Despite narrow loss, Sam Pittman strikes optimistic tone about Razorbacks, what's ahead

Arkansas appeared to have a chance at an upset over LSU, but the Tigers scored late to pull out a 27-24 decision in the Battle for the Golden Boot.

Still, QB Feleipe Franks had a solid game and went 17-for-26 passing for 339 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also added 43 rushing yards and a score.

Arkansas was 0-for-10 on third down conversions, and LSU held the time of possession edge, 41:43 to 18:17.

The Razorbacks have remaining games against Missouri and Alabama.

Here’s what coach Sam Pittman shared with the media after the game:

Pittman: We are all disappointed. It hurt. [Told team] we have two games left. Not a lot you need to say when you go in there and you know it affects them. We can’t party. Can’t get COVID. “I did tell them I’m proud of them because I damn sure am.”

— Kyle Deckelbaum (@KATVKyle) November 21, 2020

Sam Pittman: I thought [Catalon] tried to avoid the hit and contact. I can see what they saw as well. Certainly it looked to me like he was trying to avoid the receiver’s helmet.

— Kyle Deckelbaum (@KATVKyle) November 21, 2020

Pittman: 4th and 3, 45 yard field goal down 3, what if we had went for it and didn’t make it? To me, there wasn’t a question what you do. (…) I have confidence in Reed and thought we could protect it.

— Kyle Deckelbaum (@KATVKyle) November 21, 2020

“Marshall is wonderful, he plays his tail off, he’s a fighter. He didn’t say a word (about missing guys), he said hey lets go coach. There wasn’t one bit of negativity. We had the numbers to play and that’s the spirit of the game. Nobody said a word about it.” – Pittman

— Nikki Chavanelle (@NikkiChavanelle) November 21, 2020