Here are five takeaways from Texas A&M’s 35-28 overtime win against Arkansas.

  • This offense can be slowed. That’s hard to fathom on paper, as Texas A&M averages 51.2 points per game, second in the country, nearly halfway through the regular season schedule. But Arkansas, without any All-SEC type players in the secondary, limited A&M to just 14 points into the fourth quarter. And seven of those came on the opening drive. There were drops — at least four — throws that just missed and post-catch slips. Penalties. Broken plays. A missed field goal. But mostly, DE Trey Flowers terrorized RT Germain Ifedi, bull rushing him straight into Kenny Hill on several occasions, swatting down passes and plugging running lanes. The defensive backs didn’t allow the athletic receivers to make easy catches underneath, and it took Hill and A&M more than three quarters to iron out the deep passes. The Aggies were terrific in the fourth quarter and overtime, and looked great to start the game. But Arkansas nearly put this game away because of how effective the Razorbacks were on defense.
  • CB Deshazor Everett was a man’s man against the run. S Armani Watts? Something less. Texas A&M allowed 285 rushing yards. Take away the fake punt and the total shrinks to a still-high 234. Many of those came because Watts missed tackles, beginning on the first two Arkansas touchdown runs. Watts also vacated his spot in coverage, biting on play fakes and seeming more eager to stop the run on pass plays than he did on run plays, when he seemed content to stick out an arm and get spun around. By contrast, Everett swarmed to the backfield time and time again, shedding blocks, using speed to track down plays from the back side and playing physical. On the final fourth-and-2 in overtime, he waited patiently on the right side of the Arkansas line, holding containment instead of crashing inside. DE Julien Obioha set the edge on the tight end and was able to shed the block. When the left side didn’t get much push for the Razorbacks and the play reversed directions, the two of them stonewalled it. Game over.
  • The defense has gotten better. Not better enough to be good. But better enough to contribute. Freshman DE Myles Garrett, who started his first game, got pressure on Brandon Allen at times. Garrett was especially effective stunting against the interior of the Arkansas offensive line. LB Shaan Washington plays downhill and fast and is an asset against the run. De’Vante Harris got burned a few times in coverage, but also added run support at times. Alonzo Williams had his moments playing over the center. Most importantly, the defense played its best in the fourth quarter and in overtime. A&M’s coaching staff gives a lot of credit to better depth leading to fresher legs.
  • This isn’t a College Football Playoff team. Yes, A&M may deserve its No. 6 ranking for now. But the Aggies win at South Carolina looks more diminished each week. And Arkansas is a commendable seventh fiddle in the SEC West, but national championship teams don’t struggle so mightily with seventh fiddles. Hill, the receivers, the defense — they’re a year away. It’s hard to envision this team this year surviving the SEC West meat grinder. Alabama and Auburn are a step ahead, though Sumlin’s recruiting is closing the gap fast.
  • Don’t discount the running game. Tra Carson, Brandon Williams and Hill combined for 104 rushing yards on 16 carries. Speedy Noil added a 10-yard reverse. Trey Williams had a more modest day, but Carson looked especially proficient. In the fourth quarter, when the team needed to drive the ball, it used the running game to avoid second-and-10 or third-and-9, and with success. The Arkansas defensive line proved it probably was underrated entering the game, but A&M should continue to run the ball in marquee SEC matchups to take pressure off Hill and put the offense in favorable down-and-distance situations.