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Arkansas falls in heartbreaker to Texas A&M

Razorbacks fall in the Southwest Classic, with a final score of 23-21.

ARLINGTON, Texas — It's the Southwest Classic, so you can always be sure of a few things.

We'll spend the week leading up to the game arguing if it should be moved to an on-campus game, we'll debate the relative merits of the Arkansas-Texas A&M rivalry, and, once the team's actually hit the field at AT&T, it's gonna get weird.

That's the seemingly eternal plight of the Hog fan: nothing good comes easy. 

After nine straight losses, Arkansas finally took home the Southwest Classic trophy last season, but keeping it in Fayetteville was always gonna require some stamina.

Look, it should have been at least like, 21-0 Arkansas at halftime. AT LEAST. But then, there are a lot of things in life that should be. Rarely guarantees that they are.

After trading punts with the Aggies, Arkansas hit pay dirt on their next two drives, the offense looking calm, cool, and unstoppable. With a 14-0 lead, the defense was rolling too, not allowing an A&M first down the entire first quarter.

Then came a 93-yard Aggie touchdown drive, featuring several Arkansas defensive miscues. Arkansas seemed to regroup nicely, as KJ drove the offense inside the A&M five-yard line.

Then, disaster. On first and goal, Jefferson attempted to Superman three yards into the end zone. 

Instead, the ball was knocked loose, and the Aggies took it 97-yards for a touchdown, featuring a handoff between defenders on the return. 

Thanks to a botched extra pint it was only a 13-point swing, but a 13-point swing nonetheless. 

Arkansas went into the locker room with perhaps the least amount of momentum of any leading team ever, and it showed in the third quarter.

Texas A&M promptly marched 70 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. The Arkansas offense suddenly felt lost, and a field goal later in the third put the Aggies up 23-19. 

But finally, in the 4th, the Arkansas offense woke up. KJ Jefferson capped a long drive with a QB-keeper to bring the Hogs within two. A Texas A&M missed field goal set the Hogs up for glory.

Jefferson lead his team deep into Aggie territory, but a bad snap pushed the Hogs back, setting up a 42-yard kick for the normally sure-footed Cam Little. But Little hit the top of the upright, because normal endings, nice things, and warm feelings are rarely found in Arlington.

Arkansas loses their first game of the year, 23-21. The Hogs get Alabama in Fayetteville next Saturday.

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