Southwest Conference rivalry reignites in hostile confines
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Saturday’s reunion between No. 15 Texas and Arkansas has been years in the making.
The old Southwest Conference rivals last met in the 2014 Texas Bowl, a 31-7 Razorbacks romp. But this will mark their first regular season meeting since 2008, and it’s the Longhorns’ first visit to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium since 2004.
Texas is favored by a touchdown over its host, and a win would represent a compelling 2-0 start for first-year coach Steve Sarkisian. A new hire hasn’t done that in Year 1 since
Fred Akers started 11-0 in 1977.
Five things to watch when Texas (1-0) and Arkansas (1-0) hit the field at 6 p.m. Saturday:
1. What will Bijan Robinson do for an encore?
Robinson, a sophomore
tailback, didn’t seem unnerved by all the offseason hype. The Heisman Trophy candidate was all smiles last weekend as he shredded No. 23 Louisiana-lafayette, totaling 103 yards on 20 carries (5.2 yards per carry) and 73 yards on a career-best four receptions with two total touchdowns.
Sarkisian did allot some touches for backups Keilan Robinson (8 carries, 41 yards) and Roschon Johnson (8 carries, 27 yards), but it was the Bijan Robinson Show when it mattered most. The frightening part for opposing defenses is his expanding role in the passing game — Robinson demonstrated a strong rapport with first-time starting quarterback Hudson Card, and he’s an ever-lurking threat to turn a quick slant or horizontal throw to the flat into a huge gain.
2. What other receivers will step up beside Jordan Whittington?
The oft-injured wide receiver from Cuero finally is healthy. A third-year receiver, Whittington led Texas last week with seven receptions, a career-high 113 yards and one slippery catch-and-run touchdown. The rest of the Longhorns’ wideouts produced just four receptions for 51 yards on seven targets.
Sarkisian called a somewhat conservative game with Card at the helm, limiting him to just a few deep balls. True freshman Xavier Worthy whirled around for an acrobatic midair catch on one long shot, resulting in a 34-yard gain. Otherwise, it was Whittington and Robinson piling up yards after the catch.
Good as Whittington is, Card will have to start spreading it out to others like Worthy, junior Joshua
Moore and speedy redshirt freshman Kelvontay Dixon, among others.
3. How committed is Sarkisian to playing two quarterbacks?
Card started the opener and handled every single drive in the first half. But junior Casey Thompson operated two scoring drives against the Ragin’ Cajuns in the second half and demonstrated why Sarkisian took his time naming a starter.
Thompson completed 4 of 5 passes for 41 yards with one touchdown to finish with a 214.9 quarterback rating. Card completed 14 of 21 for 224 with three total touchdowns and a 187.7 rating. And because neither did enough to fall out of favor or put a death grip on the role, Sarkisian will play both against Arkansas.
Texas’ first-year coach appears committed to getting both players time moving forward, though even he admits the decision will be more organic than scientific. “There’s not an exact timetable or series that that’ll happen,” Sarkisian said. “There’s going to be a little bit of a feel, which we’re pretty comfortable doing.”
4. How will Texas defend against Arkansas’ rushing attack?
Redshirt freshman quarterback KJ Jefferson struggled last week in Arkansas’ 38-17 win over Rice. He completed just 12 of 21 passes for 128 yards with one touchdown and one interception. But his legs helped reverse a sluggish start, and containing the steelbodied 6-foot-3, 245-pound dual-threat quarterback will be key to the Longhorns’ chances this week.
Jefferson accounted for 89 of Arkansas’ 245 rushing yards and two of its four rushing touchdowns. Junior tailback Trelon Smith added 102 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries, and true freshman Raheim Sanders tacked on 44 yards on seven totes.
Texas has the bodies up front to wrestle with Arkansas’ towering offensive line, but it’ll need run-stopping maven Keondre Coburn and fellow tackle Moro Ojomo to blow up any inside runs while the Longhorns’ long and athletic edge defenders and linebackers contain the outside.
5. What kind of impact will the sold-out crowd have?
Demand for seats was so excessive Arkansas officials opted to distribute some “standing room only” tickets to squeeze in a few more fans. Hopefully, this reignited rivalry won’t feature any flying glass bottles, like the old days, but the atmosphere likely will be extremely hostile for the Longhorns.
Card had the backing of roughly 90,000 last weekend at Royal-memorial Stadium. How will he handle rancorous Razorback Stadium? The Lake Travis grad exudes a calm-in-the-storm level of poise, but this game might test that poise more than any he’s ever experienced.