KJ Jefferson threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns before getting banged up to start out the last half and No. 16 Arkansas persisted for a 20-10 convert seventh-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday, the primary within the series for the Razorbacks in their 10 seasons as Southeastern Conference foes. Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 SEC) also had its overall 11-game streak snapped. Jefferson came up limping and favoring his left leg after getting tackled out of bounds to start out the last half and left a couple of plays later. But he did return to the sport late and was on the sector to require the ultimate kneel-down within the SEC opener to cap Arkansas’ first 4-0 start since 2003.
The Aggies hadn’t allowed a passing touchdown this season until Jefferson’s 85-yard score to Treylon Burks, who was pushed by a defender and match the catch near the 40. Burks seemed to stumble, but stayed upright and sprinted down the proper sideline for a 10-0 lead late within the half-moon. Arkansas leads 42-33-1 overall within the series that dates back to 1903 and includes their time as longtime Southwest Conference rivals. But Texas A&M had won all nine meetings since joining the SEC in 2012, which was 20 years after the Razorbacks debuted within the league.
Jefferson threw another TD early within the second quarter when AJ Green caught a pass within the left flat, shed one defender, did a stutter step around another one then got a lift when linebacker Aaron Hansford basically pushed him past yet one more defender inside the 25 on thanks to a 48-yard touchdown. Jefferson finished 7 of 15 for 212 yards with many big plays. Trelon Smith added 82 yards rushing because the Razorbacks accumulated 443 total yards The Aggies cut the gap to 17-10 midway through the third quarter when Isaiah Spiller took a handoff up the center, found an open gap, and outran four defensive backs to the top zone for a 17-10 lead. That was most of Spillar’s 95 yards.
