Alabama beats Arkansas: Updates, highlights from Week 7 college football game

Arkansas football hits the road Saturday for the final leg of a four-game trip, hoping to springboard its season and end a 20-year drought in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The Razorbacks (2-4, 0-3 SEC) will face surging No. 11 Alabama (5-1, 3-0) on Saturday morning. Arkansas is coming off another disappointing loss to Ole Miss, while Alabama beat Texas A&M last week to cement itself once again as the SEC West favorite. The Crimson Tide's lone loss this season came to No. 9 Texas.

The last time Arkansas won a game at Alabama was 2003. The Razorbacks scored the game's final 17 points that evening, with Chris Balseiro converting a game-winning field goal in overtime to secure a 34-31 victory.

More: Arkansas football's Dan Enos set for Alabama return with mixed results since leaving Crimson Tide

More: Where are the stars? KJ Jefferson, Rocket Sanders struggles highlight Arkansas football's problems

KJ Jefferson has completed 110-of-164 passes (67.1%) for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns while also rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown through six games this season. Jefferson, who has thrown for at least one touchdown in each of his last 17 games under center, ranks first on Arkansas’ career touchdown responsibility list with 80.

Since Nick Saban’s arrival in 2007, Alabama has played in 26 games that kicked off at 11:30 a.m. CT or earlier. The Crimson Tide is a perfect 26-0 in those matchups, and it has won 16 straight against unranked opponents.

Follow along to get live updates, scores and highlights from the Arkansas-Alabama game:

Arkansas vs. Alabama score

Arkansas football vs. Alabama live updates, highlights

Fourth Quarter

• Arkansas could not get the stop as Alabama runs out the clock and leaves Bryant-Denny Stadium with a tighter-than-expected 24-21 victory over Arkansas.

• A third-down sack ends the Arkansas drive. The Hogs will need one more stop from their defense to have a chance at the upset. Alabama takes over at its own 35-yard line with 5:19 remaining.

• The Arkansas defense gets the stop, and now KJ Jefferson has a chance to mach down the field and give the Razorbacks the lead. Unfortunately, the offense will start this critical drive from its own eight-yard line. There is 9:59 remaining on the clock.

• All of a sudden, it's a three-point game. A perfectly executed wheel route and a successful two-point conversion trims the Alabama lead to 24-21. Now, all the pressure flips to the Arkansas defense, who needs a stop here to maintain momentum.

Touchdown Arkansas, 10:59. KJ Jefferson finds Rashod Dubinion on a wheel route for a 14-yard score.

• Another sack from Landon Jackson, and Arkansas is going to get the football back with some momentum.

Third Quarter

• The Hogs finally find the end zone late in the third quarter. Jefferson was at his best that drive, dangerous with his arm and legs. A pair of Alabama penalties aided the Arkansas cause, but the Hogs won't care, cashing in on the 10-play series. Alabama leads 24-13.

Touchdown Arkansas, 0:33. KJ Jefferson hits Isaiah Sategna for a five-yard score.

• Another three-and-out for Arkansas. The offense was put in a hole on first down with a sack, and a third-down screen to AJ Green never stood a chance. The Razorbacks have 14 yards of offense since the first quarter.

• Will Reichard makes a 30-yard field goal and Alabama extends its lead to 24-6. That's now 24 unanswered points by the Crimson Tide since Arkansas went up 6-0 early in the first quarter.

Field Goal Alabama, 7:47.

• Razorbacks can't get anything going on offense, and they punt after another three-and-out. KJ Jefferson had Dominique Johnson wide open in the flat for an easy first down, but Jefferson never looked his way.

• The Arkansas defense got a much-needed stop to start the second half. Nice pass breakups from Jaheim Singletary and Jayden Johnson to force Alabama into a punt. Hogs take over at their own 11.

• Arkansas cornerback Kee'yon Stewart had to be helped off the field after the second play of the second half. Stewart started today with Dwight McGlothern and Jaylon Braxton unavailable. Now, Arkansas will have to go further down the depth chart.

Second Quarter

HALFTIME: Alabama 21, Arkansas 6.

• Another sack by Landon Jackson forces Alabama to punt. Arkansas now has three sacks on the game. Despite the overall struggles, the defensive line has performed well for the Hogs.

• The Arkansas secondary just can't hold up against Alabama right now. Niblack was wide open in the middle of the field with another Arkansas safety trailing behind. It's getting ugly, now, with Alabama up 21-6.

Touchdown Alabama, 4:41. Jalen Milroe finds Amari Niblack for a 29-yard score.

• Arkansas goes three-and-out after Alabama's latest touchdown. The Razorbacks are averaging 1.7 yards per rush, but six of their last seven plays have been designed runs.

• Jalen Milroe plunges in on a QB sneak and the Hogs now trail 14-6. Milroe had another back-breaking third-down throw on that drive, with the Arkansas secondary now struggling to keep up. Danger zone here for the Hogs.

Touchdown Alabama, 8:52. Jalen Milroe scores on a one-yard run.

First Quarter

• A breakdown in the secondary on 3rd-and-14, and Jalen Milroe takes advantage. Looked like Malik Chavis made the wrong read coming down, leaving the back end unoccupied. After a ton of good work from the Hogs, Alabama leads 7-6 as we head to the second quarter.

Touchdown Alabama, 0:58. Jalen Milroe connects with Kobe Prentice on a 79-yard score.

• Cam Little makes a 49-yard field goal, and the Razorbacks lead the Crimson Tide 6-0 late in the first quarter. A good Arkansas drive was squashed on a sack, but the Razorbacks will take the points and extend their lead.

Field Goal Arkansas, 2:05

• For a third-straight week, the Arkansas defense has come to play. A sack by Landon Jackson on second down eventually forces an Alabama punt. The Alabama offensive line gives up 4.33 sacks per game, and that's the first for the Hogs.

• Cam Little drills a 55-yard field goal and the Razorbacks lead 3-0. Arkansas got into field-goal range off a 24-yard catch by tight end Ty Washington, who is continuing his midseason surge after last week's coming out party against Ole Miss.

Field Goal Arkansas, 9:15

• The Hogs defense responded with a three-and-out of its own. Jaheim Thomas was involved on all three tackles to give Arkansas possession.

• Arkansas opens the game with a three-and-out. Tyrone Broden was open for a third-down conversion, but dropped the pass. Alabama will start its first drive from its own 11-yard line after a great punt from Max Fletcher.

Pregame

• Alabama wins the toss and defers to the second half. Arkansas' offense will get us started.

• The captains for Arkansas today are KJ Jefferson, Trajan Jeffcoat, Landon Jackson and Brady Latham.

• According to the University of Arkansas radio team, Raheim 'Rocket' Sanders did not travel to Alabama with the Razorbacks. Defensive tackle Cameron Ball is also out today, in addition to Braxton and Paul Jr.

• Arkansas men's basketball coach Eric Musselman is here at Bryant-Denny Stadium supporting the football team.

• Chris Paul Jr. and Jaylon Braxton did not travel for Arkansas football, a team spokesperson confirms. Dwight McGlothern and Al Walcott both traveled after being questionable earlier this week.

What time and channel is the Arkansas football vs. Alabama game on?

• When: 11 a.m. CT

• Channel: ESPN

• Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

• Betting line: Alabama by 19.5; Over/Under of 46.5

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Alabama beats Arkansas: Live score, updates, highlights from Week 7