Aggies prepare for the annual Hog hunt
The time has come for A&M’s annual Razorback slaughter. By: The Hammer
This year, the location has changed from Jerry World in Arlington, TX to a home game at Kyle Field, but Jimbo and the Aggies are planning for the same result: a Fightin’ Texas Aggie victory. Calling it a slaughter is probably a little harsh because this game is always close.
This rivalry goes back a looong way as these teams first met on the gridiron in 1903. A&M came out with a 6-0 victory in a complete barnburner in the first ever meeting. Since that first matchup, the teams have played 75 times and Arkansas leads the overall series 41-32 (there have been three ties). What many fans now consider an old Southwest Conference rivalry, has since been renewed with these teams playing each year since 2009. The game is even affectionately called “The Southwest Classic.”
Much to the Razorbacks’ chagrin, the Aggies have won every meeting since joining the SEC in 2012. During this eight game winning streak, three games have gone into overtime and two others were decided by a touchdown or less. Safe to say this game has been entertaining each and every year, and thankfully, A&M has avoided a loss.
This year’s matchup should provide another great game. After not winning an SEC contest for two seasons, Sam Pittman and Hogs tout 2-2 record with wins against Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Arkansas also hung around Georgia for a half and should have beaten Auburn if not for a terrible officiating call. This is not the same Arkansas team we have seen over the last few years.
In Bret Bielema’s final few years and the entire, albeit brief, Chad Morris era, the Hogs were just not competitive. They had no real identity and it showed on the field. Despite their shortcomings, they always brought it against A&M and kept it close. Too close for us Aggies in many of those games, especially given how bad those Arkansas teams were.
Arkansas is competing with everyone this year, which makes this matchup really interesting. Sam Pittman and the Hogs are getting a ton of attention for an unranked 2-2 team, mostly because the expectations were so low coming into this season. An unknown first time head coach, no spring ball, limited summer workouts, and a team who had not won an SEC game since 2017 deserved the low expectations. In fact, our friends over at Biscuits & SEC picked the Razorbacks to go 1-9 this year, as many did. That said, it is important to note that Arkansas is not void of talent. They are rated #25 by 24/7’s talent composite, which compares roster talent based recruiting ratings of players on the team. Pittman has just done a good job of getting his players motivated and putting them in a position to be successful, something the previous regime could not do, despite recruiting well.
But enough about the Hogs. How bout them Aggies, huh? After a slow start against Vanderbilt and a reality check delivered by Alabama, A&M finds themselves at 3-1. A huge win against #4 Florida and a solid, workmanlike road victory over Mississippi State and the Aggies are on a roll. This team is physical. A&M runs the ball, stops the run and looks like the second best team in the SEC West up to this point.
Now for the breakdown of this matchup - A&M is the better team. Surprisingly the much maligned Arkansas quarterback by way of transfer from Florida, Feliepe Franks, has been solid this year. In fact, Franks and Mond almost have identical stats up to this point.
Franks: 82/128 (64.1%), 974 yards, 8 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and a QBR of 143.9.
Mond: 80/130 (61.5%), 984 yards, 9 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a QBR of 144.9.
Photo: Shaban Athuman, Dallas Morning News
Clearly neither team has much of an advantage under center. So what gives A&M the advantage in this one? Thankfully we have several units that are better than the Hogs. First and foremost is the offensive line and running game.
A&M comes in averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 172.3 rushing yards per game. The OL has also only allowed two sacks all season. The Razorbacks surrender 177.3 yards per game on the ground and allow opponents 4.4 yards per carry. This plays right into A&M’s hands. Feed Isaiah Spiller and Ainias Smith all night and don't give the ball away. Arkansas will have a very hard time matching up over 60 minutes with our offensive line and running backs. The Hogs are improved and confident, but we are much better in trenches on both sides of the ball. Our offensive line can get push and our defensive line can wreak havoc on these guys.
The Hogs offensive line has been far less impressive. Arkansas averages a measly 2.6 yards per carry and 102.3 rushing yards per game. Granted, Aggie transfer Rakeem Boyd has missed a few games (he should be at full-strength for Saturday), but I’m still not worried. Plus, they have given up 10 sacks so far. Our front seven must be licking their chops for this matchup. No one has been able to run on A&M so far this year. The Aggies defense has given up an average of 75.5 rushing yards per game and held Vandy, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State to 2.7 yards per carry. So this Razorback team ain’t running on us. Look for our defensive line and linebackers to stifle the run game and be in the Felipe Franks’ face all night. I am expecting a big game from Buddy Johnson, TJB’s Butkus favorite Aaron Hansford, Micheal Clemons, Demarvin Leal, Jayden Peavy and co.
I mentioned Arkansas having an opportunistic defense earlier, and I don't want to call this unit a fluke, because forcing turnovers is massively important. Sometimes it includes dumb luck if your oppoennt makes a bad mistake, but alot of the time it takes being in the right place at the right time and making a play. Taking advantage of your opponents mistakes. Through four games, the Hogs have forced 10 interceptions, which leads the entire country. They have also recovered three fumbles. Call it luck, skill or both, but A&M better take care of the ball on Saturday. Especially because without those turnovers, this defense is average at best statistically.
The Arkansas secondary is the strength of their defense. In addition to forcing all those interceptions, they are only allowing 241.5 yards per game through the air. I could be naive but Mond has been taking care of the ball and I trust him to take what the defense gives him. Both of Mond’s interceptions this year have been taken back for a touchdown. The one against Alabama was simply a bad throw, and something he can’t do against Arkansas. The other pick against Mississippi State was more of a fluke bounce than anything, so I don’t put that one on him. Thankfully, we won’t need Mond to be spectacular like he was against Florida because we can win the battle up front, and I don't see Arkansas scoring in bunches on us. If Mond continues to take care of the ball and make smart decisions, the Aggies should be in good shape.
I’m looking for Jalen Wydermyer to have a big day. He has been consistently moving the chains all year, but has yet to have a really big game. I think if we can establish the run early, Wydermyer can be a big factor in the play action passing game. He’s such a big target with a huge catch radius so Kellen doesn’t need to be right on the money every time for the big fella to come down with the ball. Arkansas can pick off passes as we’ve seen but in a 50/50 ball situation, I like Wydermyer’s chances to come down with it.
Photo: Lia Musgrave, TexAgs
Back on defense, the A&M secondary is improving and we can pressure Franks. I see us getting an interception or two. We know Franks is turnover prone, so we need to make him uncomfortable early. Don’t let him get in rhythm. Hit him early and often so he knows the Aggies are coming all night long. I do think Arkansas will get a few chunk plays through the air, maybe even a long touchdown because Franks has a cannon and our secondary, while showing improvement, is still young and shaky at times. The Arkansas receivers are also talented and can win one on one, but I like our chances overall. This is not Mac Jones, Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith and John Metchie, so we can hold our own here.
The only thing that gives me hesitation in this one is how close this game has been over the last handful of games. A&M easily could have lost a game or two in this series lately, even though Arkansas had no business hanging with the Aggies. I don’t think they do this year either but the Hogs have a knack for hanging around. I see this game being close almost all the way through, but A&M’s physicality and toughness will prevail in the end. Run the ball, don’t turn it over and let our front seven go to work on the Hogs offensive line. We’ll be having another pig roast before you know it.
This is another statement game for A&M. Take care of a mid tier SEC opponent at home and keep putting everyone on notice. We are tough, physical, talented and the Aggies mean business. There is a lot of hype around A&M given the remaining schedule, and I trust Jimbo and the guys to be up for the challenge. Prediction:
Texas A&M - 31
Arkansas - 21
#BTHOArkansas
