10 Things To Know: Hogs vs. Frogs

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — After opening its season with a 49-7 win over Florida A&M last Thursday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, the Arkansas will take on former Southwest Conference rival and No. 23-ranked TCU at 2:39 p.m. CT on Saturday inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The game will be televised on CBS with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce on the call. It will be the first SEC on CBS Game of the Week this season.

Here’s 10 things to know heading into Saturday’s non-conference showdown:

1. In a rematch of last year’s 41-38 double-overtime win in Fort Worth, Texas, TCU will head to The Hill for the first time since 1988 when both the Horned Frogs and Razorbacks were members of the SWC. Bret Bielema is 41-4 against non-conference opponents during the regular season over his 12-year head-coaching career. Bielema is 4-1 against Big 12 opposition at Arkansas.

2. Last year’s thriller saw quarterback Austin Allen complete 17 of 29 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Allen led the Razorbacks to the tying score in the final two minutes of regulation, going 4-for-4 with a touchdown pass and then catching the tying 2-point conversion with 1:03 remaining. He later ran 5 yards for the winning score in the second overtime to lift Arkansas to victory, snapping TCU’s 14-game home winning streak.

3. The Razorbacks lead the all-time series 44-23-2 dating back to 1920. Arkansas is 24-10-1 at home against the Horned Frogs. The Hogs have won 31 of the last 34 meetings dating back to 1959, including each of the last two.

4. Arkansas’ tailback trio of sophomore Devwah Whaley, freshman Chase Hayden and senior David Williams combined for four rushing touchdowns and 251 all-purpose yards in the season opener.

5. Hayden earned the first SEC Freshman of the Week award of the 2017 season on Tuesday after running for 120 yards and a TD in his college debut, becoming the first Razorback true freshman to hit the 100-yard mark in his first game since Alex Collins ran for 131 yards against Louisiana in 2013. Whaley added 60 yards and a TD, while Williams chipped in 23 yards rushing and two scores as Arkansas totaled 236 yards on the ground on 45 carries.

6. Williams, who also had two catches for 48 yards, including a 37-yard grab for the Hogs’ longest play of the night, was one of only seven players in the SEC to find the end zone twice on the ground in Week 1. His two rushing touchdowns agaist Florida A&M were the most by a Razorback in a season opener since Kody Walker’s two in 2011.

7. Arkansas outgained Florida A&M 415-175 in total offense. Allen completed 14 of 19 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown — a 16-yard pass to sophomore wideout Deon Stewart — and one interception in three quarters played. Redshirt freshman Cole Kelley made his debut, finishing off a 10-play drive with a 7-yard TD strike to sophomore tight end Cheyenne O’Grady.

8. Ty Clary became the first true freshman offensive lineman to start a season opener since Mitch Smothers, who started at left tackle in 2011. Clary started at right guard against Florida A&M and allowed zero pressures on 24 pass blocking attempts in his debut.

9. Outside linebacker Gabe Richardson forced a fumble to start the second half during his first career defensive snap as a Razorback and senior defensive back Henre’ Toliver was there for the 18-yard scoop and score to give Arkansas a 28-0 lead in the third quarter. It marked the second straight year Toliver has scored a defensive TD in Little Rock. It was the first time since the 2014 Texas Bowl that an Arkansas player recovered a fumble for a touchdown.

10. The Razorbacks totaled three sacks and six tackles for loss and held the Rattlers to 3 of 16 on third-down conversions. Randy Ramsey recorded the first sack of the season for a loss of six yards on third down of Florida A&M’s first possession, pushing his career total to 3.5. Nine different Razorbacks caught at least one pass in the season opener, while 27 recorded at least one tackle.