Arkansas is back on track. After suffering a lopsided 45-24 loss to Texas A&M in their SEC opener a week ago, the Razorbacks had no trouble against the visiting Alcorn State Braves at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on Saturday afternoon.

After Cole Hedlund booted a 25-yard field goal 2:49 into the game, the team tacked on three touchdowns to jump out to a big lead in the opening quarter. From there, Arkansas took care of business on its way to a 52-10 beatdown of Alcorn State.

What it means: The Razorbacks finished their non-conference slate with a perfect 4-0 mark. Although it will have something to prove against SEC teams in the final seven weeks of the season, the Hogs once again demonstrated they can win the games they’re supposed to.

What I liked: There is a lot to like on both sides of the ball, but Arkansas’ fast start stands out the most. The Razorbacks jumped out to a commanding 24-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, and against an FCS opponent, that is exactly what a superior team needs to do to break a team’s will. Defensively, it’s encouraging that the unit picked off Alcorn State quarterback Noah Johnson twice, one of which Henre’ Toliver returned for a 70-yard touchdown to give the Hogs a 31-7 lead early in the second half.

What I didn’t like: For the second week in a row, the Razorbacks’ offense struggled in short-yardage situations. Against the Braves, the unit ran behind a jumbo package on 3rd-and-2 in the second quarter, but T.J. Hammonds only gained a yard on the play. Arkansas decided to go for it on the ensuing 4th-and-1, but Alcorn State bottled up Kody Walker for no gain to cause a turnover on downs. Although Arkansas ran the ball efficiently for much of the afternoon, it isn’t a good sign that the offensive line struggled to manhandle an FCS defensive line in short-yardage situations.

Who’s the man: The running backs shined in the backfield, which is always welcomed after building an early lead. True freshman Devwah Whaley had the best performance of his young career — by far — with 135 yards and a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Rawleigh Williams III continued to run well, finishing with 126 yards on 13 carries. Cody Hollister and Hammonds both added rushing touchdowns, too.

Key plays: Whaley’s touchdown gave the Arkansas fans a taste of his big-play capabilities with his 75-yard score, but the Razorbacks had plenty of impact plays against the Braves on Saturday. In addition to Whaley’s run in the first quarter, quarterback Austin Allen connected with Jared Cornelius for touchdowns from 29 and 35 yards out in the opening frame. All three plays helped Arkansas build a commanding lead before the Braves knew what hit them.

What’s next: The Razorbacks will return to their other home — Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville — next Saturday for a long-awaited SEC West showdown against rival Alabama. The Crimson Tide enter Week 5 with a perfect 4-0 record, and it will host Kentucky on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.