The details:
What: No. 9 Auburn vs. Arkansas
When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. CT
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium
This game will determine…
It’s a means for Auburn to get back on track after the tough loss to LSU. Arkansas is 0-2 against FBS teams, lost 44-17 to North Texas last week and isn’t very good. It’s fair to say that the Tigers could — and probably should — win by a large margin.
Three things to look for:
1. Jarrett Stidham: Stidham is off to a not so great start to the season, not having performed to the level that people in the football world were expecting of him entering the year. There’s been some good but also some bad, like the two interceptions last week against LSU. Don’t be surprised if he puts up some great numbers this week, though. North Texas QB Mason Fine threw for 281 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions against Arkansas last week.
2. Penalties: A big emphasis for Auburn is cutting down on penalties. The Tigers had nine penalties for 111 yards against LSU, including a key, late pass interference penalty on LSU’s game-winning drive. Auburn is ranked 120th nationally in penalty yards per game (84) and tied for 109th in penalties per game (8.3).
3. Auburn pass rush: Auburn only had one sack against LSU, but linebacker Deshaun Davis expressed confidence about the pass rush this week and said LSU being in max protect a lot contributed to the limited pass rush production during that game. We’ll see if the Tigers fare better against Arkansas.
Key matchup: Gus Malzahn vs. Chad Morris
It’s a matchup between two longtime friends. For Malzahn, it’s up to him to get his team back on track after the loss to LSU. For Morris, he’ll try to put Arkansas in a position to avoid being embarrassed in this game that they enter four-touchdown underdogs.
By the numbers: Six
Arkansas quarterbacks combined to throw six interceptions with no touchdown passes last week.
Arkansas player to watch: Junior QB Ty Storey
Storey, who didn’t play against North Texas last week, will start against Auburn. The former four-star recruit was 5 of 13 for 36 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions during the Razorbacks’ loss to Colorado State Sept. 8.
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