Arkansas, Texas Tech renew old Southwest Conference rivalry after 23 years

LUBBOCK, Texas – It's been 23 years since Texas Tech and Arkansas faced off in what was the two teams' final pairing before the Razorbacks joined the Southeast Conference.

The Red Raiders (2-0) remained in the Southwest Conference until its demise in 1995, and they joined the Big 12 the following season. Texas Tech won that 1991 game 38-21 in Lubbock.

This Saturday's game pits a team that's had difficulty stopping the run, Texas Tech, against a team ranked 11th in the nation in yards rushing (324.5 yards per game). The Red Raiders bring the nation's 11th-best total offense (570 ypg).

Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury, whose team has won two closer-than-expected games by a combined margin of 11 points, called the Razorbacks' offense the "biggest challenge" this season. Texas Tech had to come from behind to beat UTEP 30-26 last week.

"They've been moving bodies," he said of Arkansas' five 310-plus-pound offensive linemen. "You watch them up front against Auburn, against Nicholls State and they're tough. Those running backs do a great job finishing runs."

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, who's in his second year in Fayetteville, called his three running backs "elite" in the Razorbacks' program. But he knows about the potential of the Red Raiders' passing attack. Arkansas (1-1) snapped a 10-game losing streak when they beat Nicholls State 73-7 last week.

"The bottom line is, Texas Tech's offense is out there against our defense and it doesn't really matter what they do on offense, it matters what we do and how we're able to defend them," he said.

Some things to watch Saturday:

RAZORBACKS' RUNNING ATTACK

Arkansas grinds out most of its offense on the ground, getting 648 yards of its 1,012 total yards on rushes. The Razorbacks are led by sophomore Alex Collins (207 yards and three TDS on 23 carries) and junior Jonathan Williams (178 yards and two TDs on 11 carries). "I think Alex Collins has probably had as good a three weeks of practice since he's been here, ... and Jonathan Williams, any chance he gets, continues to impress," Bielema said.

HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE

The Red Raiders have gotten off to slow starts in both their wins, and Davis Webb this week acknowledged he hasn't been himself, despite throwing for 730 yards and seven TDs. He's also thrown two interceptions in the first half of the first game. "I'm really looking forward to the third game because I felt like the first two games were off for everybody," Webb said.

TURNOVERS

The Red Raiders haven't forced a turnover all season and have lost the turnover battle in 10-straight games, during which they're 5-5. Texas Tech has lost the ball three times this season; Arkansas is even in turnover margin. "I don't know if it's lack of confidence or what it is, but we've got to find a way," Texas Tech's defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt said of forcing turnovers. "Odds surely are going to swing our way one of these days."

TIME OF POSSESSION

Arkansas wants to do what other teams know have learned: keep the Red Raiders offense off the field. Texas Tech ran just 59 plays vs. UTEP, which held the ball for 39 minutes. "The more that we can monopolize the clock a little more efficiently, we can operate and do certain things — it's only going to help our defense," Bielema said.

PENALTY PROBLEM

In two games, the Red Raiders been flagged for 25 penalties for 204 yards. Last week, Texas Tech got two odd ones: for a sideline interference and having two players with the same number on the field simultaneously. Texas Tech trails only Oregon State (13) in penalties per game. Kingsbury has harped on eliminating penalties. To "play as poorly as we have at times and have all the mistakes and penalties and still be 2-0, we'll build off that," he said. "It's got to go up from here."