Arkansas and Texas A&M will renew the Southwest Classic, the 79th edition, on Saturday in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. It’s a 6 p.m. local time kickoff on ESPN.
Arkansas won last year’s meeting, which snapped a 9-game winning streak by the Aggies. Arkansas leads the all-time series, 42-33-3. The Hogs are off to a 3-0 start for the second straight year, a feat that had not happened at Arkansas since 2010-11. With a win against Texas A&M, Arkansas would improve to 4-0 in back-to-back years for the first time since 1988-89.
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M preview
A year ago, Arkansas got a big game from KJ Jefferson, who threw for 202 yards and 2 long touchdowns before he was hurt against the No. 7 Aggies that hadn’t allowed a passing score all season.
Arkansas is No. 10 in the AP Top 25 poll, which marks the first time since 2012 that Arkansas has spent consecutive weeks in the AP’s top 10. A&M remains as one of the best defenses in the country at limiting scoring and passing again this season. The Aggies rank ninth nationally in scoring defense (8.7 ppg) and passing defense (147.3 y/g).
One key to the game could be Max Johnson and the Aggies’ offense against Arkansas’ shaky pass defense, which ranks last in the SEC in yards allowed per game (353) and per pass (8.5).
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Along with improving its pass defense, Arkansas will have Devon Achane as a key part of the game plan after he’s scored at least once in each game, and is the only player in the nation to have scored a rushing, receiving and kickoff return touchdown already this season. Achane leads the nation with a 39.6-yard kickoff return average.
While Achane is a dynamic playmaker, Texas A&M is faced with slowing down the bruising Jefferson, who completed 55-of-78 passes (70.5%) for 770 yards and 6 touchdowns while rushing for 169 yards and 3 scores. He ranks second in the SEC and 15th nationally in total offense, and generates 313.0 total yards of offense per game.
For the Aggies, this game is especially vital because of the Appalachian State loss. They’ve had their stumble, and starting conference play at 0-1 would make being competitive in the SEC West especially difficult.
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This is the beginning of a difficult stretch for Arkansas. After this game, the Razorbacks return home to face No. 2 Alabama on Oct. 1, then have 3 consecutive road games against Mississippi State, BYU and Auburn.
Prediction: Arkansas 24, Texas A&M 17
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
