Brett Bielema pulled out all the stops last year in their attempt to beat Auburn in Fayetteville. Testing the Tigers disciple, the Razorbacks tried on several occasions to catch Auburn off guard. Some examples:

  • On the first possession of the game, the Hogs worked a 12-play, 61 yards drive and took over six minutes off the clock. Their 13th play from the Auburn 13-yard line had A.J. Derby lined up under center. RESULT: AUBURN INTERCEPTION. Linebacker Cassanoza McKinzy picked off Derby.
  • After kicking a field goal to trim Auburn’s lead 7-3 in the second quarter, the Hogs tried to keep the momentum going on the ensuing kickoff. But John Henson’s on-side kick was recovered by the Tigers. Result: AUBURN TOUCHDOWN. After a penalty against Arkansas, Auburn got the ball on the Arkansas 38-yard line. Six plays later Tre Mason scored the first of his four touchdowns.
  • Running back Alex Collins lined up twice at quarterback on the following Razorbacks drive. Result: AUBURN GOAL-LINE STAND. Collins converted a first down on a 3rd-and-1 situation from the Arkansas 34-yard line. Gained 1 yard on 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line. Three plays later running back Jonathan Williams was stopped on 4th-and-goal by linebacker JaViere Mitchell.
  • Facing a 4th-and-three from the Auburn 9-yard line, wide receiver Brian Buehner got his passing game on. Result: ARKANSAS TOUCHDOWN. Buehner completed a 7-yard pass to tight end Austin Tate. One play later running Kiero Small scored to

Arkansas took too many risks and wasn’t rewarded for their gambles. The Hogs failure to convert on a majority of those plays and Tre Mason’s four touchdowns and 186 yards on the ground propelled Auburn to a 35-17 win.

The Tigers are breaking in a lot of new personnel this year, some on defense and some on special teams. Bielema’s propensity to be tricky has Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn on guard more than usual.

“We have to be prepared not just in the kicking game but on defensive,” Malzahn said Wednesday. “We do it not just because we are playing them but the fact that they took a lot of chances means that we have to be prepared for them.”