FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After an inauspicious start to conference play - and a season-ending injury to a key member of the offense - Arkansas will look to bounce back Saturday with a non-conference showdown against visiting New Mexico State.
The Razorbacks are reeling after surrendering a combined 78 points in losses to TCU and Texas A&M, and are hoping to get more out of quarterback Austin Allen moving forward.
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Allen is coming off a 3,400-yard passing campaign in 2016, but has just 502 passing yards and four touchdowns through three games and completed only 43.8 percent of his passes in the back-to-back defeats. He'll also be down a receiver, as senior wideout Jared Cornelius suffered a torn Achilles tendon in last week's loss and will undergo season-ending surgery.
New Mexico State breezed to a 41-14 triumph over UTEP last week in a thorough effort on both sides of the ball, racking up 462 total yards while forcing five turnovers. These teams have met five times previously, with Arkansas prevailing each time.
TV: Noon ET, SEC Network. LINE: Arkansas -17
Live score updates below:
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ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (2-2):
The Aggies are led by senior quarterback Tyler Rogers, who comes into the week ranked third in the nation in passing yards (1,413); he has thrown multiple touchdown passes in all four games this season while completing more than 65 percent of his attempts. Running backs Larry Rose III and Jason Huntley have combined to average 6.4 yards per carry with three touchdowns; Rogers also has a pair of rushing scores. Defensive back Shamad Lomax was named Sun Belt Conference defensive player of the week after racking up three interceptions - one for a touchdown - against UTEP.
ABOUT ARKANSAS (1-2):
Allen has been aided by a Razorbacks rushing game that ranks just inside the top 50 in FBS in yards per game (197.0) and is getting contributions from a trio of backfield weapons. Chase Hayden (29 carries, 198 yards, two TDs), David Williams (28 carries, 156 yards, four TDs) and Devwah Whaley (29 carries, 130 yards, one TD) combine to average 5.6 yards per carry and have accounted for all of Arkansas' rushing scores to date. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has racked up 31 tackles over his last two games, the highest two-game tally by any FBS player so far in 2017.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Five different New Mexico State players have more than 100 receiving yards.
2. The Razorbacks have scored 40-plus points 12 times since the start of the 2015 season, tied for second-most in the SEC over that span.
3. Williams is the only player in the conference with four or more rushing touchdowns and a receiving score.