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Guests: Bruce Stanton (Pradco Outdoors) and Tom Murphy!
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Alyssa Orange – 11:35
Clay Henry -12:00
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Washington carries Razorbacks’ offense into Auburn matchup
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mike Washington Jr. has quietly become the steady force in Arkansas’ offense, helping keep the Razorbacks competitive during a challenging season of change.
The senior running back is averagiecng seven yards per carry and has developed into one of the most productive backs in the Southeastern Conference heading into Saturday’s home game against Auburn.
Washington’s rise has come at a time when the Razorbacks have needed it most.
Following the firing of head coach Sam Pittman in late September, interim coach Bobby Petrino has worked to reestablish rhythm in an offense that struggled to sustain drives early in the year.
A more balanced approach featuring Washington has helped settle the unit and give Arkansas a consistent identity.
“He’s seeing things really well,” Petrino said. “He’s become a better player before he gets the ball. When you do that, your vision opens up, and your landmarks are better. His improvement over the last three weeks has been tremendous.”
Washington, a senior leader in the locker room, has handled the transition with composure.
His reliability has earned the confidence of both teammates and coaches as the Razorbacks aim to rebound from a five-game skid.
“He’s really been the heartbeat of that offense lately,” Petrino said. “You can tell the guys respond to how he practices and plays.”
A big part of Washington’s surge has come behind an improving offensive line.
Petrino said better chemistry and communication among the linemen have opened up running lanes, allowing Washington to hit holes more decisively.
“He’s making great reads,” Petrino said. “When he presses the hole and makes that one cut, he’s tough to bring down.”
Arkansas now faces another tough defensive test in Auburn, which has allowed under 130 rushing yards per game this season.
Petrino expects a physical contest.
“They’re a really good defensive team,” Petrino said about the Tigers. “They’re well-coached and do a great job schematically. It’s going to be a great challenge for our offense.”
With the Razorbacks still seeking their first SEC win under Petrino, Washington’s consistency has given the team reason for optimism.
If he continues his pace, the senior could be one of the bright spots in a rebuilding season that’s been defined by resilience and leadership.
The Razorbacks and Tigers will kick off at 11:45 Saturday morning at Razorback Stadium. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
You may want to pack some rain gear. There are increasing chances of some more rain like last week against Texas A&M in the area for Saturday morning.
Fans can also listen to the game on ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
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Razorbacks, Auburn both seeking momentum under changing circumstances
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Three weeks after the dismissal of coach Sam Pittman, the Arkansas Razorbacks are now being led by interim head coach Bobby Petrino.
They’ll attempt to reset Saturday when they host the Auburn Tigers in an SEC matchup at Razorback Stadium.
Arkansas (2-5, 0-3 SEC) still has yet to notch a conference win, and Petrino’s mandate is clear: establish consistency, direction and execution.
Meanwhile, Auburn (3-4, 0-4 SEC) is also in search of forward motion under coach Hugh Freeze. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. on the SEC Network.
“Being close doesn’t count in this league,” Petrino said this week. “We’ve got to finish drives and finish games.”
Freeze was candid.
“Our defense has been competitive,” he said, “but when you don’t give them help with time of possession or field position, it wears them down.”
Under Petrino, Arkansas’ offense has taken steps forward. Quarterback Taylen Green leads the team with 1,910 passing yards and 17 touchdowns this season.
Running back Mike Washington Jr. has accounted for 696 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. Wide receiver O’Mega Blake is next with 582 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
On defense, linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. leads the team with 53 tackles. Yet third-down defense remains a concern; opponents continue to convert at a high clip.
Petrino has repeatedly emphasized that stopping drives on third down will be key.
For Auburn, the offense has not lived up to expectations. Their 2025 season so far shows averages of just over 23.5 points per game on offense and nearly 18 points per game allowed on defense.
Quarterback Jackson Arnold has thrown for 1,190 yards, 5 touchdowns and 1 interception through seven games. Running back Jeremiah Cobb has 564 yards on 89 carries and 4 touchdowns in that span.
Despite the offensive stagnation, Auburn’s defense has held up reasonably well—opponents are averaging 316.7 yards per game.
Still, Auburn’s offense has converted only 3-of-14 third downs in their most recent SEC loss to Missouri, highlighting the breakdown in execution.
This will mark the 34th meeting between the two programs. Auburn leads the series 20-12-1. Arkansas has picked up two wins in the last three match-ups, but the Razorbacks have not beaten Auburn in Fayetteville since 2015.
Petrino’s return adds urgency and intrigue
Petrino’s return to Arkansas—where he previously coached from 2008-11—adds a storyline of redemption and urgency.
Athletics director Hunter Yurachek has indicated this season will have big impact on the direction of the program going forward.
Meanwhile, for Freeze, another road loss would deepen questions about the Tigers’ trajectory in his third year on the job.
For Arkansas, controlling penalties is a top priority. The Razorbacks are averaging 8.3 flags per game, which often derails drives.
For Auburn, establishing a rhythm offensively remains crucial. Without one, their defense risks overexposure.
Explosive plays could be decisive. Arkansas has generated 27 plays of 20 yards or more this season.
Auburn has just 16 on that scale. If the Razorbacks hit early, they could force Auburn into playing catch-up.
ESPN’s Football Power Index currently gives Auburn a slight 52 percent chance to win, largely due to their defensive numbers, but Arkansas’ home field and upward offensive trend under Petrino could tilt the balance.
“This is where we find out who wants it more,” Petrino said.
