the Tigers was a bit low-rent. By the way, if you have not seen the girl singing while crying late in the game, it was very entertaining.
Florida 45, Mississippi State 28: Florida coach Billy Napier may still have his job, but his dismissal will take place. Everyone just wonders when. And Jeff Lebby will be called into the Mississippi State Athletic Director’s office tomorrow. Not to be fired, but to have the future and progression discussed. Picture Hunter Yurachek talking with Chad Morris.
UCLA 17, (16) LSU 34: Good for the Tigers. This is a quality win over a Power 4 conference member, but, outside of a sigh of relief from a few LSU fans, it was not impactful.
Akron 7, South Carolina 50: Who knows how Shane Beamer will have his Gamecocks perform next week seems to have been the running question. We may have an answer as they are playing well and could POSSIBLY crack the Top 25. They will have this upcoming weekend off before they host Ole Miss.
Georgia Southern 13, (5) Ole Miss 52: The lopsided score only signifies Lane Kiffin’s squad is a consistent powerhouse thus far in conference play as they fight to earn a berth into the playoffs.
Ohio 6, Kentucky 41: Mark Stoops may be back in the good graces of the Wildcat fans. We will find out how they will fare against another highly ranked opponent on the 28th of September when they travel to Oxford to play Ole Miss.
ULM 3, (1)Texas 51: Outside of Arch Manning throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions while starting for an inured Quinn Ewers, there was no significance to this game.
We will be back here next week on HitThatLine.com to recap the more intriguing Week 5.
Razorbacks’ Sam Pittman just glad to get out of Auburn with a win
Reminds everyone they still have lots to work on, but happy to come away on top in first SEC game.
Hogs’ defensive back TJ Metcalf, offensive lineman Fernando Carmona
Metcalf on multiple interceptions and forced turnover plus what the line did against Auburn defense coming from everywhere.
Razorbacks’ Slaughter, Jackson, Sategna on getting win over Auburn
Defensive back Doneiko Slaughter, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, wide receiver Isaiah Sategna on big plays in getting road win.
LIVE BLOG: Razorbacks get past error-prone Tigers, 24-14
AUBURN, Ala. — Arkansas co-defensive coordinator Travis Williams was obviously pumped to return against his alma mater. His defenders played like it, too.
The result was a methodical 24-14 win over Auburn on Saturday that wasn’t particularly a thing of beauty, but did show an opportunistic Razorback team. The Tigers also had five turnovers.
If there was a difference this year, the Hogs were able to take advantage of opportunities.
Read our live blog below:
Two teams looking to show they are better than a lot of people think in the SEC get their shot today.
Arkansas and Auburn are both 2-1, have a loss they feel they should have won and more questions than answers on both sides of the ball. At least for one weekend they’ll have a chance to show something.
Or generate more questions.
Nobody can blame the weather. It is a sun-splashed stadium at Jordan-Hare as kickoff approaches. Stick with us to keep up with views and highlights from the game as it plays out.
FIRST QUARTER
Crowd noise starting to play a role in game. Razorbacks get delay before runnning a play, then drive down and Kyle Ramsey pushes a 41-yard field goal attempt wide to the right. Hogs’ offense completely driven by quarterback Taylen Green, who is just taking off and running like he did a lot against UAB. Tyrone Broden and Andrew Armstrong dropped a couple of passes in the drive that ended on a sack by Dorion Mausi for a 7-yard loss.
2Q 14:47: Green leads the Razorbacks on a 15-play, 81-yard drive that was capped by Jackson bulling his way over the goal. Offense moving methodically and chewing up clock, keeping the ball for 11:41 of the first quarter, but they have the lead. Hogs 7, Tigers 0
For a game that’s only seen one touchdown, there’s been a ton of things going on:
• Armstrong was nearly cut in half making a catch in the first quarter, but returned to action and resumed being Green’s primary target.
• The player that delivered a completely legal and clean hit, Champ Anthony, was injured moments later and it appeared serious as he was carted off the field. It was more serious than what he delivered on Armstrong.
• Auburn quarterback Hank Brown took momentum away from the Tigers with a pair of draining interceptions. Those looked to be inexperience as much as anything else.
• The Tigers have turned the ball over four times in the first half, including one where running back Damari Alston was either going to be in the end zone or down inside the Hogs’ 5-yard line when it was knocked loose by TJ Metcalf and recovered in the end zone by Stephen Dix.
• The Razorbacks have one turnover, an interception by Green. We’ll see if anything like this turns into points in the second half.
Q3 5:44: Auburn makes a change at quarterback and Payton Thorne starts connecting on some passes and making key runs. Arkansas’ defense starting to show some holes and they look a little tired, which is the problem with depth that’s been discussed forever. The Razorbacks brought Malachi Singleton in for Taylen Green for a series before the Tigers put together a 77-yard drive in six plays with a big pass to a wide open Keandre Lambert-Smith for 54 yards. Hogs 7, Tigers 7
Q3 2:03: Razorbacks get a prayer answered when wide receiver Isaiah Sategna disappeared from the Auburn secondary while Green scrambled around and found him open for a 58-yard scoring bomb. Hogs 14, Tigers 7
FOURTH QUARTER
Q4 12:04: Razorbacks have another drive stalled as offensive line continues to force Green to scramble and deliver passes early as he’s getting blasted by defensive lineman and linebackers, but Ramsey bails them out with a 31-yard field goal for a two-score lead. Hogs 17, Tigers 7
Q4 9:50: It didn’t take Auburn long to answer the field goal. On a fourth-down play, Thorne found an unbelievably wide open Lambert-Smith running right down the hashmarks for a 67-yard score where he high-fived a teammate the last 5 yards … and still no Razorback defender was close. Hogs 17, Tigers 14
Q4 6:12: Razorbacks may have just sealed their third win of the year with a 1-yard run that was reviewed and the ball just grazed the goal line, but that counts as a touchdown. Hogs 24, Tiger 14
