FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas came close to snapping its SEC losing streak again Saturday, but the end result was an all-too-familiar one.
The Razorbacks couldn't hold on to a fourth quarter lead for the second straight game against a top 10 team, losing 14-13 to No. 7 Alabama at Razorback Stadium. The loss was Arkansas' 15th straight in SEC games.
Arkansas has blown fourth quarter leads in four of its last five SEC games. The loss was the Razorbacks' eighth straight to the Crimson Tide.
Alabama went ahead on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Blake Sims to DeAndrew White with 12:36 remaining after Arkansas took a 13-7 lead into the final quarter. The Razorbacks had multiple opportunities to respond late in the game, but the Crimson Tide defense held Arkansas to only 30 yards in its last five possessions.
Alabama defensive back Landon Collins intercepted Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen with 1:59 remaining at the Razorbacks 43-yard line to clinch the win. Arkansas committed three turnovers, including a fumble by Kody Walker at the goal line in the first quarter.
After both teams struggled through a sloppy first quarter marred by miscues, the Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1 SEC) took a 7-0 lead on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Sims to running back T.J. Yeldon with 8:40 remaining in the second quarter.
Arkansas (3-3, 0-3) responded with a 3-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Williams with 3:47 left before halftime, but John Henson's extra-point attempt was blocked by Jonathan Allen. Alabama led 7-6 at halftime.
The Razorbacks took the lead on a 54-yard pass from Allen to tight end A.J. Derby, who broke several tackles on his way to the end zone. Allen finished the game completing 21 of 40 passes for 246 yards.
Arkansas missed on multiple chances to score in the first quarter. Walker's fumble came after the Razorbacks recovered one of two muffed punts by Alabama in the quarter, and a bad snap nullified an opportunity for Arkansas to attempt a long field goal.
The loss spoiled a great effort from the Razorbacks' defense. Arkansas held Alabama to 227 yards of total offense, including only 66 yards rushing. The Razorbacks had 335 yards of total offense and held the ball for 34 minutes, 13 seconds.
Arkansas will host No. 13 Georgia next Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The Bulldogs won 34-0 at No. 23 Missouri on Saturday.