The Southwest Classic featured new coaches on both sidelines of the game for the first time since the contest became a Southeastern Conference affair, but despite the new blood in this one, the results remain the same for the Razorbacks — Arkansas will return to Fayetteville with a heartwrenching defeat at the hands of Texas A&M in Arlington by the final score of 24-17.

Jimbo Fisher gets his first win in the series while Chad Morris suffers the first loss of his career against his alma mater.

While no Razorback fan can, or should, be satisfied with any moral victories, you have to credit Arkansas for not folding immediately in this one as the Razorbacks special teams woes continued in this game kicked off from Arlington. Starting off as poorly as humanly possible, Arkansas allowed Texas A&M running back Jashaun Corbin to return the opening kickoff 100 years for a touchdown.

That play represents the third consecutive special teams touchdown given up by the Razorbacks, of course, beginning with the now-infamous North Texas fakeout punt return touchdown two weekends ago. It initially appeared to signal a nightmare showing for the Razorbacks as Morris’ team was completely outclassed in the first quarter with Fisher’s team jumping out to a 14-point lead after one after Trayveon Williams scored his first touchdown of the game.

It was such a poor offensive performance by the Razorbacks, Arkansas finished the first quarter with -3 yards of total offense and no first downs on four possessions. What kept Arkansas in the game was Kellen Mond’s worst performance to date under Fisher. Following a fast start to the game, Mond finished the first half throwing two interceptions.

Mond finished the game completing 17 of 25 throws for 201 yards and no touchdowns. He also had the two interceptions but added 14 yards on the ground.

Following his disastrous start, Ty Storey got hot in the second quarter, leading the Razorbacks down the field and into the red zone where Cole Kelley came in and put Arkansas on the board following two designed quarterback run plays near the goal line. Tight end CJ O’Grady showed up in a big way on the drive with two catches for 53 yards on this drive alone.

That was the only first-half touchdown of the day for the Razorbacks and proved to be a one-time spurt until the final drive of the game for the team.

The Razorbacks finished the game with 154 yards of total offense, Storey completed 12 of 22 passes for 174 yards with one touchdown and one costly interception. Arkansas ran 26 times for 45 yards in this one and scored only three points in the second half until the final drive by the Razorbacks.

While Arkansas’ defense held strong in this one, a few late penalties and a turnover crushed any chance of winning this game.

A hands to the face in the fourth quarter kept A&M drive alive at the start of the fourth, on what would have forced A&M to punt. That could have been another crushing blow to Arkansas, as the Aggies proceeded to march down the field following the penalty. At that moment, the penalty felt like an all-too-familiar error that would cause the Razorbacks the game. The Aggies had struggled to move the ball for the entire second half but marched all the way down to the red zone after the hands to the face penalty.

However, the Razorbacks held strong and forced a field goal attempt that was missed by Aggie kicker, Seth Small.

While the Razorbacks dodged a bullet on that possession, another hands to the face penalty, and a questionable targeting call kept the next Aggie drive alive. Arkansas could not hold on that possession, which ended in another Williams touchdown, to push the Aggies’ lead to 14 points. Williams finished the day with 150 yards and two scores on the day.

Once again, Arkansas had a chance to fold at that point, but Storey drove the Razorbacks the length of the field and scored on an explosive pass with 3:16 left in the game to pull within seven points. Following the score, Morris decided to kick the ball to Texas A&M, and it paid off as his defense stopped the Aggies when it mattered most.

The Razorbacks got the ball back with 1:51 left on the clock at the 26-yard line but Storey’s only interception of the day ended any hope Arkansas had in this one. A&M safety Donovan Wilson was the hero of the play, extending the A&M streak in this annual series to seven.