FAYETTEVILLE -- Quarterback Brandon Allen's scrambling has factored in positively during Arkansas' 3-1 start, such as his key 5-yard touchdown run on a third-and-goal play early in the second half at Texas Tech.
But he made one poor running decision Saturday against Northern Illinois with Arkansas leading 35-7 early in the fourth quarter. On a third-and-goal play from the 4, Allen found himself under immediate pressure and headed up the middle toward the end zone with multiple big bodies in the way. He took a hard shot on the play, which ended with no gain.
"He took off scrambling and got hammered," Coach Bret Bielema said. "I said, 'Hey, I'm going to let you stay in for one more series. But if you scramble again or take a hit, you're done.'
"I think he's to the point now he knows he can manage that game."
Allen said Bielema told him he should have thrown away the pass.
"I was just seeing if I could do anything with it," Allen said. "Everything was covered."
Purdue past
Arkansas offensive coaches Jim Chaney and Joel Thomas were on the same staff at Purdue in 2000 with Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin, and Chaney and Sumlin overlapped for three years there and both worked previously at Wyoming.
Their respect for each other has been evident leading up to the Razorbacks' 2:30 p.m. game against the Aggies on Saturday at Arlington, Texas.
"Kevin's a good friend and a good man, good coach," Chaney said. "I think he's earned everything's he's got. He's a bright guy that understands football and understands people.
"It doesn't surprise any of us that know him how successful he's been."
Sumlin noted Chaney's vast experience in different styles of offense, including the NFL.
"There's no coincidence their point total is the way it is," Sumlin said. "We're going to see some different stuff."
Thomas said he's stayed in pretty good contact with Sumlin.
"He's a really great leader for that team and he's there at the right time with the program," Thomas said. "It's neat to watch."
Chaney made good sport of Sumlin's new $5 million-a-year contract, as South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier did at SEC media days.
"He was a big-time coach when I was working with him, and now he's making a lot of money being a big-time coach," Chaney said. "He's just changed titles."
Aggie ailments
Texas A&M center Mike Matthews (ankle) is probable for Saturday's game after sitting out last week. Linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni (ankle) and tight end Cam Clear (ankle) are also probable after playing sparingly last week.
Freshman receiver/returner Speedy Noil (knee) sat out Texas A&M's 58-6 rout of SMU last week, and cornerback De'Vante Harris, who missed the first three games with a urinary tract issue, should be ready for the Razorbacks.
Kliff notes
Texas A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital has discussed Arkansas with Texas Tech Coach Kliff Kingsbury, who Spavital replaced in the coordinator's role with the Aggies and whose Red Raiders played the Razorbacks two weeks ago.
"Kliff ... I grew up with that guy in this [coaching] tree, and it's good to get some ideas from him and what we may need to attack," Spavital said. "We do have different personnel than they do, but his insight is always helpful."
Big 600
Texas A&M, which ranks second nationally with 612.5 yards per game, has hit the 600-yard mark in three of its four games.
Going long
Arkansas has 27 plays of 20-plus yards -- 20 on offense, 6 on special teams and 1 on defense -- and 13 plays of 30-plus yards this season.
Receiver Keon Hatcher leads the team with four plays of 40-plus yards on an 82-yard touchdown run, touchdown catches of 50 and 44 yards and a 47-yard kickoff return.
Unbeatens
Texas A&M will mark the third unbeaten opponent in a row for the Razorbacks. There are three more unbeatens -- Alabama, Mississippi State and Ole Miss -- on Arkansas' schedule.
The combined record of Arkansas' remaining opponents is 25-4, a winning rate of 86.2 percent.
Clock talk
Arkansas has jumped to 28th nationally in time of possession with an average of 32:06 after dominating Texas Tech and Northern Illinois. Texas A&M ranks 120th with an average time of possession of 26:00.
They're No. 6
Arkansas will face its second opponent ranked No. 6 in The Associated Press poll when it takes on Texas A&M. Auburn was ranked No. 6 at the time of its 45-21 season-opening victory over the Hogs.
The Razorbacks are 4-11 against No. 6 teams, including a 10-7 victory over Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl that clinched Arkansas' 1964 national championship awarded by the Football Writers Association of America. Their last victory over a team ranked No. 6 was the 2010 team's BCS-bowl clinching 31-23 victory over LSU.
All-access
Arkansas football is the subject of a behind-the-scenes feature being shot this week by CBS which will be shown at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15.
The 30-minute show will feature clips from team meetings, film sessions, interviews, practices, the team's travel to Arlington, Texas, and Friday's walk-through at AT&T Stadium.
Worth noting
Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill opened his career with 150 consecutive passes without an interception before throwing one on the second series at SMU last week.
The lowest point total in Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin's 82 games as a head coach is 10 points, which the Aggies scored in last year's 34-10 loss to LSU.
Sports on 09/24/2014