Arkansas Triumphs Over Texas Tech in Liberty Bowl, 39-26
In a thrilling Liberty Bowl showdown on Friday night in Memphis, Arkansas triumphed over Texas Tech with a 39-26 victory. Despite a strong early lead, the Razorbacks had to hold off a late rally from the Red Raiders, cementing their win with key big plays and defensive stops throughout the game.
The Razorbacks jumped out to a commanding 21-3 lead in the first quarter, but Texas Tech cut the deficit to 21-19 by halftime. Arkansas, however, would not be denied as they executed explosive plays to seal the victory.
Quarterback Taylen Green, who faced significant adversity with missing key players, proved to be the catalyst for Arkansas’ success. Missing three starting offensive linemen, his top receiver, tight end, and running back, Green stepped up in a big way. He completed 11 of 22 passes for an impressive 341 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he ran for 81 yards on 15 attempts, including a crucial game-opening touchdown. Green’s performance was nothing short of remarkable, especially under the challenging circumstances.
Redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Dazmin James was a major contributor, setting a new school record with a 94-yard touchdown reception late in the first quarter, which helped extend the Razorbacks’ early lead. James finished with three catches for 137 yards, while Isaac TeSlaa added 107 yards on four receptions, including a 56-yard catch. Running back Tyrell Reed also played a pivotal role, scoring a 47-yard touchdown in the third quarter to stretch Arkansas’ lead to 34-19.
CJ Brown also contributed significantly, catching four passes for 50 yards, including a critical 31-yard reception on third-and-long that set up Reed’s touchdown.
In the backfield, Rodney Hill started strong with a 70-yard rush on the game’s opening drive, finishing with eight carries for 79 yards and a touchdown. Braylen Russell, despite being in and out of the transfer portal recently, added a solid 50 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
Defensively, the Razorbacks were stout. Arkansas limited Texas Tech’s offense, forcing them into multiple failed fourth-down conversions and holding them to just 5 of 12 on third downs. In the second half, the Razorbacks’ defense stepped up with two critical interceptions, one from Marquise Robinson and another from Miguel Mitchell. Linebacker Xavian Sorey led the defensive effort with 10 tackles, keeping pressure on Texas Tech throughout the game.
The Razorbacks started strong after winning the coin toss and electing to defer, as their defense quickly forced a three-and-out. Arkansas’ offense took advantage immediately, with Hill’s 70-yard rush setting up Green’s 14-yard touchdown run for an early 7-0 lead. Texas Tech responded with a 40-yard completion from quarterback Will Hammond to Caleb Douglas, but a costly false start penalty forced them into a 37-yard field goal, narrowing the deficit to 7-3.
Arkansas struck back quickly, with TeSlaa playing a starring role in their next possession. He gained 18 yards on the first play, followed by a 56-yard run to the 1-yard line. Russell punched it in, and the Razorbacks increased their lead to 14-3. The defense then stepped up again, forcing Texas Tech into another turnover on downs deep in their own territory. Shortly after, James caught a slant pass over the middle and outran the defense for a 94-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-3.
However, Texas Tech wasn’t going down without a fight. The Red Raiders cut into the Razorbacks’ lead with a touchdown run from J’Koby Williams, followed by a 96-yard drive capped off by a Jalin Conyers touchdown. Despite this, Arkansas managed to stay ahead, thanks to a field goal from Matthew Shipley just before halftime, making it 24-19 at the break.
The second half was all about Arkansas’ big plays and defensive stops. Green’s 27-yard run to open the third quarter set the tone, and after a three-and-out from the defense, Green hit Brown for 31 yards and then connected with Reed for a 47-yard touchdown, giving Arkansas a 34-19 lead. The Razorback defense then came up with a critical interception by Robinson, returning it 26 yards to the Arkansas 33-yard line. Although they didn’t score on that drive, the defense added to their tally when Anton Juncaj sacked Hammond in the end zone for a safety, increasing the Razorbacks’ lead to 36-19.
A few possessions later, Mitchell’s interception and 47-yard return put Arkansas in prime position to add another field goal by Shipley, giving the Razorbacks a 39-19 lead with just over five minutes remaining. Texas Tech managed a quick scoring drive, capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Coy Eakin, narrowing the gap to 39-26 with just over three minutes left. However, Arkansas recovered the ensuing onside kick and was able to run out the clock, securing the victory.
In a game filled with explosive plays, key turnovers, and resilient performances, Arkansas showed its strength in both offensive and defensive execution, proving why they were deserving of their Liberty Bowl victory.
