10 Things To Know: Hogs vs. Aggies

DALLAS — Arkansas will open the SEC portion of its 2017 schedule when the Razorbacks travel to Arlington, Texas, to battle longtime rival Texas A&M at 11 a.m. CT Saturday in the annual Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The game will be televised on ESPN with Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard and Allison Williams on the call.

Here’s 10 things to know heading into Saturday’s game:

1. The Razorbacks will wear Cowboys-inspired uniforms in Razorback red against Texas A&M on Saturday to honor Jerry Jones on his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2. Head coach Bret Bielema has led Arkansas to three straight wins following a bye week, defeating Florida (2016), Auburn (2015) and LSU (2014).

3. The Razorbacks hold a 41-29-3 advantage in the all-time series against the Aggies that dates back to first meeting in 1903. Saturday’s game will mark the third straight year Arkansas has opened its SEC slate against Texas A&M.

4. It will be the fourth time the Hogs and Aggies meet in their 11-year agreement to play the Southwest Classic. The two schools previously met at AT&T Stadium each year (three times) from 2009 until Texas A&M joined the SEC following the 2011 season.

5. Junior linebacker Dre Greenlaw had a career-high 17 tackles against No. 23 TCU, the most by a Razorback since 2010, when Jerry Franklin recorded 20 stops at Mississippi State in a 38-31 double-overtime victory. Greenlaw has posted double-digit tackles in six games since his freshman season in 2015, the fifth most by a Razorback since 2000. He ranks third in the SEC in tackles per game (9.5).

6. Junior defensive back and team captain Santos Ramirez was named to Pro Football Focus’ Week 2 SEC Team of the Week for defense after turning in eight tackles, breaking up a pass in the end zone, nabbing an interception in TCU territory and also forcing a fumble. He earned an 87.3 grade from the analysis website. Ramirez is one of four players in the SEC with an interception and forced fumble through the first three weeks.

7. Arkansas has allowed a total of 536 yards of opponent offense on 133 plays through two games, just 4.0 yards per play, which ranks 14th in the FBS. The Razorbacks rank tied for 17th nationally and tied for fifth in the SEC in total defense, allowing 268.0 yards per game. Arkansas has allowed just three plays of 20-plus yards from scrimmage, which leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the FBS. The Razorbacks are the only team in the FBS that hasn’t allowed a play of 30-plus yards from scrimmage.

8. Senior quarterback Austin Allen needs 109 passing yards to become the 12th QB in school history to top the 4,000-yard plateau in career passing yardage. He also needs one passing touchdown to tie Quinn Grovey and Bill Montgomery for the eighth most career passing touchdowns (29).

9. The Hogs’ leading receiver through two games, junior Jonathan Nance is one of 15 SEC receivers averaging over 16 yards per catch. Nance has six receptions on six targets for 100 yards and a touchdown catch of 49 yards on the season. Four of his six catches have resulted in a first down, which leads the team.

10. Following the Texas A&M game in 2015, Arkansas has recorded a 8-1 record in games immediately following a loss. The Razorbacks averaged 39.3 points scored and 22.6 points allowed in those nine games.