Auburn vs. Arkansas: Tigers Stage Stunning Fourth-Quarter Rally to Secure First SEC Win

 The Auburn Tigers rallied to defeat the Arkansas Razorbacks 33-24 on Saturday, securing their first Southeastern Conference (SEC) win of the season.

The game, played in rainy conditions at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, turned on a series of late turnovers, a clutch performance from the kicker, and a pivotal quarterback change that sparked the Tigers to victory .

Below is a summary of the game's key statistics.

Aspect	Auburn Tigers	Arkansas Razorbacks
Final Score	33	24
Total Yards	380	331
Rushing Leader	Jeremiah Cobb: 28 carries, 153 yards	Braylen Russell: 2-Yd TD run
Passing Leader	Ashton Daniels: 6/8, 77 yards	Taylen Green: 14/22, 268 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Key Performer	Rayshawn Pleasant: 2 INT, 1 TD	Kani Walker: 89-yard INT return TD
Turnovers	1	4
Time of Possession	37:40	22:20

A Tale of Two Halves

The game unfolded in starkly different acts, with Arkansas dominating the second quarter and Auburn controlling the second half.

• First Half: Auburn started strong, building a 10-0 lead with an opening-drive touchdown—a spectacular one-handed 23-yard catch by Cam Coleman —and an early second-quarter field goal. However, momentum shifted violently in the second quarter. Arkansas erupted for 21 points, capped by a devastating 89-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kani Walker off Auburn starter Jackson Arnold just before halftime .

• Second Half: Following the pick-six, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze benched Arnold in favor of Ashton Daniels . Daniels provided a steady hand, leading the Tigers on five consecutive scoring drives, all ending in field goals for Alex McPherson . More importantly, he avoided the critical mistakes that had plagued the first half, going 6 for 8 for 77 yards and managing the game effectively .

The Fourth-Quarter Collapse

With Arkansas leading 24-19 in the final period, the game was decided by a stunning sequence of turnovers from the Razorbacks' offense.

• The Turning Point: With just over nine minutes left, Rayshawn Pleasant intercepted Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown, giving Auburn its first lead since the first half . The Tigers successfully converted a two-point attempt to take a 27-24 lead .

• Sealing the Victory: The Razorbacks' ensuing drive ended in a fumble forced by Xavier Atkins and recovered by Sylvester Smith, leading to another McPherson field goal . On Arkansas's next possession, Pleasant came up with his second interception of the quarter . The collapse was finalized when Green threw his third interception of the day on the Razorbacks' final drive . McPherson's sixth field goal of the day provided the final margin of victory .

Auburn 24 - 33 Arkansas

• For Auburn (4-4, 1-4 SEC): This win snaps a four-game losing streak and provides crucial momentum. The successful quarterback change to Ashton Daniels and a career-day from kicker Alex McPherson offer new hope for the second half of the season . The defense, which has been a relative strength all season, proved it can single-handedly win games .

• For Arkansas (2-6, 0-4 SEC): The loss is the Razorbacks' sixth in a row and highlights a recurring issue of failing to close out games. The fourth-quarter meltdown, during which the offense committed turnovers on four consecutive drives, wasted what was arguably the defense's best performance of the year .

The Auburn Tigers will look to build on this win when they host Kentucky next Saturday. The Arkansas Razorbacks, still searching for their first SEC win, will be at home against Mississippi State .