CJ Vogel
There have been some notable statistics that I have come across in the week of preparation leading up to the Texas-Arkansas game in Fayetteville this Saturday.
Of course, the biggest thing is this – Texas remains in the hunt for the SEC Championship and at the end of the day, that is the only stat that will matter for the Longhorns.
However, as we eagerly await kickoff, let's run through some of the numbers that will go into this game.
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Andrew Armstrong (WR1) vs. Texas Corners
I have 'WR1' in the title of this segment because not only is Armstrong the best wide receiver for the Razorbacks, but I think he will be a first team All-SEC wide receiver at the end of the year. Armstrong, for as much or as little hype as you have seen about him, will be the best wide receiver Texas faces this season.
At 6–4, the former DeSoto native is in year two at Arkansas after spending a season at Texas A&M-Commerce.
On top of that, Armstrong has received 8+ targets in every game this season and has eclipsed 135 receiving yards in four different ballgames already. He is as legit as they come and will test Jahdae Barron and Malik Muhammad this weekend.
Oddly, and for all the targets, receptions and yards that Armstrong has racked up, he only has 1 receiving touchdown on the season. I can't explain it other than bad luck, but Texas would surely like to keep it that way.
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Ball on the Ground
I came across this stat with Gerry Hamilton as we were preparing for this week's State of the Program episode.
Arkansas leads the country in fumbles this season. The Razorback offense averages 2.5 fumbles (both lost or recovered) per game this season, ranking 134th out of 134 teams in college football.
On top of that, from the quarterback position alone, Arkansas has fumbled 14 different times this season per PFF – Taylen Green has 11 fumbles and Malachi Singleton has put the ball on the ground three times himself.
There should be ample opportunities for the Texas defense to take the football away.
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Flags on Flags on Flags
This might not be a fun statistic for this game. But expect Saturday's Arkansas-Texas game to look like a Kevin Mar-called game.
Neither team has been good in the penalty conversation this year, with Texas especially having struggled as of late.
100. Texas (6.9 penalties per game)
105. Arkansas (7.1 penalties per game)
In the last three weeks, both teams are bottom fifteen in the country in penalties per game, averaging north of eight flags against.
Texas is 92nd in penalty yards per game and Arkansas is 110th.
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Pin Your Ears Back, DL
For as athletic as the Arkansas quarterbacks are, that has not prevented opposing defensive lines from having success in the sack game.
Only two teams are worse in pass protection than Arkansas in terms of sacks allowed per game – Mississippi State and Oklahoma. Texas combined to have 11 sacks against the two of those offensive lines earlier in the season.
Most Sacks allowed per game by SEC teams:
134. Oklahoma – 4.6
122. Mississippi State – 3.2
116. Arkansas – 3.1
106. Auburn – 2.8
103. Kentucky – 2.6
Texas sits tied for 69th at 2.0 allowed per game.
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One Last One...
Arkansas has allowed 881 yards passing over its last two football games.
A second consecutive big game from Quinn Ewers and that should silent a lot of pundits.