2024-09-22 08:05:02
This story was updated to add new information.
This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.
It was the TJ Metcalf game.
Arkansas football knocked off Auburn 24-14 Saturday thanks to a heroic day from Metcalf, who recorded two interceptions and played a role in four of Auburn’s five turnovers. Metcalf also had a forced fumble and tipped a pass that led to another interception by Doneiko Slaughter.
The Alabama native led the Razorbacks (3-1) to a win in their SEC opener despite a sluggish offensive performance. Arkansas entered the week averaging 587.3 yards per game, but Auburn held the Hogs to 334 yards.
Still, the offense did enough. Taylen Green had another good day with his legs, accounting for 80 rushing yards, and he hit Isaiah Sategna for a decisive 58-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Ja’Quinden Jackson scored two one-yard rushing touchdowns, and Arkansas found the end zone on a clutch drive in the fourth quarter that stretched the lead to two possessions.
Here’s a look at highlights, key plays and more from the Arkansas win.
Arkansas football vs Auburn score updates
| Arkansas | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Auburn | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Fourth Quarter
Auburn turnover on downs
- Arkansas sacks Payton Thorne twice and takes over deep inside Tigers‘ territory with 2:16 remaining. It looks like Arkansas is going to come away with a road win here.
Touchdown Arkansas: Ja’Quinden Jackson 1-yard run
- The Hogs find the end zone in a had-to-have-it drive. Jackson punches it in, but Taylen Green once again did most of the damage with his legs. Arkansas leads 24-14 with 3:38 remaining.
Touchdown Auburn: Payton Thorne 67-yard pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith
- The Tigers went for it on fourth-and-two from their own 33, and the gamble paid off with a long touchdown. Arkansas also gambled with a blitz up the middle, but Thorne found the vacated space. Arkansas leads 17-14 with 9:50 remaining.
Arkansas field goal: Kyle Ramsey makes 43-yard kick
- Arkansas grabs a two-score lead with 12:04 remaining. Ramsey is now 1-for-2 on the day, but this was a big kick to give the Hogs some breathing room.
Third Quarter
Interception Arkansas: TJ Metcalf picks off Payton Thorne
- Metcalf gets his second interception of the day. This one was a little fortunate, as Payton Thorne’s passed was dropped and tipped into the air by freshman Cam Coleman. The Hogs won’t complain, and they’ll take a 14-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Touchdown Arkansas: Taylen Green 58-yard pass to Isaiah Sategna
- Finally, some magic from Green through the air. The quarterback escaped the pocket, rolled to his left and found Sategna in the end zone to re-take the lead. It wasn’t a perfect throw, but it was terrific athleticism from Green and great concentration from Sategna. Arkansas leads 14-7 with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter.
Touchdown Auburn: Payton Thorne 10-yard pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith
- The Tigers go 77 yards on just six plays and finally get on the scoreboard. Arkansas benched Taylen Green on the previous drive, and the offense went three-and-out. Green came back out for the next drive.
Auburn fake punt fails
- The Tigers tried a fake punt on fourth-and-nine from inside their own half, but punter Oscar Chapman didn’t come close to the first down. Hogs will start their first drive of the second half inside Auburn territory.
Second Quarter
Arkansas interception: TJ Metcalf picks off Hank Brown
- Metcalf intercepts Brown on a diving snag off a tipped ball. That’s the third turnover Metcalf has played a part in today. Arkansas leads Auburn 7-0 at halftime.
Auburn interception: Sylvester Smith picks off Taylen Green
- The Tigers respond with a interception of their own, and Smith returns it all the way to midfield. Huge missed opportunity for the Hogs here
Arkansas interception: Jayden Johnson picks off Hank Brown
- Johnson read Brown’s eyes and jumped the pass for an easy interception, and the Hogs now have the ball at the Auburn 27 late in the second quarter.
Auburn fumble: Recovered by Stephen Dix Jr.
- Damari Alston looked like he was headed straight to the end zone, but TJ Metcalf jars the ball loose and Stephen Dix Jr. falls on it in the end zone. Huge turn of events there as Arkansas maintains its 7-0 lead late in the second half.
