Clint Stoerner has some evidence for why Arkansas could “keep it close” against Alabama this week. For starters, he pointed to how Bryce Young has played on the road, and how Alabama as a team played at Texas earlier this season.

“As I’ve said before, I’m more confident in Arkansas’ ability to run the football than I ever have been,” the former Arkansas QB said on “McElroy and Cubelic In the morning” on WJOX out of Birmingham, Alabama. “They’re coming up against a defense that’s been really stout against the run. That matchup right there is going to dictate whether Arkansas has a chance in the fourth quarter or not.”

Running the ball against any team would put Arkansas in a strong position, but another key is to keep Alabama out of the end zone, because Stoerner noted how Young will be a “maestro” between the 20s.

“Do they have dudes they can lean on in the red zone to just score at will the way we’ve seen Alabama in the past, I don’t know if that’s the case,” Stoerner said.

Arkansas still needs a career day for several players this week, he said, but Alabama simply doesn’t have the kind of unstoppable players the Crimson Tide has had in the past.

“Outside of Bryce Young obviously pulling the trigger, that they don’t feel that comfortable with that are going to beat you, that are going to torch you,” he said. “Arkansas is going to have to take advantage of that.”

Ultimately, it’s the combination of Arkansas’ running game, and Alabama’s lack of playmakers compared to previous years.