3 reasons why Hugh Freeze's Auburn Tigers lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks in Week 4 encounter

The Arkansas Razorbacks improved to 3-1 in the 2024 college football season after beating the Auburn Tigers 24-14 on Sunday in a game they never trailed. The matchup kicked off a brutal SEC schedule for both teams, as Arkansas faces six opponents who are ranked, while Auburn faces five.

While Arkansas coach Sam Pittman may have had one of the hottest seats in the nation entering the season, a strong start should quieten those talks. Take a look at three reasons why the Razorbacks emerged victorious.

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Three reasons why the Arkansas Razorbacks beat the Auburn Tigers

#1 Arkansas won the turnover battle

The Arkansas Razorbacks were yet to win the turnover battle this season. In their two previous wins, they forced just one turnover but also turned the ball over one time. They lost the turnover battle in their lone loss, turning the ball over three times while forcing just one.

However, Arkansas won the turnover battle by a significant margin in their SEC opener. The Razorbacks forced five turnovers, including four interceptions, which directly led to 10 points.

They turned the ball over twice, but it didn't result in any points for the Auburn Tigers. The points off turnover margin also ended up being the margin in the final score.

#2 They dominated the time of possession

The Arkansas Razorbacks controlled the game by dominating possession. They had the ball for 36 minutes and 36 seconds, while their opponents had just 23 minutes and 24 seconds of possession. That allowed Arkansas to run 83 plays compared to 61 for the Tigers.

While the forced turnovers helped, the Razorbacks' running game played a big role as well, picking up the slack for a passing game that resulted in just 151 yards. Arkansas ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

While it took the Razorbacks 55 carries to reach that number, it allowed them to keep their defense on the sideline and rested.

#3 'Bend don't break' defense

The Arkansas Razorbacks played a 'bend, don't break' style of defense. While they allowed the Tigers to move the ball, piling up 431 total yards, they only allowed 14 points.

The Razorbacks defense accounted for two sacks and five forced turnovers. The Tigers have shown that they are prone to turning the ball over, with their 14 turnovers being tied for the most in the nation.