ARLINGTON, Texas — Time of possession can be a key statistic in a win, or it can be a sobering look at offensive inefficiency in a loss.
The latter has been the case for Arkansas in its series against Texas A&M. The Razorbacks had the ball for essentially two-thirds of the game - 39 minutes, 45 seconds - Saturday, but finished with 100 yards less total offense in a 45-24 loss.
It was the second consecutive year that Arkansas had the ball for more than 39 minutes in a loss to the Aggies. The Razorbacks had 37 minutes of possession in its 2014 loss to Texas A&M.
Arkansas' methodical approach worked to get the team in position to score several times this year, but the Razorbacks came away with just 17 points on six trips inside the 10-yard line.
Texas A&M, on the other hand, used its no-huddle offense to gash the Razorbacks both through the air and on the ground. The Aggies had nine plays of at least 22 yards, including five plays of 42 or more.
The Razorbacks' more rested defense gave up touchdown drives of 51 yards in 54 seconds; 74 yards in 1:18; 94 yards in 42 seconds; 85 yards in 2:06; and 52 yards in 1:24.
Texas A&M also scored in three plays after it recovered a fumble at the Arkansas 15. The Razorbacks had five drives longer than the Aggies' most time-consuming drive of 3:19.
Those five Arkansas drives ended with a fumble, punt, field goal, turnover on downs and touchdown.
In the era of the no-huddle offense, offensive efficiency is a better stat to track than possession time. Texas A&M averaged 29.6 yards for each minute they had the ball, while Arkansas averaged 12.3.
Penalty was costly
Arkansas had committed 11 and nine penalties in the last two games against the Aggies.
So seven in Saturday's loss were an improvement of sorts, but the timing of one greatly aided Texas A&M in the first half and took away what would have likely been good field position for the Razorbacks' offense.
Arkansas had stopped the Aggies on a third down from their own 4 when Ryan Pulley made a nice pass break-up. But safety De'Andre Coley, who has a reputation has a big hitter, leveled Texas A&M receiver Speedy Noil with a helmet-to-helmet hit after the play.
Coley was flagged for targeting - a penalty that was upheld upon review - and ejected from the game.
Two plays later, Texas A&M hit a 47-yard pass play to Ricky Seals-Jones that set-up a field goal to tie the game 10-10.
Arkansas was OK with a penalty earlier in the second quarter. After a drive stalled inside the Texas A&M 5, the Razorbacks tried to take a delay of game to give kicker Cole Hedlund a better angle at a field goal on the left hashmark.
It was the same angle that Hedlund had on a missed field goal to give TCU life two weeks ago.
Texas A&M declined the penalty, so Arkansas coach Bret Bielema called for tackle Dan Skipper to commit a false start - a penalty that cannot be declined.
Hedlund's ensuing 25-yard field goal gave the Razorbacks a 10-7 lead.
This may be Aggies' best SEC team
Texas A&M has left the Arlington undefeated three straight years, only to underachieve down the stretch.
This feels like a different Aggies team, though, for two reasons: quarterback and the run game.
Texas A&M played three heralded quarterback recruits in the two previous meetings, but none are with the team anymore. That opened the door for Knight to transfer in after graduating from Oklahoma.
Knight famously quarterbacked the Sooners' 2013 team to 11 wins and a victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Knight suffered an injury late the next year and he was beat out for the job last season by Baker Mayfield, who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Knight is not a great passer, but he is smart with the ball and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. And his run ability - he had gains of 42, 48 and 62 yards against the Razorbacks - adds an element to the Aggies' offense that has been missing since the days of Johnny Manziel.
Texas A&M's 366 rushing yards Saturday was its most since joining the SEC in Manziel's Heisman year.
No one will mistake Knight for Manziel, but it would not surprise to see this Texas A&M team have a season comparable to its first one in the conference. Kevin Sumlin has done well selling the Aggies as the only Texas team in the SEC, but quarterback has been a missing link.
We'll know soon just how good is Texas A&M. Tennessee comes to Aggieland in two weeks, then Texas A&M travels to Alabama after a bye.