FORT WORTH, Texas — There is an unwritten rule in college football: Don't get into overtime with Arkansas.
The Razorbacks call themselves the overtime kings. That's a title that has been earned time and again, most recently in an unbelievable 41-38 double-overtime win at No. 15 TCU on Saturday.
Arkansas is 12-6 all-time since overtime games began in 1996, but has been best when one overtime wasn't enough. The Razorbacks are now 8-1 in multi-overtime games, with seven straight wins.
The only loss in such a game was in six overtimes at Tennessee in 2002. The Razorbacks are 2-0 in seven overtimes (NCAA record for longest game); 1-0 in four overtimes; 1-0 in three overtimes; and 4-0 in two overtimes.
Arkansas in OT
1996 - Arkansas 16, Mississippi State 13
2000 - Arkansas 17, Mississippi State 10
2001 - Arkansas 58, Ole Miss 56 (7OT)
2002 - Tennessee 41, Arkansas 38 (6OT)
2003 - Arkansas 34, Alabama 31 (2OT)
2003 - Arkansas 71, Kentucky 63 (7OT)
2006 - Arkansas 24, Alabama 23 (2OT)
2007 - Arkansas 50, LSU 48 (3OT)
2009 - LSU 33, Arkansas 30
2009 - Arkansas 20, East Carolina 17
2010 - Arkansas 38, Mississippi State 31 (2OT)
2012 - ULM 34, Arkansas 31
2013 - Mississippi State 24, Arkansas 17
2014 - Texas A&M 35, Arkansas 28
2015 - Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 21
2015 - Arkansas 54, Auburn 46 (4OT)
2015 - Arkansas 53, Ole Miss 52
2016 - Arkansas 41, TCU 38 (2OT)
But history doesn't win games. Despite the program's great track record in overtime, Arkansas struggled in the extra period during Bret Bielema's beginning years as head coach.
Not only did the Razorbacks lose their first three overtime games under Bielema, they didn't pick up a first down in losses to Mississippi State in 2013 and Texas A&M the next two seasons.
Since then, Arkansas' offense has been perfect in overtime. The Razorbacks have scored touchdowns in their last seven overtime possessions and are 3-for-3 on two-point tries.
The end result: Arkansas has won three straight overtime games, the last two of which were on the road against highly-ranked opponents.
There are several layers to the Razorbacks' overtime success since last October's four-overtime win over Auburn.
First, Arkansas has an offensive coordinator that has installed several creative play calls. Dan Enos has already displayed that twice this season - with a fourth down pass to score the go-ahead points against Louisiana Tech and with a reverse-pass to the quarterback on the two-point play against TCU.
Second, Arkansas has a head coach who is willing to let his play-caller take risks. Many forget the Razorbacks beat Ole Miss last season with a do-or-die two-point call in the first overtime. That's risky. So is trusting your quarterback to make a catch with the game on the line, as Allen did with 1:03 remaining at TCU.
Third, the Razorbacks' quarterback play has improved drastically. Credit Enos again here. The play-calling was suspect in those first three overtime losses under Bielema, but has been superb since. It helps when you have a quarterback who plays well under pressure, such as Brandon Allen did in the back half of last year and Austin has done so far in 2016.
Consider this: Austin Allen's first two starts have included game-winning or game-tying drives in the fourth quarter. He was 4-for-5 for 39 yards in the fourth quarter against Louisiana Tech last week, and 5-for-6 for 85 yards in the Razorbacks' final three drives against TCU.
He threw the game-winning touchdown pass against the Bulldogs and ran for the game-winner against the Horned Frogs. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to the fan base.
Allen is a naturally laid-back guy and has always been poised when the game is on the line. As a high school junior he threw a touchdown pass on fourth down in overtime and then completed a two-point conversion to give Fayetteville an upset win in the state championship game over Bentonville, which was on a 25-game win streak. Allen and Fayetteville repeated the next season.
There were three players from that Fayetteville team on the field for Arkansas at TCU and all played a large role in the win. Allen was 17 of 29 for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns, caught the two-point conversion and ran for a score; linebacker Brooks Ellis had 13 tackles - including 3 for loss - and a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown; and linebacker Dre Greenlaw had 8 tackles and a fumble recovery inside the Arkansas 5.
There were many more Arkansans who also played a role. Drew Morgan (Greenwood) and Jeremy Sprinkle (White Hall) had touchdown receptions, and Dominique Reed (Camden) had a 15-yard run to set-up Allen's game-winner.
They all grew up watching the Razorbacks establish themselves as overtime kings. Now they are reaffirming it.