Arkansas ready to move on from close loss to Auburn

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is ready to put the controversial ending to last week’s two-point loss to No. 13 Auburn in the rearview mirror.

With under 30 seconds left and his team trailing 28-27, Auburn quarterback Bo Nix fumbled a snap, then picked the ball up to spike it and stop the clock. The controversy stems from Nix turning his back to the line of scrimmage and spiking the ball backward.

Arkansas defensive players, thinking Nix’s spike was a backward pass, fell on the loose ball. Game officials ruled that the spike was an incomplete pass, then penalized Auburn for intentional grounding. Auburn retained possession and Anders Carlton kicked a game-winning 39-yard field goal.

Pittman said he never spoke to the team about the call.

“I’ve heard from the head of officials and I’m at peace with it,” Pittman said.

Instead of dwelling on the recent past, Pittman said his staff will try to figure out a way to help the Razorbacks (1-2) slow Ole Miss and its prolific offense

today. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.at Razorback Stadium.

The Rebels (1-2) lead the conference in total offense, averaging 573 yards.

The Rebels lost a 63-48 shootout to No. 2 Alabama last week, which was tied at 42 early in the fourth quarter and was an eight-point game with under two minutes left.

“We better score,” Pittman said.

“Our offense better come to play.”

Ole Miss won’t be at full strength. Rebels coach Lane Kiffin said the team is having COVID-19 issues and the team will have “a number of guys out.”

“We had that during camp,” he said. “This is the first time dealing with it in-season. It’s very difficult moving people around, and we’re beat up, too, from high play count, intense game and playing a great team Saturday. We are not in a great situation number-wise at all.”

TIME TO KNOCK HEADS:

Pittman said the Razorbacks have not been focused early in games. He said that was the case when they fell behind Auburn 17-0 last week.

“We don’t start fast because we don’t start pregame fast,” Pittman said. “We’re out there basically saying, ‘Look at me, look how good I look in my uniform,’ and we’re not getting ready for the football game. And that’s got to stop. And that’s our fault, my fault. We’ve got to get our players going in pregame warmups. We’ve got to knock heads a little bit.”