Arkansas 31, Vanderbilt 21: Razorbacks end long SEC drought in Nashville
On Saturday night at FirstBank Stadium, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores 31-21, snapping a 14-game Southeastern Conference losing streak that dated back to 2024. The win improved Arkansas to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the SEC—the program’s first conference victory under first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield—and also ended an eight-game road losing streak. Vanderbilt fell to 3-4 (0-4 SEC).
Game Highlights
Vanderbilt struck first late in the opening quarter when Sedrick Alexander scored on a 4-yard run, capping a 76-yard drive for a 7-0 lead. Arkansas answered in the second quarter when cornerback Joker Johnson intercepted freshman quarterback Jared Curtis and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown, tying the score at 7-7. Curtis responded with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Junior Sherrill, putting the Commodores back ahead 14-7. The Razorbacks answered quickly, driving 75 yards in just over a minute for Cam Settles’ 11-yard touchdown run that knotted the game at 14-14 heading into halftime.
Arkansas took its first lead early in the third quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run by quarterback KJ Jackson. Vanderbilt tied it again on a 3-yard run by Makhilyn Young. Settles then scored his second touchdown of the night on a 3-yard run with nine seconds left in the third, giving the Razorbacks a 28-21 advantage they would not relinquish.
The decisive sequence came late. With Vanderbilt driving and threatening to tie the game, Miguel Mitchell intercepted Curtis on a second-and-12 play near the Arkansas 29-yard line. Arkansas then sustained a clock-killing drive that included a key 31-yard completion from Jackson to Jamari Hawkins on third-and-10. Max Gilbert sealed the victory with a 39-yard field goal with 24 seconds remaining.
Arkansas outgained Vanderbilt 438-390 in total yards, led by a season-high 187 rushing yards. Jackson completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards with no interceptions while adding a team-high 58 rushing yards and a touchdown. Settles finished with 45 rushing yards and two scores. Curtis threw for 274 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice. Arkansas controlled time of possession (33:47 to 26:13) and committed zero turnovers.
Pros from the Game
• Ending the drought and making clutch plays: After 14 straight SEC losses (seven by one possession during the streak), Arkansas finally closed out a close conference game. The late interception by Mitchell, the third-down conversion to Hawkins, and Gilbert’s field goal showed the kind of winning execution that had been missing.
• Balanced, physical offense: The Razorbacks’ 187 rushing yards marked a season high and featured contributions from multiple backs (Settles, Braylen Russell, and Jackson). Jackson’s dual-threat ability kept the defense honest and produced efficient, mistake-free quarterback play.
• Turnover differential and defensive impact: Two interceptions (including Johnson’s pick-six) directly produced 10 points and prevented a potential Vanderbilt comeback. The defense forced mistakes from a young quarterback without creating self-inflicted damage.
• Time of possession and finishing drives: Holding the ball for nearly 34 minutes and converting in the red zone helped Arkansas dictate the pace and protect a late lead.
Cons from the Game
• Early deficit and inconsistency: Arkansas still fell behind early and allowed Vanderbilt to stay competitive throughout, reflecting ongoing issues with starting fast and sustaining dominance against SEC competition.
• Penalties and missed opportunities: The Razorbacks were flagged five times for more than 60 yards, and a missed 51-yard field goal attempt earlier in the second half kept the door open longer than necessary.
• Still early in the climb: While the win was meaningful, Arkansas remains 1-3 in conference play. Vanderbilt’s offense still moved the ball effectively at times (390 yards), and the Razorbacks will need cleaner, more consistent performances against stronger remaining opponents.
• Room for growth on both sides of the ball: The defense allowed big plays at times, and the offense leaned heavily on the run and Jackson’s legs rather than consistent explosive passing production.
This result provides a tangible building block for Silverfield’s program after a long stretch of close SEC losses. Arkansas showed it can run the ball effectively, force turnovers, and finish games—areas that will be tested again as the schedule continues. For Vanderbilt, the turnovers proved decisive in another conference setback
| FINAL | NEXT |
|---|---|
| FINAL — Arkansas 31, Vanderbilt 21 | NEXT — Oct 31 vs #20 Missouri |
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