No. 17 Texas vs. Arkansas opponent preview: Capable Hogs looking to upset Horns

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The renewal of the Southwest Conference rivalry between No. 17 Texas and Arkansas this Saturday in Austin carries the deceptive sheen of a mismatch, but a deeper dive into the analytics reveals a far more perilous contest for the Longhorns.Arkansas, despite a dismal 2-8 record that led to the mid-season firing of head coach Sam Pittman and the chaotic promotion of Bobby Petrino, is arguably the most dangerous sub-. 500 team in the Power Four.The narrative of their season is written in agonizingly slim margins: six of their eight consecutive losses were by one possession, with a staggering five of those defeats coming by a field goal or less. They pushed top-10 caliber opponents like Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas A&M to the absolute brink, suggesting a team whose performance metrics drastically outpace its win-loss column.Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian himself sounded the alarm, noting, 'We play against a very, very dangerous Arkansas team. The record is not indicative of how well these guys have been playing.' This sets the stage for a classic trap game, with the Longhorns emotionally bruised from their demoralizing beatdown in Athens and a looming emotional showdown with Texas A&M on the horizon. The Razorbacks' offense is a dual-threat nightmare engineered around quarterback Taylen Green, a dynamic playmaker flying under the national radar.Green ranks fourth in the SEC in passing yards per game (2,537 yards, 19 TDs) and eighth in rushing (717 yards, 7 TDs), a statistical profile reminiscent of a young Tim Tebow in his ability to single-handedly distort defensive structures. His athleticism forces defenses to maintain perfect gap integrity, as designed runs, zone reads, and improvisational scrambles can instantly become back-breaking explosive plays.However, like many high-volume playmakers, Green's aggression is a double-edged sword; his 10 interceptions are tied for the SEC lead and have been directly responsible for crucial losses, such as his three fourth-quarter picks against Auburn. He is complemented by a thunderous ground game, second in the SEC in yards per game, led by senior workhorse Mike Washington, who is nearing 1,000 yards and averages a bruising 6.5 yards per carry. The receiving corps, headlined by the smooth route-running O’Mega Blake and big-play threat Raylen Sharpe, excels in scramble drills, making them exceptionally difficult to cover when Green extends plays.This multi-dimensional offensive attack, operating behind a veteran-laden offensive line, poses a monumental challenge for a Texas defense that was exposed a week ago. Defensively, however, the Razorbacks are a glaring weakness, ranking last in the SEC in scoring defense, total defense, and opponent third-down conversion rate.They have surrendered nearly 450 yards per game in conference play, a porous unit that has managed a meager 10 sacks and two interceptions. The lone bright spot is junior edge rusher Quincy Rhodes Jr., whose eight sacks are tied for second in the conference and will demand constant attention from Texas tight ends and running backs in chip-blocking schemes. The secondary, while physically imposing with corners like Julian Neal and Kani Walker, has been consistently exploited in coverage, presenting a prime opportunity for quarterback Arch Manning and the Texas passing attack to rediscover their rhythm.For the Longhorns, the path to victory hinges on disciplined containment of Green, tackling efficiently in space, and exploiting the soft underbelly of the Arkansas defense to re-establish a dormant running game. If Texas overlooks this wounded but capable opponent, the Hogs, with nothing to lose and a penchant for playing top teams to the wire, are perfectly positioned to deliver a season-defining upset that would send shockwaves through the college football landscape.

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#Texas Longhorns

#Arkansas Razorbacks

#college football

#NCAA

#rivalry game

#bounce-back

#trap game

#Taylen Green

#Steve Sarkisian