Coming into their non-conference road game with Rutgers, Arkansas was No. 11 in the country in rushing yards per game. With starting quarterback Brandon Allen out due to injury, the Razorbacks figured to lean even more on their running game.
The Scarlet Knights, though, put a halt to both the ground assault and UA’s winning ways.
Rutgers held Arkansas to just 101 yards rushing -- they came into the game averaging 294.3 -- in coming away with a huge, come-from-behind 28-24 win in Piscataway. The Hogs were held to less than a three-yard average on their 34 carries.
It was the first loss for the Razorbacks after starting the season 3-0 in the first year under Bret Bielema.
While the RU defense was the story of the game, the Knights’ resilience wasn’t far behind. Late in the third quarter, Rutgers trailed Arkansas 24-7; three touchdowns later -- including two of quarterback Gary Nova‘s three touchdown passes -- the Knights escaped with the biggest win of the Kyle Flood era.
Nova , who had been somewhat questionable in the week leading up to the game due to a concussion, threw for 346 yards.
The win over Arkansas was Rutgers’ second straight against the Hogs (35-26 in Fayetteville last year) and its fourth consecutive against a team from the SEC.