After back-to-back road losses, the Hogs finally returned home with hopes of bouncing back in front of their fans. Instead, No. 22 Notre Dame ran away with it, handing Arkansas a 56-13 loss.
Game Summary
Arkansas opened the game with a seven-play, 54-yard drive capped by a field goal to take an early lead. The Fighting Irish answered immediately, driving 10 plays for a touchdown to grab control. From there, Notre Dame scored a touchdown on every drive of the first half.
The Hogs’ lone first-half touchdown came in unconventional fashion, as offensive lineman JacQawn “Shaq” McRoy punched in a 1-yard rushing score. However, disaster struck just before halftime when Notre Dame added two touchdowns in the final 35 seconds of the second quarter. The Irish entered the break with a commanding 42-13 lead.
Arkansas forced a turnover on downs to open the second half but could not capitalize offensively. While the Razorbacks finished with 365 total yards, they managed only 13 points. Notre Dame’s offense dominated with 641 total yards in the 56-13 rout. The Hogs now enter their bye week with major questions about the rest of the season.
What Went Wrong for the Hogs
Arkansas’ defense looked overmatched from the start. Quarterback CJ Carr had a career day, throwing for four touchdowns, and running back Jeremiyah Love kept the Hogs off balance on the ground with two touchdowns. The Irish had a nearly unstoppable offensive attack against Arkansas.
The Hogs failed to get consistent pressure, finishing with only one sack and four tackles for loss. The lack of disruption allowed Carr to sit in the pocket and pick apart the secondary, which surrendered several explosive plays.
Offensively, the Razorbacks moved the ball but struggled to finish drives. Their 365 yards of total offense translated into just 13 points, with stalled possessions and missed opportunities proving costly. Arkansas converted just 7 of 15 third downs and did not score in the second half.
Combined with untimely mistakes and a defense unable to get stops, Arkansas fell behind early and never recovered.
Looking Ahead for the Hogs
Arkansas will get a chance to regroup during the bye week before hitting the road again. The Hogs face Tennessee in Neyland Stadium on Oct. 11.