Both teams are playing for meaning beyond the scoreboard: Arkansas for a first SEC win and validation under Petrino, Auburn for restoration and stability under Freeze. Expect a lower-scoring, physical game settled in the fourth quarter.
A win for Arkansas would provide a tangible marker of progress. A win for Auburn would keep bowl hopes alive and ease the pressure.
What’s at stake for both programs
For Petrino, this is a chance to show Arkansas fans that his return isn’t just symbolic but it’s about restoring an edge the program lost over the last several seasons.
He has spoken openly about wanting the Razorbacks to “play fast, play physical, and look like the team we used to be.”
Freeze, meanwhile, faces questions about Auburn’s future identity along with some grumbling about his job status.
After a promising start in 2023, the Tigers’ offense has regressed, and boosters are restless. The final stretch of the season — including this road trip to Fayetteville — may determine how much patience remains in Auburn’s building.
Arkansas and Auburn both sit at the bottom of the SEC West standings, but the urgency and emotion of this matchup give it the feel of a rivalry.
For Petrino, it’s about proving he can guide a team through adversity. For Freeze, it’s about avoiding a late-season spiral.
“This game matters because our guys need to feel what a win in this league does,” Petrino said. “You build on it. That’s how you start turning things around.”
Key takeaways
- Bobby Petrino’s interim leadership has reinvigorated Arkansas’ offense, though the Razorbacks still must close games.
- Auburn’s defense remains stout, but the Tigers’ offense continues to flounder in critical moments.
- Both programs face mounting pressure—each needs a moment that redefines the rest of their season.
Razorbacks fight hard but late sacks end comeback against Texas A&M
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas didn’t quit. It just didn’t close.
For a second straight week, the Razorbacks went toe-to-toe with a top-five SEC team, only to watch the game slip away in the final minutes.
This time, it was a 45-42 loss to No. 4 Texas A&M — a night that showed the Hogs’ fight, their offensive spark, and the painful reality that effort alone won’t win close games in this league.
Quarterback Taylen Green led another impressive performance, throwing for 306 yards and rushing for two touchdowns.
But with the game on the line, Arkansas’ protection faltered. The Aggies sacked Green three times in the final two minutes, killing a drive that could’ve tied or won the game.
“I’ve got to do a better job stepping up and getting the ball out,” Green said afterward. “The line battled all night. I’ve got to make quicker decisions when it breaks down.”
Green and receivers show promise in defeat
For much of the night, Arkansas’ passing game looked more explosive than it has all season.
Jaden Platt caught two touchdowns against his former team, Isaiah Sategna hauled in six passes for 112 yards, and Andrew Armstrong added a key third-down grab that kept a late drive alive.
The Razorbacks piled up over 520 yards of offense — out-gaining Texas A&M — and trailed only 31-28 at halftime in front of a crowd desperate for a signature SEC win.
When Green hit Platt for a fourth-quarter touchdown and then connected with Sategna on a two-point conversion, Razorback Stadium came alive.
The deficit was down to three, and belief filled the air.
Then came the mistakes: two penalties on the next drive, a blown block, and those back-breaking sacks.
Petrino says Hogs must “learn how to finish”
Interim head coach Bobby Petrino didn’t mince words afterward.
“We gave up some protection things late that really hurt us,” Petrino said. “We’ve got to learn how to finish drives. We’re doing a lot of good things, but we’ve got to handle pressure better — from the other team and from the moment.”
Defensively, Arkansas never quite figured out how to slow Marcel Reed, the Aggies’ sophomore quarterback.
Reed accounted for four touchdowns — three through the air and one on a 55-yard run — while completing 23-of-32 passes.
His composure stood out against an Arkansas front that brought steady pressure but couldn’t deliver the critical stop late.
A&M running back Rueben Owens II added 103 yards and two scores on the ground, giving the Aggies the balance that’s fueled their 7-0 start under Mike Elko.
Texas A&M’s poise wins out again
Elko praised Arkansas afterward, calling the Hogs “one of the most physical teams we’ve played.” But his team once again showed why it’s unbeaten: situational calm.
“You have to be able to close out games on the road in this league,” Elko said. “We made the plays we had to at the end.”
The Aggies’ defense, led by edge rusher Cashius Howell and safety Dalton Brooks, forced negative plays in key spots.
Both were responsible for late sacks that sealed the win, with Brooks’ blitz on third down nearly splitting Green in half to end Arkansas’ final drive.
The victory keeps A&M firmly in control of its SEC West path — and maybe more. The Aggies haven’t started 7-0 since 1994.
What’s next for Arkansas
For Arkansas, the record says 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the SEC, but the mood around the locker room felt more like frustration than defeatism.
“We’re close,” Green said. “It’s details. We’ve got to finish.”
Petrino’s offense has come alive in recent weeks, averaging 36 points over the last three games. Still, the defense must get off the field on third down, and the offensive line has to protect Green better in crunch time.
The Razorbacks host Auburn next, then face Ole Miss before the bye week — two games that will determine whether this group can turn progress into actual wins.
“We’re improving, and I think fans can see it,” Petrino said. “But this league doesn’t give out trophies for trying hard. It gives them to teams that finish.”
Key takeaways
- Arkansas’ offense is clicking. Taylen Green, Jaden Platt, and Isaiah Sategna continue to show chemistry and explosiveness.
- Texas A&M’s balance remains elite. Marcel Reed and Rueben Owens II powered another 45-point performance in a true road test.
- Protection problems persist. Three late sacks ended Arkansas’ comeback bid — and remain the top issue for Petrino’s offense.
