Facts To Know: Belk Bowl
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Arkansas will appear in its third consecutive bowl game when it takes on No. 22 Virginia Tech of the ACC in the 2016 Belk Bowl on Thursday at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on ESPN with Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Ed Cunningham (analyst) and Dr. Jerry Punch (sideline) on the broadcast.
Kickoff: Thursday, Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m. CT
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium (75,412)
TV: ESPN
WatchESPN: Click Here
Live Stats: Click Here
Game Notes: Click Here
#RazorFacts
• The Belk Bowl appearance will be the first for both Arkansas and Virginia Tech, and is the first-ever meeting between the two programs. It will also be Arkansas’ first game against an ACC opponent since 1995 when it played North Carolina in the CarQuest Bowl.
• Arkansas is the designated away team and Virginia Tech is the designated home team.
• The Razorbacks have earned a bowl bid three straight years under Bret Bielema, a feat that has been accomplished six times in program history.
• This is the 10th time in 11 seasons a Bret Bielema led team has earned a bowl bid.
Five Key Storylines
• The only SEC West program to win a bowl game each of the last two years, Arkansas will be looking to make it three straight seasons with a postseason win for the first time in program history. The Razorbacks have won their last three bowl appearances dating back to the 2012 Cotton Bowl, which is the longest bowl win streak in Arkansas history.
• Arkansas earned its third straight bowl appearance by putting together a 7-5 record in the regular season that included seven games against ranked teams. The Razorbacks picked up ranked wins at TCU, against Ole Miss and against SEC East champion Florida behind SEC leading rusher running back Rawleigh Williams III, who averaged 155 yards on the ground over those three contests.
• Arkansas’ combined 13 wins over the final seven games of the 2015 season through the 12-game regular season in 2016 are tied for the third-most in the SEC over that span. Out of Arkansas seven wins this season, three have come against teams ranked in the top 15, tied for the third-most in the nation.
• The Razorbacks will have the opportunity to pick up their fourth win over a ranked opponent this season and eighth since the start of the 2014 season against No. 22 Virginia Tech. The Hokies will be the eighth ranked opponent Arkansas has faced this season. In 50 career games at Arkansas, Bret Bielema has faced a ranked opponent 26 times.
• Six different Razorbacks earned postseason All-SEC honors this season from the league head coaches and Associated Press, including offensive lineman Dan Skipper (AP first team, Coaches first team), running back Rawleigh Williams III (AP first team, Coaches second team), center Frank Ragnow (AP second team), defensive lineman McTelvin Agim (All-Freshman team), linebacker De’Jon Harris (All-Freshman team), and linebacker Brooks Ellis (Scholar-Athlete of the Year).
Double Trouble
• Arkansas has been one of the most balanced offenses in the nation over the last two seasons under coordinator Dan Enos. In fact, Arkansas and Boise State are the only two FBS teams to have a 3,000-yard passer and 1,300-yard rusher in each of the last two seasons. Even more impressive, Arkansas has accomplished the feat with two different quarterbacks and two different running backs.
• The combo of a 3,000-yard passer and 1,300-yard rusher has been accomplished three times in Arkansas’ program history (2010, 15, 16) with two coming under Enos the last two years.
• Arkansas is one of nine FBS programs with a 3,000-yard passer and 1,300-yard rusher this season along with Boise State, Florida State, Louisville, Toledo, Tulsa, Washington, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan.
• Arkansas is one of just eight FBS programs (California, Indiana, LA Tech, Memphis, North Carolina, TCU, Western Kentucky) with a different 3,000-yard passer in 2015 and 2016.
• Brandon Allen (2015) and Austin Allen (2016) have each passed for 3,000 yards in the last two seasons. The only other time two different quarterbacks have thrown for 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons came in 2010 (Ryan Mallett) and 2011 (Tyler Wilson).
• Arkansas is one of just three FBS programs (Appalachian State, South Florida) with a different 1,300-yard rusher in 2015 and 2016.
• This is just the second time Arkansas has had a 1,300-yard rusher in back-to-back seasons and the first time two different players have accounted for 1,300 yards rushing in consecutive seasons. Darren McFadden rushed for over 1,300 yards in 2006 and 2007.
Averaging 30-Plus Points
• Arkansas is looking to average at least 30 points for the third straight season averaging 30.8 through 12 games in 2016 after 35.9 in 2015 and 31.9 in 2014. Arkansas is currently one of only four teams in the SEC to average 30 or more points in each of the last three seasons.
Hogs Lead SEC In Time Of Posession
• Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks second in the FBS in time of possession per game (35:01.17). The Razorbacks have led the SEC in time of possession each of the last two seasons. Bret Bielema is 71-28 all-time when his team wins the time of possession battle. The Razorbacks are averaging a 10-minute, 27-second advantage in possession time against its opponents this season. In addition, Arkansas is 5-1 under Coach Bielema when possessing the ball for 40 or more minutes.
Four With 30 Or More Catches
• Razorbacks Drew Morgan (61), Keon Hatcher (38), Jeremy Sprinkle (33), Jared Cornelius (32) have each recorded at least 30 receptions this season. Ole Miss is the only other team in the SEC to have four different players with 30+ catches.
• This is the first time an Arkansas team has had four different players haul in 30+ passes in a season since 2011 when Jarius Wright (66), Joe Adams (54), Chris Gragg (41) and Cobi Hamilton (34) accomplished the feat.
