Arkansas away from home again for neutral site game against Texas A&M at home of the Cowboys
New Mexico running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (5) is tackled by Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) and defensive back Bryce Anderson (1) for a loss during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in College Station, Texas. Credit: AP/Sam Craft
Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) vs. Arkansas (2-2, 0-1) at Arlington, Texas, Saturday, noon ET (SEC Network).
Line: Texas A&M by 6 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Arkansas leads 42-34-3.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Arkansas, which lost its last two games, plays away from home for the second of four consecutive SEC games. Texas A&M has a 7-4 advantage in the neutral-site games the two teams have played at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys owned by Jerry Jones, co-captain of the 1964 Razorbacks team that went undefeated. After overcoming an early 14-0 deficit with 23 consecutive points in a 23-21 win over Arkansas last September, the Aggies lost six games in a row. They have won five of six games since.
KEY MATCHUP
Linebacker Jaheim Thomas and the Arkansas defense against the Texas A&M offense that lost sophomore starting QB Conner Weigman with a right foot injury. He got hurt in the first half of last week's 27-10 win at Auburn, and coach Jimbo Fisher said Wednesday that the injury would keep him out the rest of the season. Max Johnson, the LSU transfer who completed 11 of 21 passes for 151 yards against the Razorbacks last season, will start for against them again. Texas A&M led only 6-3 at Auburn before Johnson threw two TDs, one to his brother tight end Jake Johnson. Thomas is the second-leading tackler in the SEC with 43, and has three of A&M's 14 sacks that are the second-most in the league.
Arkansas wide receiver Andrew Armstrong (2) celebrates with Jaedon Wilson (13) after making a touchdown catch against Kent State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. Credit: AP/Michael Woods
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Texas A&M: Junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is coming off his second game this season with three tackles for loss. He is tied for 13th nationally with seven tackles for loss, and is also the team leader with 24 tackles overall.
Arkansas: WR Andrew Armstrong, a transfer from Texas A&M-Commerce, has emerged as a go-to-receiver for quarterback KJ Jefferson. Armstrong has 24 catches for 273 yards and three TDs in his four games with the Razorbacks. Armstrong had 62 catches for 1,020 yards and 13 TDs for Commerce last season.
FACTS & FIGURES
Texas A&M had seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss against Auburn, pushing the Aggies' season totals to 13 sacks and 34 TFLs. ... This is the first time since 1925 that the Razorbacks play their first four conference games away from home. ... After Saturday's game, there is only one more series meeting scheduled at AT&T Stadium. The game could be headed back to campus after 2024, plus it is still unclear what the 16-team SEC schedule will look like past next season. ... Texas A&M kicker Randy Bond has a 50-yard field goal in each of the last two games.
