Razorbacks rewind

Tie for 3rd large leap for Hogs

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema instructs players during a game against Missouri on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas wound up in a tie for third place in the SEC West at 5-3 with LSU, two games behind SEC West champion Alabama and one game behind Ole Miss.

Every member of the SEC West has been in the Associated Press top 25 poll at some point this season.

The Razorbacks beat LSU and Ole Miss for the second consecutive season, and also defeated Tennessee, which was one of two 5-3 teams in the SEC East.

"From a team that went 0-for in the SEC my first year to a team that won two [SEC games] last year to go 5-3 in this league and know we were on the doorstep of getting a couple of others, I think it's really, really an exciting time and we're trending in the right direction," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Friday.

The Razorbacks posted their their eighth winning conference record in 24 seasons in the SEC and their first since the 2011 team went 6-2.

Arkansas won five of its last six games after its open date on Oct. 17 and was one late blocked field goal away from winning all six.

"Yeah, we easily could have been 6-0," quarterback Brandon Allen said. "It's a big momentum builder for us, especially going to a bowl game and then into next season. I think this group is a bunch of resilient guys."

Give 'em Liberty

Arkansas will not have a confirmed bowl destination until the SEC announces bowl bids on Sunday, but it's clear the Liberty Bowl is eyeing the Razorbacks.

Liberty Bowl Executive Director Steve Ehrhart and Associated Executive Director Harold Graeter attended Arkansas' 28-3 victory over Missouri and huddled with various school officials as well as Jen Bielema, the wife of Coach Bret Bielema.

The Liberty Bowl is scheduled to be played for the 57th time at 2:20 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. The SEC representative will take on a member of the Big 12, which is likely to be West Virginia, Texas Tech or Kansas State.

Arkansas has played in the Liberty Bowl four times, the last a 20-17 victory over East Carolina after the 2009 season.

Total it up

Arkansas finished the regular season ranked No. 33 in total offense with 456.8 yards per game and No. 73 in total defense, with 404.1 yards per game allowed.

The Razorbacks are No. 34 in passing (264.3), No. 41 in rushing (192.6) and No. 30 in scoring (35.2). Defensively, Arkansas is No. 18 against the run (119.6), No. 120 in passing yards allowed (284.5) and tied for No. 73 in scoring (27.8).

Allen streaks

Brandon Allen had been intercepted once in 156 passes before Missouri's Aarion Penton made a diving interception on Allen's final throw in the fourth quarter last Friday.

Allen will take a 29-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season into his final college game. He has thrown 49 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over the last two seasons.

One regret

Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze, reveling in his team's 38-27 Egg Bowl victory over Mississippi State late Saturday, talked about how close his club came to the SEC Championship game, referencing Arkansas' 53-52 overtime victory in Oxford, Miss., during his opening post-game remarks.

"Excited to take the egg back to Oxford. It means so much to our people, our program," Freeze said.

"Thrilled. Excited. One negative is we're a fourth-and-25 from going to Atlanta. Now, we could dwell on that, the what ifs and all that, but I think it speaks volumes about where we've come in our four years here. It stinks, but you know what, we'll be going to a great bowl game somewhere."

Record breakdown

Arkansas finished 4-3 in games played in Arkansas, 3-1 in road games and 0-1 in its neutral site game against Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas. Arkansas was 4-2 in Fayetteville, 0-1 in Little Rock and was the designated home team for its 28-21 overtime loss to Texas A&M.

The Razorbacks led all FBS teams in overtime games (3) and went 2-1 in those games. They played six overtime periods, the most among FBS teams. There have been 33 overtime games played this season in FBS.

Turnover take

Arkansas wound up the regular season with 17 takeaways and 10 turnovers -- 7 interceptions and 3 lost fumbles -- for a net plus-7 turnover margin. Arkansas is tied for No. 3 in the SEC and for No. 27 nationally with a plus 0.58 turnover margin per game.

The Razorbacks have recorded 10 interceptions -- a team-high 2 each for D.J. Dean and Josh Liddell -- and 7 fumble recoveries by 7 different players. Defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. leads the team with 3 forced fumbles and 8 sacks.

'Zou series

Arkansas improved to 3-4 in its series against Missouri and 1-1 since the Tigers joined the SEC in 2012. The teams have played twice in Arkansas, with the Tigers' 7-6 victory in Little Rock joining the Razorbacks' 28-3 victory on Friday.

Flag bearers

Defensive tackle Bijhon Jackson carried the Arkansas flag and defensive back Reid Miller held the U.S. flag as the Razorbacks took the field on Friday.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

RB Alex Collins

Collins posted his ninth 100-yard rushing game of the season with 130 yards on a career-high 30 carries against Missouri. Collins, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is third in the SEC with 1,392 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns.

LB Brooks Ellis and DE Tevin Beanum

• Ellis and Beanum had 6 tackles each to lead the team. Ellis, of Fayetteville, had 1.5 tackles for 6 yards in losses, 2 quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. Beanum, of Forrest City, had 1.5 tackles for 3 yards in losses.

Sports on 11/30/2015