Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown delivered a standout performance on Saturday, amassing 300 total yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 26-23 victory over Arkansas at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Brown threw for 180 yards with two touchdown passes while adding 120 rushing yards on the ground. His performance energized Auburn (5-4, 3-4 SEC), which scored 23 points in the second half after trailing at halftime.
The game was decided in the final seconds, as Auburn’s Alex McPherson converted a 42-yard field goal with 33 seconds remaining. It was McPherson’s second game-winning kick of the season, following his heroics against Georgia earlier in the year. Arkansas (3-6, 1-5 SEC) attempted a desperation drive after the field goal but was unable to convert.
Tigers head coach Alex Golesh commended his team’s resilience in close contests. “I think that’s how you build a football program: you build depth through young guys,” Golesh said. “Today, I thought it was a really good example to our entire program and some other guys that maybe aren’t playing.”
Auburn’s receiving corps made critical contributions, with three players recording at least five receptions. Keshaun Singleton led the group with six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Chas Nimrod and Christian Neptune also had five receptions each, with Nimrod finding the end zone.
For Arkansas, quarterback KJ Jackson gradually found his rhythm, completing 14 of 30 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, 123 of which came during the second half. However, he struggled on the ground, with negative 20 rushing yards offsetting the Razorbacks’ offensive momentum.
Arkansas' rushing attack, ranked last in the SEC coming into the game, showed significant improvement. The Razorbacks ran for 179 yards, well above their season average. Sutton Smith’s 65-yard run helped spark the ground game, which totaled 111 yards by halftime and ended with 184 overall.
Razorbacks head coach Ryan Silverfield reflected on the loss. “Clearly the tale of two halves,” Silverfield said. “Proud of what we did defensively in the first half. Offensively, I wish we could have capitalized more.”
Auburn dealt with injury struggles on defense but received a notable performance from freshman linebacker Shadarius Toodle, who recorded 11 tackles, three sacks, and four-and-a-half tackles for loss in the absence of key players like Demarcus Riddick and Cody Sigler.
Both teams now turn their focus to next weekend. Arkansas hosts No. 21 South Carolina in Fayetteville, while Auburn is set to travel to Mississippi State for another SEC matchup.