FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas football season filled with underwhelming performances has finally concluded, through a lackluster final match at Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium.
The Razorbacks (4-8, 1-7 SEC) concluded 2023 with a 48-13 loss to No. 9 Missouri, with Eliah Drinkwitz, a former Springfield High School and current Missouri coach, outshining his counterpart, Sam Pittman. Arkansas lost their starting quarterback to an injury and showed a fight with literal punches on display.
Friday’s outcome revealed the distance between these two programs. Both coaches finished their fourth year in charge, and it’s clear that Missouri is one of the best teams in the SEC, while Arkansas was undoubtedly the worst team in the West division.
Here are some immediate observations following the Arkansas loss.
Lifeless offense, no matter who is under center
Arkansas fans have been eager to see what backup quarterback Jacolby Criswell could do with KJ Jefferson struggling to find consistency this fall.
More: Arkansas football’s KJ Jefferson leaves Missouri game with injury
More: Watch: Fight between Arkansas, Missouri football teams leads to ejection of three players
Criswell got his chance on Friday afternoon due to Jefferson’s injury, but the Razorbacks’ offense remained abysmal.
Missouri consistently pressured the quarterback, accumulating four sacks, six fumbles, and holding Arkansas to 234 total yards. Two sacks resulted in touchdowns while the Hogs had only 50 yards of offense at halftime.
From the coaches to the players, massive changes are necessary for the Arkansas offense this off-season
Defense can’t stop late-season slide
Arkansas struggled to contain Missouri running back Cody Schrader, who had 192 rushing yards in the first half and finished with 217. The Razorbacks had difficulty defending against a long-developing stretch play all afternoon, and allowed Brady Cook to score two passing touchdowns in the third quarter.
In truth, Drinkwitz eased off the pressure early in the second half.
Although the Arkansas defense performed well in the first eight games, the final third of the season mirrored the struggles of 2022, giving up 149 points across the last four games.
Home fans have seen enough
In three home SEC games this season, Arkansas was outscored 103-27. Most of the Arkansas fans left early in the second half, with a large group of black and gold taking over the stadium.
Despite the trust and support from athletic director Hunter Yurachek, the fans have lost faith. Arkansas needs to regain their trust through changes in the offseason.
Battle Line Rivalry takes on new life
The discussion about whether this regional matchup is a rivalry ended in the second quarter Friday. A full-on fight erupted on the field, leading to the ejection of three players, including Eric Gregory and Zach Williams for Arkansas.
More: Watch: Fight between Arkansas, Missouri football teams leads to ejection of three players
Pittman and his players emphasized the significance of this game and rivalry leading up to the match. It’s time for Razorbacks’ fans to recognize the rivalry’s validity. The Tigers have proven to be formidable, winning eight of the last ten matchups in the SEC.
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