Alabama Survives Scare Against Arkansas

The Crimson Tide holds on for an ugly win on homecoming to remain in first place in the SEC.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Fans may have worried about the early wakeup call for an 11 a.m. kickoff, but it was the second half that it seemed like Alabama was sleepwalking through.

No. 11 Alabama eventually held on for the 24-21 homecoming victory over Arkansas, picking up Saban’s 200th win with the Crimson Tide in the process, but it was an ugly game.

Head coach Nick Saban warned that Alabama couldn't overlook the Razorbacks, but maybe his team didn't heed the message. The Crimson Tide seemed like a different team, in a bad way, coming out of halftime. 

Arkansas jumped out to a 6-0 lead on two long field goals from Cam Little, but Alabama started clicking on both offense and defense in the second quarter. The Crimson Tide held the Razorbacks to 10 yards in the second quarter while putting up 14 points and putting up 170 yards as Alabama took a 21-6 lead into halftime. 

It looked like more of the same coming out of the break as Roydell Williams and Jam Miller broke off consecutive longs runs on the team's second drive of the third quarter. But the Alabama drive stalled in the red zone, and Will Reichard hit a 30-yard field goal. Those three points would turn out to be the only Alabama would score in the second half. 

After shutting down the Razorbacks from most of the first quarter on, costly penalties on the Alabama defense extended Arkansas drives. Razorback quarterback KJ Jefferson led the Hogs on two second-half touchdown drives in the second half to pull Arkansas within three points with just under 11 minutes to go. 

The Alabama defense got the stop it needed on Arkansas' final drive, and Tide running back Jase McClellan did just enough to move the sticks where Alabama was able to run out the clock. 

Alabama improves to 6-1 (4-0 SEC) and stays atop the SEC West standings, while Arkansas falls to 2-5 (0-4 SEC.)

How it happened...