Almost the entire season was the same chapter, same book. With 25 fumbles, Arkansas and Oklahoma were tied for the most in college football going into the season finale.
Missouri won 28–21 after scoring touchdowns after both of them, and the total is now 27.
On drives of 40 and 34 yards, Mizzou scored those two scores. Fumbles again proved costly, even though the Tigers outperformed the Razorbacks in the second half, outgaining the Hogs 254 yards to 209.
In Columbia, Missouri, Arkansas is now 0–7 against Missouri after the home team outscored the visitors 18–7 in the last session.
With 1:11 remaining in the first half, the game came to a depressing halt, and it ultimately had little bearing on the outcome of a chippy at best match.
Following a tackle, senior defensive end Landon Jackson of Arkansas went down and remained down.
It takes a lot to take down a 6-7, 280-pound brute of a player and after long minutes he was carted off the field and into an ambulance.
Both teams and coaches took a knee and everyone in the stadium applauded him.
The score was tied 7-7 and at that point Arkansas had been the better team, driving 80 of its 168 first-half yards for a touchdown while Missouri took advantage of its first fumble to score.
Thoughts of Jackson were on the Razorbacks minds, but their focus was get a victory for their injured teammate.
Missouri’s idea was to get yet another win over the Razorbacks and remain undefeated at home this season.
Arkansas came out and forced Missouri into a three-and-out, then drove 50 yards with Ja’Quinden Jackson scoring his second of three touchdowns for a 14-7 lead.
The Hogs defense then held the Tigers to a field goal and went into the final quarter leading 14-10, but not for long. Arkansas fumbled after that field goal and Missouri drove the 34 yards for a 17-14 lead with 13:45 to play.
When Arkansas held Missouri to another field goal and then launched a drive that should leave no doubt that Andrew Armstrong has become one of the best transfers under Sam Pittman, it appeared as though the Columbia curse was going to take a significant hit.
On a fourth-and-eight at the Missouri 40, he had one of his nine catches for 128 yards on Saturday. With 4:19 remaining, Ja’Quinden Jackson scored his final touchdown, putting the team ahead 21–20, 25 yards and two plays later.
Brady Cook, the quarterback, ran up the middle untouched for 30 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown, but Missouri wasn’t done yet as it finished a 75-yard drive.
For the final margin, the Tigers added a two-point conversion.
On paper Arkansas looked like it should have been favored against Missouri. The Tigers were 3 1/2-point favorites, and generally a team gets three points for being at home.
Perhaps the extra half was due to the gloomy weather.
Three opponents were shared among the teams. Both defeated Mississippi State and Auburn, however Arkansas prevailed 24–13 and 58–21, respectively, while Missouri defeated Mississippi State 39–20 and Auburn 21–17.
Missouri 41-10, Arkansas 21-17, and Texas A&M both defeated them.
Of course, everyone compares scores, despite the old adage that says you can’t.
Giving your opponent two fumbles in your own area is something you cannot do in any game.
You cannot pick a team with 14 points and win, regardless of whether you are Mississippi State or Missouri.
Overall it was not a good way to end the season, but 6-6 and bowl eligible — the guess here is either Oklahoma or Arkansas is going to Birmingham — is improvement and who knows what the record would have been with half the fumbles.
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