A rivalry was renewed on Saturday when No. 3 ranked Texas football (9-1, 5-1 SEC) traveled to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (5-5, 3-4 SEC).
Texas football's defense leads triumphant rivalry win in Week 12 over Arkansas on the road
The Longhorns have dominated this rivalry throughout its history, coming into the matchup with a 56-23 advantage. However, the last time Texas entered Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in 2021, they were blasted 40-21. Eleven Longhorns from that team, including nine starters, are on the 2024 squad.
Saturday's 20-10 win over Arkansas was far from perfect, but the Longhorns did what they had to do to take down an SEC rival on the road.
The Texas defense was stellar for most of the day, allowing only 231 total yards and 3.9 yards per play. Ten points was over 18 points less than the Razorbacks' average coming into this game.
Jahdae Barron was all over the field, finishing with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. No. 7 is making that jersey proud, staking himself as a prime candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award.
On the offensive side of the ball, Quinn Ewers and company struggled to find a consistent rhythm. The Longhorns could not consistently run the ball until it mattered most, averaging 5.8 yards per carry on 13 attempts.
The win puts Texas at 9-1 for the second season in a row. The Longhorns welcome the Kentucky Wildcats to DKR next Saturday for senior day before traveling to Texas A&M during rivalry week.
Here is everything Texas players said after the 20-10 win over Arkansas.
Quinn Ewers
"In this conference, it's hard to go on the road an win games, especially in a tough environment like this with the history of these two programs."
On the struggle to pass the ball downfield: "You're gonna have games like this, but at the end of the day I think we need a good job of staying poised and composed."
On Arkansas playing three-high safety: "It's definitely tough to play, but lucky for us we've seen it a good amount. Now we kind of understand it a little bit more than we did last year, but it's always frustrating when you want to push the ball down the field."
On his TD pass to Matthew Golden: "Every Friday night, I tell coach Sark what plays I like in certain areas. I was fired up when he called it. Every time he calls it, I’m thinking touchdown.”
On his fourth down run: "I read the end, he crashed, and I was like 'it's time to go'".
Jahdae Barron
On Quinn Ewers' game-sealing fourth down run: “He has a lot of haters, he has a lot of love. But I love that dude all the way to the fullest. That’s a warrior move.”
"Coach PK, he's a smart guy. Every play I made I went over there and told him thank you for calling it. He's a genuis, he just keeps putting me in position to benefit in a positive way for myself and the team."
Said he kept saying “2021” in the tunnel pregame to Barryn Sorrell to remind him of their last trip to Fayetteville.
Alfred Collins
On his late forced fumble: “Man, I just wanted to get the ball back to the offense. Do what I gotta do.”
Tre Wisner
“So far every game is the SEC Championship, we said that coming into the season.”