KJ Jefferson said of the Hogs' mindset ahead of Saturday's game, "We know what happened when we went down there," Jefferson said. "Everybody has that memory still in the back of their head, so this week it's more personal than anything. We're taking it as a challenge more personal to try and not leave the game in the ref's hands. We just want to come out and dominate and play our brand of football."
By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas and Auburn are both coming off a bye week, but they will meet on Saturday morning.
Auburn has dominated this series in recent year. Arkansas' last win over them came on Oct. 24, 2015, in a 54-46 four-overtime win in Razorback Stadium. Though many would argue Arkansas beat them in 2020 when the referees blew a late call that allowed the Tigers to escape with a 30-28 victory.
The Auburn quarterback spiked the ball backward instead of forward thus it should have been rule a fumble. Joe Foucha fell on the ball, but the referees ruled it an incomplete pass. Arkansas was leading 28-27 in the closing seconds, but after getting second life Auburn kicked a field goal to win the game. Following Tuesday's practice, KJ Jefferson talked about that game.
"We know what happened when we went down there," Jefferson said. "Everybody has that memory still in the back of their head, so this week it's more personal than anything. We're taking it as a challenge more personal to try and not leave the game in the ref's hands. We just want to come out and dominate and play our brand of football."
Defensive tackle Isaiah Nichols agreed with his quarterback about the 2020 game.
"The same thing," Nichols said. "If we play our game and our brand of football and do what we're supposed to do, then there's no question. That was two years ago. We flushed what that is, but at the same time we remember what we want to accomplish now and we want a different outcome this year than last year. So, we just have to ball out and play our game and we'll be good."
Right tackle Dalton Wagner remembers that game very well in Sam Pittman's first season.
"Yeah, it’s one that, obviously it’s frustrating but it’s one that we made too many mistakes in that game and it should’ve never been left to the refs," Wagner said. "We’ve flushed it and we’ve moved on and we’ve got to get a win this weekend."
Nichols talked about the Hogs never beating the Tigers since he has been at Arkansas.
"We take it like any other game," Nichols said. "We have to play everybody the same. But at the same time, we do know we have a lot of guys on this team who may not be here next year. A lot of seniors. A lot of guys who won't have any eligibility left. We've just been rallying around each other knowing this could be your last time to beat this team. Never done it before so what better way to do out than to finally beat this team."
Jefferson also chimed in on having never beaten the Tigers since he became a Razorback.
"Like Isaiah said, just being able to rally around the guys that don't have any more years left to play and to be able to do something that hasn't been done here before," Jefferson said. "Being able to just create our own history and go out and play for each other and the state of Arkansas and just go out and play our brand of football."
Wagner also hopes to reverse the trend on Saturday and the Hogs have a happy flight back to Fayetteville.
"Yeah, just a little bit," Wagner said. "Yeah, obviously, it bugs me. It’s not fun. This weekend is a tremendous opportunity for us to go change that, to get a win before we get out of here, playing for the seniors and all the guys that might not be coming back, guys that are down. To get one win under our best before we get out of here against Auburn. That’s obviously something that weighs on us a little bit more this week is knowing is’t been six years since we beat them last."
Tight end Trey Knox talked about what Auburn has done to win the games.
"I don’t know," Knox said. "We don’t play our best ball. We haven’t been playing our best ball against them I feel like, since I’ve been here. It ain’t been six years, but it’s three, going on four. Every time that I’ve played them we just come out flat and we don’t play well. I think we’re going to change that this weekend. We’re going to start fast and we’re going to push the tempo and score a lot of points."
One key for Arkansas to beat Auburn will try to stop tailback Tank Bigsby. He has played well against Arkansas in the past. In last season's 38-23 win over Arkansas, Bigsby had 18 carries for 68 yards and one touchdown. He also had a 10-yard reception. Nichols talked about Bigsby.
"We know it's going to be a tough, physical game up front," Nichols said. "We know they like to run the ball. This game is going to be a real physical game. We know they're going to try to establish the run against us. They have a dynamic backfield. They have a really mobile quarterback. Tank Bigsby and the other running back, 27, they're real good guys. Real good running backs. Probably some of the best we've seen so far this year. We know they're going to try to establish the run game, so we just have to focus on being intent and being physical up front and playing on their side of the line of scrimmage."
This season, Bigsby has carried 99 times for 521 yards and six touchdowns. He has also added 15 receptions for 97 yards. But Arkansas is also placing a lot of emphasis on being able to run on Saturday with Rocket Sanders and the group of backs.
"It’s been a pretty big emphasis," Wagner said. "But, again, I feel like we’re still keeping a good balance on what we’re doing. But obviously you can see the numbers don’t lie in what they’re doing. And every week we go into a game wanting to run the football. Because when you can run the football and you can control the ground game, it opens up those edges, it opens up the pass, it opens up a lot of different things that forces the defense into an awkward situation.
"It’s been a big emphasis to make sure that we’re on the same page communicating to tight ends, quarterbacks and running backs for our front seven there and to make sure we can control their front seven. I think that this week is a great opportunity for us that we need to go take advantage of. I’m just excited to see the passing game as well, too."
Arkansas and Auburn will kick off at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, and the game will be televised on the SEC Network.