Sep 263 min read

No. 24 Texas A&M, Arkansas Visit Arlington For Final Time

Updated: Sep 27

No. 24 Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 in the Southeastern Conference) and Arkansas (3-1, 1-0) will meet in the annual Southwest Classic at 3:30 p.m. EST on Sept. 28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

It is the last time the Texas A&M-Arkansas game will take place at AT&T Stadium. The tradition began in 2009 and has only had brief interruptions. The rivalry will move back to the college campuses next season.

Texas A&M-Arkansas

No. 24 Texas A&M has won three in a row. The Aggies running game has supported its offense, putting up multiple 300-yard performances. They also narrowly avoided an upset loss to Bowling Green (1-2) on Sept. 21, relying on their defense late in the game.

Arkansas' only loss came in overtime to No. 20 Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-1 in the Big 12 Conference) on Sept. 7. The Razorbacks have one of the country's top offenses, led by quarterback Taylen Green and running back Ja'Quinden Jackson, They are looking to stop a two-year losing streak against the Aggies.

Both teams are 1-0 in SEC play, and Texas A&M has won 11 of the last 12 meetings.

Key Players: Texas A&M

Offense

QBs Marcel Reed, Conner Weigman

Reed has 351 passing yards, 174 rushing yards, 5 total touchdowns and back-to-back wins as an injury replacement. Some have called for him to permanently replace Weigman, but Weigman remains the starter and is a game-time decision for the Sept. 28 matchup.

RB Le'Veon Moss

Moss has been Texas A&M's most consistent offensive playmaker. He leads the team with 354 rushing yards and has scored 3 touchdowns. He also ran for 107 yards in this matchup last season.

TE Theo Melin Ohrstrom

The sophomore has made the most of his touches with 2 of his 3 catches going for touchdowns of at least 27 yards. He has scored touchdowns in two consecutive games.

Defense

LB Taurean York

York leads the Aggies with 23 tackles and a pass defended. He is also a team captain and plays on special teams.

DB Will Lee III

Lee has been one of A&M's best players in the secondary with 18 tackles, 2 pass breakups and an interception. Only Marcus Ratcliffe has forced more turnovers for the Aggies this year.

DLs Shemar Turner, Nic Scourton

A&M's top defensive linemen finally stepped up against Bowling Green on Sept. 21, earning Linemen of the Week honors from head coach Mike Elko. Turner made 2 tackles and picked up his first sack while Scourton made six tackles—the most in his brief A&M career.

Key Players: Arkansas

Offense

QB Taylen Green

The dual-threat Texas native has been a playmaker for the Razorbacks since transferring from Boise State, with 957 passing yards, 325 rushing yards and 8 total touchdowns. Texas A&M faced a similar player in Notre Dame's Riley Leonard in Week 1, and its defense shut him down. But Green needs to be a factor for Arkansas' offense to succeed.

RB Ja'Quinden Jackson

Jackson leads Arkansas with 482 rushing yards, the fourth-most in college football, and 8 rushing touchdowns. Arkansas has always had a grinding, run-first offense under head coach Sam Pittman, and Jackson makes that a strength this year.

WRs Andrew Armstrong, Isaiah Satenga, Tyrone Broden

All three players are averaging at least 14 yards per catch with Satenga leading the way at 21.3. They'll have to be a factor for the Razorbacks to avoid becoming one-dimensional.

Defense

LB Xavian Sorey Jr.

Sorey Jr. leads Arkansas with 25 tackles. That includes a 13-tackle day in the team's only loss to No. 20 Oklahoma State on Sept. 7.

DB TJ Metcalf

Metcalf also has 25 tackles this season and is the Razorbacks' biggest weapon in the secondary. He leads the team with 3 interceptions and has a forced fumble.