BATON ROUGE, La. — Arkansas built an early lead but could not hold it late, falling 23-22 to LSU on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
The Razorbacks dropped to 2-8 overall and 0-6 in SEC play after seeing a 14-0 start turn into a narrow road loss.
Arkansas scored on special teams and on the ground in the first quarter, but turnovers, a missed field goal and a stalled drive at the LSU 1-yard line changed the momentum.
Caleb Wooden gave Arkansas a spark when he blocked a punt and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown. The scoring play put the Razorbacks ahead midway through the first quarter.
Arkansas followed with an 11-play, 52-yard scoring drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown run by Mike Washington. Taylen Green added a two-point conversion run for a 14-0 lead.
LSU began to shift the game in the second quarter. Tigers running back Cayden Durham broke free for a 27-yard touchdown run to trim the Arkansas lead.
LSU later added field goals to close the gap even more. Damian Ramos made kicks from 36 and 28 yards before halftime.
Arkansas continued its early run-heavy plan but struggled to finish drives. Green threw two interceptions, including one in the end zone.
The Razorbacks reached the LSU 1-yard line in the third quarter but came away empty when the Tigers stopped a fourth-down run.
LSU followed with another field goal to take its first lead of the game at 16-14.
Arkansas answered with a key drive midway through the third quarter. Washington scored his second rushing touchdown, a 9-yard run.
Green again converted a two-point attempt to give the Razorbacks a 22-16 lead. Green finished 11-of-19 for 165 yards with two interceptions and added 70 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Tigers take control late as Razorbacks come up short
LSU responded in the fourth quarter with the drive that decided the game.
Tigers quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. led a 12-play, 92-yard march that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Bower Sharp. Ramos made the extra point for a 23-22 LSU lead with under eight minutes left.
Arkansas had a chance to answer again. The Razorbacks attempted a 48-yard field goal but missed, keeping LSU in front.
The Tigers then controlled the clock and allowed Arkansas no final chance to regain the lead.
Interim coach Bobby Petrino said the Razorbacks’ struggles to finish drives were the difference.
“We got down into the red zone too many times and didn’t come away with points,” Petrino said. “We have to make those plays. Offense, defense and special teams, we all had our opportunities to find a way to win the game and we didn’t get it done.”
Arkansas’ defense limited LSU’s big plays for much of the game. Still, the two-point conversions and special-teams touchdown were not enough to offset mistakes.
LSU’s methodical scoring, including three field goals from Ramos, proved steady through the afternoon.
The Razorbacks’ early start was one of their best of the season. Wooden’s punt block, Washington’s strong running and Green’s physical rushing helped Arkansas find rhythm.
But as the game moved on, LSU controlled long stretches of possession, keeping Arkansas’ offense off the field and reducing chances for the Razorbacks to extend their lead.
The loss continued a difficult stretch for the Razorbacks, who have dropped several close games this season. Arkansas held fourth-quarter leads in multiple games but has struggled to close them.
Arkansas’ offense finished with steady production on the ground but inconsistent results through the air.
Green’s rushing kept drives alive, but turnovers kept changing things. Washington’s two rushing touchdowns gave Arkansas hope until late.
On defense, the Razorbacks held LSU without a passing touchdown until the decisive final drive. Durham’s touchdown run and LSU’s steady kicking game proved enough to counter Arkansas’ early push.
Arkansas will look to regroup as it moves deeper into November.
With two games left, the Razorbacks are going to have to figure something out for any kind of win on the road against Texas and finishing the season against Missouri.
The hill to the end isn’t getting any smaller.
Key takeaways
- Arkansas built a 14-0 lead with strong special teams and rushing but struggled to hold it.
- Missed red-zone chances, a failed kick and two interceptions kept the Razorbacks from extending their lead.
- LSU’s late touchdown drive and steady kicking helped the Tigers close out the 23-22 win.
