The Southwest Classic matchup of the Arkansas Razorbacks vs. the Texas A&M Aggies is one of the weekend’s most intriguing matchups, and should give some answers on which program is closer to challenging Alabama for the SEC West crown. Will the Razorbacks’ moveable object (defense) hold off the Aggies’ stoppable force (offense), or can A&M get their talent to match expectations and hold off the Hogs winning for the second consecutive year?
The game itself, however, may look and sound like a performance car stuck in first gear. You know, where it looks flashy and impresses you when it rolls through the school zone. Entering the on-ramp of a highway, however, quickly makes you realize that whoever is driving that beautiful machine has no idea what they’re doing. It should be impressive. It should even turn some heads. The way people have talked about it for the last few months, you could expect to be a little excited to see it in person.
However, all the talk and flash and bluster are for naught if the driver can’t figure out how to turn the handles and operate the controls properly. Therein lies the problem for Sam Pittman and Jimbo Fisher as they bring their teams to the Southwest Classic in Arlington for a 6pm CST kickoff Saturday night.
For the Razorbacks
Through their first 3 games, Arkansas has – at times – flashed some of the justification of its Top 10 ranking. Quarterback KJ Jefferson has thrown 6 TD’s to only 1 INT and is completing 70.5% of his passes. He’s even added 169 yards on the ground. The 6’3″, 240 junior is a load to bring down, and has a cannon for an arm. As a team, the Razorbacks are averaging 5.0 yards per carry, with Raheim Sanders pacing the backfield with 146 yards per game. Wide receiver Jadon Haselwood (Oklahoma transfer) has seemed to emerge as Jefferson’s favorite target, and TE Trey Knox is a reliable and dangerous weapon.
Arkansas’ Moveable Object
Arkansas’ weakness is on the other side of the ball. Losing safety Jalon Catalon is a massive blow, but the Hogs boast experience at every position on defense. Linebacker Drew Sanders (Alabama transfer) is already being discussed as the one of the top defenders in the SEC. Somehow, opponents continue to dice up the Arkansas secondary like it was playing 7-on-7.
The Razorbacks rank 131st (out of 131 teams) in passing yards allowed, giving up a staggering 353.0 yards per game. That could be justified if Sam Pittman’s squad had played three teams that are pass-first in their attacks, but Cincinnati (breaking in a new QB), South Carolina (breaking in a transfer QB) and Missouri State don’t exactly strike fear into the heart. Barry Odom is a world-class defensive coordinator, but the amount of yards given up by the Razorbacks through their first three games is worrisome.
They are the Moveable Object.
For the Aggies
Texas A&M began their season with a less-impressive-than-expected shutout of Sam Houston State, followed by the most shocking upset so far this college football season when they lost at home to Appalachian State as a 3-score favorite. The Aggies rebounded with a win over the 13th-ranked Miami Hurricanes last Saturday, but did little to assuage concerns about Jimbo Fisher’s offense.
Haynes King began the year as QB1, but after the first two games it was clear a change was needed. Max Johnson got an opportunity to right the ship last weekend at home vs. Miami, and he was solid yet unspectacular. The former LSU signal caller transferred to Texas A&M as a much-needed leader with battle experience for an offense that boasted talent in bunches, but was still young and unproven. Factoring in missing starters at center and tight end, suspensions for a couple of uber-talented freshman receivers, and the inability to get stud running back Devon Achane loose, and the frustration continues to mount in College Station.
Texas A&M’s Stoppable Force
Through their first handful of games, the Aggies ranked 99th in passing offense and 112th in rushing offense. Only four players have caught more than five passes to date. Combined, Aggie QB’s are completing just a smidge of 61% of their passes. The run game has only produced 3.9 yards per attempt. Oh, and they rank 122nd in time of possession.
They are the Stoppable Force.
Something has to give in JerryWorld on Saturday night. Will the Razorbacks defense figure out how to stop A&M? Will the Aggie offense finally figure things out against the Hogs’ D?
Which team figures out how to drive their expensive car will likely win the 2022 iteration of the Southwest Classic.
Pigs and Gig’s notes:
Texas A&M won nine straight over Arkansas before last year’s loss. That matches Arkansas’ own nine game winning streak over the Aggies from 1959-1966. The two programs did not play each other from 1992 to 2009.
Arkansas leads the overall series 42-33-3.
The series is tied 15-15 over the last 30 meetings.
Texas A&M leads the series 13-7 over the last 20 meetings.
Texas A&M leads the series 9-1 over the last 10 meetings, all of which occurred after the Aggies became members of the Southeastern Conference.
Arkansas’ 45-6 win in 1970 is their largest margin of victory (39 points) in the series.
Texas A&M’s 58-10 win in 2012 is their largest margin of victory (48 points) in the series.
The last 5 meetings have been decided by an average of 7.8 points.
What are your predictions for the 2022 Southwest Classic?
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