FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas is looking to follow its defeat of then-No. 4 Tennessee with another upset of a Top 10-ranked opponent.
The Razorbacks take on No. 8 LSU on Saturday night. They have beaten Top-10 ranked LSU teams three times since 2007. The Razorbacks were either unranked or ranked lower in each of those games.
LSU coach Brian Kelly has been clear with his team (5-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) about staying focused when they visit Arkansas (4-2, 2-1).
“It will be a conversation that takes place,” Kelly said. “And this is where you lean on (quarterback Garrett) Nussmeier … and guys that have taken this trip and been part of it. That’s where you ask your veterans to really step up.”
The Razorbacks are on a high after upsetting Tennessee on Oct. 5, sending the home fans onto the field after the victory and forcing the SEC to fine the school.
LSU also is feeling good heading into the annual Battle for the Boot rivalry game after a three-point overtime victory against Ole Miss last week.
Nussmeier spent most of the last three years as a backup, including the last two as Jayden Daniels’ reserve. But in 2022, when Arkansas last beat LSU, Nussmeier took over in the first half for starter Max Johnson and completed 18 of 31 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions.
He isn’t that quarterback anymore. Nussmeier enters Saturday’s game sixth in FBS in yards passing per game with 331. His 18 touchdown passes are tied for third.
LSU ranks 15th in the 16-team SEC in yards rushing per game, despite featuring talented running backs in Josh Williams and true freshman Caden Durham.
“We’re exceptional pass blockers,” Kelly said. “We are capable of being better in the run game. … There’s more out there for us.”
Durham might be the answer. After barely playing early in the season, he leads the team with 281 yards rushing. He has three rushing touchdowns and averages 6.9 yards per carry.
The speedster also has nine catches for 141 yards and two scores.
The Razorbacks may not be the easiest team to get things going against. Arkansas is 29th in the land in rushing yards allowed per game, giving up just 106.5 on average. In total defense, the Razorbacks are 34th in FBS, something coach Sam Pittman credited to his second-year defensive coordinator Travis Williams.
“I think T-Will and his group in there have done a really good job of understanding who we have, how we can stop our opponents and have done a really good job of not being afraid,” Pittman said. “I think we’ve had enough success now where he’s going ‘OK, this is how we can win. This is what we can do.’”
Arkansas will likely play without two regular starters against LSU, though starting quarterback Taylen Green’s injury didn’t appear to Pittman to be as serious as initially feared. Green left the team’s win over Tennessee last time out with a left leg injury. Pittman said the quarterback is likely to be ready by kickoff Saturday.
“He’s practiced each day,” Pittman said. “So, I feel like he will (be ready), but we’ll have to wait and see a little bit more. … We’re hoping that he’s ready to play and we think he’ll be able to.”
Cornerback Jaylon Braxton, a Freshman All-SEC selection last year, has yet to play this season because of what Pittman called tendinitis and a bone bruise. He won’t debut against the Tigers, either. And Patrick Kutas, the team’s expected starting tackle this year, also has yet to play because of a back injury. He wasn’t listed as “out” on the depth chart, but appears unlikely to go.
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