Arkansas Stuns No. 9 LSU in Baton Rouge, Hogs Win 31-14

9 LSU 31-14 Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Saturday night. Arkansas came into the game last in the SEC with eight sacks – less than one a game. The other instance came after a loss to Ole Miss in 2008. That’s the legend. That’s what the Arkansas Razorbacks were tasked with overcoming yesterday, in addition to the 85 football players across from them and the 101,699 fans screaming at them and the real live tiger eyeing them.

The Razorbacks had a 1-15 record the previous eight times they played ranked teams on the road in consecutive weeks, starting in 1940 with losses at No. 20 SMU 28-0 and No. 15 Fordham 27-7. During the week, several conversations focused on Fournette’s possible production and the consensus was that Arkansas could not win if Fournette gained 125 yards.

The win means Arkansas jumps to No. 2 in the SEC West, and ahead of LSU. Had this game been at home they could find a way to rally the troops and have a solid contest. The Tigers’ entire season had built up to last weekend’s tilt in Tuscaloosa, but LSU wasn’t even competitive in the second half, falling to the Tide for the fifth straight time since losing the 2011-12 national title game. The defense also set up what proved to be Arkansas’ winning score. “But it’s got to be something that I’m not getting done”.

“It’s exciting”, Fournette, a sophomore from St. Augustine High in New Orleans, said in a release by LSU’s sports information department.

Players were just as baffled as Miles when asked about their back-to-back letdowns against Arkansas. A 1993 tie stood as the only time State did not lose in the Natural State until 2013 when the Dawgs pulled off an overtime victory.

It’s the first time the Razorbacks have won four consecutive games in coach Bret Bielema’s tenure. Where do we go from here? Offensively, I think that is the key piece. Arkansas was up 21-0 before LSU scored its first points.

“When I caught it, I thought about cutting it up(field)”, said Reed. “We can’t just say, ‘We lost.’ We have to make sure last Saturday doesn’t happen again”, LSU guard Will Clapp said. “We just have to try to bounce back this week with a good showing”.

LSU’s Death Valley went quiet and began to empty out as Arkansas’ Jared Cornelius scampered 69 yards down the left sideline for a back-breaking touchdown in the fourth quarter. Alex Collins is leading the Hogs to an impressive late season surge. After the ultimately 8-5 Tigers lost to Ole Miss, Bobby Petrino ended his first Razorbacks season in 2008 achieving the Miracle on Markham II, overtaking LSU, 31-30, in Little Rock.

Miles said senior safety Jalen Mills addressed the Tigers at the outset of the week’s practices and his teammates took it from there. “We’ve gone through a lot here”. The “Baylor can’t win a championship” crowd has plenty of ammunition now after this game because the fact is it was the Bears’ first legitimate test after an easy, breezy 8-0 start and they did not have enough to get the job done.

“To the outside world, we’re probably just a 6-4 football team”, Bielema said. We, I, coaches, we have to have the best plan – the best plan.

No one at LSU knew of Fournette’s auction plans, but LSU got clearance from the NCAA and went on with it. Bids opened on November 7 and closed on November 9. I know the kind of kids we’re going to continue to bring in here.

Now Arkansas is bowl-eligible with two winnable home games coming up against Mississippi State and Missouri.

The Razorbacks and Bulldogs play at 6 p.m. Saturday in Fayetteville.

“We’re going to really carry this momentum into Mississippi State”, Allen said.