Arkansas knows it’s coming. The question is, can the stop it?

“Downhill run, inside run, that’s what they do,” linebacker Brooks Ellis said in an interview with Arkansas News. “That’s their go-to play. I think we’ll be ready for it.”

LSU has run the ball on 69 percent of its snaps this season, but the Razorbacks feature an improved run defense. Under first-year defensive coordinator Robb Smith, Arkansas has been more physical up front and fundamentally sound. The Hogs have improved more than 40 spots nationally in rush defense, up to 36th this season, allowing just 136.8 yards per game.

“You cut on the tape and there’s not one or two guys within the frame,” secondary coach Clay Jennings said. “You’re looking at about 7, 8 guys that are busting their butts to get to the ball. I think our kids are taking pride in being physical and executing the plan and vision Robb has for this defense.”

Arkansas has held seven of its nine opponents to 150 yards or less this season, more than it totaled all of last season.

The Hogs allowed 200 yards or more on the ground five times last season. They’ve only surrendered more than 200 yards rushing twice, in the season-opener against Auburn and against Georgia — the Razorbacks’ two worst losses of the season.

Head coach Bret Bielema said stopping the run is the foundation to a good defense.

“If you run for 200 or better, you’ve got a very good chance of winning,” Bielema said. “And that’s in every type of offensive system, every different type of philosophy. So, if we’re going to believe in that offensively, then we have to believe in the reciprocal defensively. We just can’t allow people to run the football.”

Neither Arkansas or LSU is going to mince any feelings about running the football on Saturday night. There’s a 50 percent chance of snow in Fayetteville, and conditions are expected to be messy.

LSU head coach Les Miles said this week both teams are prepared to make adjustments for what could be “really bad weather.”

“It might end up being 50 runs a team,” Miles told reporters.