It was heartbreaking to be sure, but Arkansas showed signs of life in its 31-27 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. It’s a game the Razorbacks probably should have won. They had their opportunities. But they battled from a double-digit deficit to make a game of it, even taking the lead on two different occasions.

There were things to like about Arkansas’ performance. Of course, there were things that went wrong, as there always are in a loss. Here are five things I liked about the game, and three more that I didn’t like about it.

Things I liked

1. Misdirection and plays on the edge

Especially early in the game, the Razorbacks gained chunks of yardage with misdirection plays and plays that got playmakers on the edge. It opened up the Aggies’ defense, and Arkansas was able to pile up 395 total yards, a 55-yard edge over Texas A&M.

2. Continuing to battle back

Down 14-3 in the latter part of the second quarter, the Razorbacks came up with some big plays to take a 17-14 lead, then came back to start the second half to regain the advantage, 24-21. The fight is still there in this team. It has come a long way since the San Jose State game and looks to be on the verge of putting it all together for a victory in SEC play.

3. Hicks’ confidence

This is the Ben Hicks we expected to see from Day 1, when the prolific passer transferred after writing his name into the SMU record books. Hicks threw for 188 yards and a touchdown, completing his first five passes after taking over for the injured Nick Starkel. Now let’s see, depending on Starkel’s injury, if he can be consistent over the second half of the season.

Quarterback Ben Hicks (6) and wide receiver Mike Woods (8) celebrate a touchdown in the second quarter. Photo by: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

4. Another good game from Rakeem Boyd

Running with the authority we’ve become accustomed to, Boyd turned in another outstanding game. Whether it’s busting open for a 24-yard gain, his longest of the day, or running behind his pads for the extra yardage, Boyd is the workhorse the Razorbacks need in the backfield.

5. TE Cheyenne O’Grady

He can catch, and he is tough to tackle. The 6-4, 256-pounder hauled in a game-high eight catches for 91 yards. He is playing a critical role in helping the new Arkansas quarterbacks settle in with a group of relatively inexperienced receivers.

Things I didn’t like

1. Starkel’s decision-making

Regardless of what T-shirt you wear underneath your uniform, throwing a pass into a crowd at the goal line is never a good idea. That ill-advised second-quarter pass resulted in an interception and Starkel’s injury.

2. Late second-quarter letdown

After grabbing the momentum and rallying from a 14-3 deficit to take a 17-14 lead, the Arkansas defense allowed a go-ahead drive just before halftime. When the Razorbacks needed it most, the defense did not come through. It allowed the Aggies to methodically move 75 yards in 11 plays with less than two minutes left before halftime.

3. Inability to finish drives

In addition to converting just 5 of 13 third-down plays, the Razorbacks scored on only 2 of 4 red-zone opportunities. And they settled for field goals instead of getting into the end zone. Completing drives and getting into the end zone would turn close losses into close wins.