Arkansas turnover on downs
- The Razorbacks went for it on fourth-and-one from the Auburn 44, but Taylen Green was immediately sacked after faking a handoff. The Tigers take over at midfield with 3:23 remaining in the first half. Arkansas leads 7-0.
Teams exchange punts
- Both teams punt after the Arkansas touchdown. The Razorbacks continue to have snap issues between center Addison Nichols and quarterback Taylen Green. Nichols was at fault for the latest miscue, which forced the Hogs into third-and-long and their eventual punt.
Touchdown Arkansas: Ja’Quinden Jackson 1-yard run
- Arkansas capitalizes off the Auburn turnover, marching 81 yards on 15 plays and punching it in with a short touchdown run. The Hogs have out-gained Auburn 123-48. Still, it should be 10-0 instead of 7-0.
First Quarter
Interception Arkansas
- The Auburn offense was humming on its first drive, but a first-down pass from Hank Brown is tipped by safety TJ Metcalf and falls into the arms of Doneiko Slaughter for an interception. The Razorbacks take over at their own 19 with the game still scoreless and 6:54 remaining in the first quarter.
Arkansas missed field goal: Kyle Ramsey wide right from 41 yards
- A promising Arkansas drive to open the game stalls on a third-down sack, and Ramsey misses the field goal. Special teams continues to be a weakness for the Hogs.
Arkansas vs Auburn time today
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
- Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.
What channel is the Arkansas vs Auburn game on today?
Arkansas vs Auburn will broadcast on ESPN in Week 4 of the 2024 college football season. Mark Jones and Roddy Jones will call the game from the booth at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with Quint Kessenich reporting from the sideline. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Arkansas vs Auburn history
- Series record: Arkansas leads, 1-0
- Arkansas’ last win: 2022 (41-27)
- Auburn’s last win: 2023 (48-10)
Arkansas vs Auburn prediction
Auburn 34, Arkansas 27: The Razorbacks should be able to nullify the Tigers’ strength running the football, and Auburn’s 99th-ranked pass defense could lead to a bounce-back performance from Taylen Green. Still, Arkansas has not shown it’s capable of winning these games over the past two years. Until they do, we’ll pick the opposition.
Arkansas injury updates
Out
Defensive back Jaylon Braxton
Defensive back Miguel Mitchell
Defensive back Hudson Clark
Offensive lineman Patrick Kutas
Tight end Andreas Paaske
Wide receiver Khafre Brown
Auburn injury updates
Out
Defensive back Tyler Scott
Tight end Brandon Frazier
Kicker Alex McPherson
Probable
Wide receiver Cam Coleman
Defensive lineman Amaris Williams
Arkansas vs Auburn weather update
Fall is here, but it will feel like a hot summer day on the Plains with a high of 90 degrees, and the temperature will be just near that mark at kickoff.
Arkansas football schedule 2024
- Aug. 29: beat UAPB 70-0
- Sept. 7: lost to Oklahoma State 39-31 (2OT)
- Sept. 14: beat UAB 37-27
- Sept. 21: at Auburn
- Sept. 28: vs Texas A&M (Dallas)
- Oct. 5: vs Tennessee
- Oct. 19: vs LSU
- Oct. 26: at Mississippi State
- Nov. 2: vs Ole Miss
- Nov. 16: vs Texas
- Nov. 23: vs Louisiana Tech
- Nov. 30: at Missouri
Auburn schedule 2024
- Aug. 31: beat Alabama A&M 73-3
- Sept. 7: lost to California 21-14
- Sept. 14: beat New Mexico 45-19
- Sept. 21: vs Arkansas
- Sept. 28: vs Oklahoma
- Oct. 5: at Georgia
- Oct. 19: at Missouri
- Oct. 26: at Kentucky
- Nov. 2: vs Vanderbilt
- Nov. 16: vs Louisiana Monroe
- Nov. 23: vs Texas A&M
- Nov. 30: at Alabama
Arkansas football news
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