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Arkansas football beats Florida: Updates, highlights from Week 10 college football game

Jackson Fuller, Fort Smith Southwest Times Record
·8 min read

Arkansas football returns to action Saturday after a bye week filled with changes.

The Razorbacks (2-6, 0-5 SEC) will face Florida (5-3, 3-2) with a new offensive coordinator and a reduced playbook. In its last game, Arkansas mustered one field goal in a disappointing 7-3 home loss to Mississippi State. The Gators are coming off a 43-20 blowout loss to No. 1 Georgia.

This will be Arkansas' last road game of the season. Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is one of two SEC venues where Arkansas has never won, along with Missouri's Faurot Field. The Hogs are 0-5 all-time in Gainesville and have been outscored by 115 points (23.0 PPG).

KJ Jeffersonhas completed 143-of-210 passes (65.3%) for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for 200 yards and a touchdown through eight games this season. Jefferson, who ranks first on Arkansas’ career touchdown responsibility list with 82 (62 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns), is two passing touchdowns shy of matching the all-time school record.

More: How new offensive coordinator Kenny Guiton is impressing Arkansas football coaches and players

More: Arkansas football's Rocket Sanders questionable for Florida game

Florida quarterback Graham Mertzhas completed 75.9% of his passes (195-for-257), which leads the SEC and ranks third nationally. He's also thrown multiple touchdown passes in four-straight games, including notching his first-career 400-yard passing game in Week 7, throwing for 423 yards and three touchdowns at South Carolina.

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

Arkansas vs. Florida score

Arkansas football vs. Florida live updates, highlights

Overtime

Touchdown Arkansas. KJ Jefferson finds Tyrone Broden for a four-yard score, and the Hogs win.

  • Arkansas' defense comes up with a huge stop. Razorbacks will win this game with a touchdown.

Field Goal Florida. Trey Smack is good from 39 yards out.

  • Arkansas wins the toss and elects to play defense first.

Fourth Quarter

  • Wow. Florida's Trey Smack misses a 44-yard field goal and this game is headed to overtime. Arkansas and Florida tied 33-33.

Field Goal Arkansas, :44. Cam Little is good from 49 yards.

  • The Arkansas lead lasted just three plays. A defense that has been so good over the past five weeks just let go of the rope when the Hogs were desperate for a stop.

Touchdown Florida, 3:02. Trevor Etienne scores on a 26-yard run.

  • The Hogs find the end zone for the first time since their opening drive of the game. Jefferson was terrific on that series, running for 55 yards and converting a pair of third downs.

Touchdown Arkansas, 4:26. KJ Jefferson scores on a 25-yard run.

  • Florida got a fortunate call to avoid a turnover, with the refs whistling for forward-progress before a fumble. The Gators capitalized and now have a 26-23 lead.

Field Goal Florida, 7:58. Trey Smack is good from 34 yards.

  • Arkansas has to settle for just three points on a 10-play, 66-yard drive that got all the way down to the Florida four-yard line. The game is once again tied, 23-23.

Field Goal Arkansas, 12:54. Cam Little is good from 22 yards.

  • Andrew Armstrong just left the field and walked into the locker room with an injury.

Third Quarter

  • The Gators need just one play to capitalize on the fumble. Pearsall takes advantage of his matchup with Jayden Johnson on the touchdown. The extra point was unsuccessful, so Florida leads 23-20.

Touchdown Florida, 1:38. Graham Mertz hits Ricky Pearsall for a 32-yard score.

  • AJ Green with a massive fumble and Florida takes over at the Arkansas 32-yard line. The Razorbacks just can't get out of their own way today. Penalties, sacks and now a turnover.

  • Graham Mertz is back on the field for Florida, missing just one offensive play.

  • Cam Little misses a 50-yard field goal after penalties crushed any hope with the Razorbacks' last drive. Florida takes over at its own 40, trailing 20-17 with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter.

  • Arkansas forces another punt, and a big hit by Chris Paul Jr. forced Florida quarterback Graham Mertz to leave the field with an injury. The Arkansas secondary has been terrific over the past two quarters. The Razorbacks will start this drive at the Florida 46.

  • The Razorbacks retake the lead early in the third quarter thanks to ever-reliable Cam Little. The field goal was set up by a 48-yard pass from KJ Jefferson to Andrew Armstrong.

Field Goal Arkansas, 10:34. Cam Little is good from 41 yards.

  • Florida picked up one first down, but the Arkansas defense starts the second half by forcing a punt. All three of the cornerbacks who played on that series — Dwight McGlothern, Jaylon Braxton and Lorando Johnson — made plays to give their offense the ball.

Second Quarter

  • Florida needed 12 plays to go 46 yards before settling for a long field goal, which is good. Arkansas and Florida are tied 17-17 as we approach halftime.

Field Goal Florida, :29. Trey Smack is good from 47 yards out.

  • A long pass from Jefferson to Andrew Armstrong got Arkansas into field-goal range, and Little converts. Jefferson was sacked on third down, and Florida already has four sacks on the afternoon.

Field Goal Arkansas, 4:39. Cam Little is good from 37 yards out.

  • Arkansas right tackle Patrick Kutas just left the field with an injury. Trainers appeared to be looking at his left leg. Ty'Kieast Crawford replaces Kutas at right tackle.

  • The Razorbacks get into Florida territory, but a sack on third down forced a punt. Max Fletcher's kick goes into the end zone, and the Gators will start at their own 20.

  • The Arkansas defense gets the stop on third down. The Razorbacks will have their best starting field position of the game at their own 46-yard line.

First Quarter

  • First quarter ends with Arkansas and Florida tied 14-14. The Gators will have third-and-six to begin the second period.

  • KJ Jefferson is picked off by freshman Jordan Castell trying to find Andrew Armstrong deep down the field. Ball was under-thrown as Jefferson was rolling to his right. Florida takes over at its own nine-yard line.

  • The early lead and momentum for Arkansas has evaporated. Hudson Clark is beaten in coverage for another touchdown catch by Wilson. Impressive response by the Gators, and now Arkansas needs to find an answer.

Touchdown Florida, 2:04. Mertz and Wilson connect again, this time on a six-yard score.

  • The Gators take advantage of the great field position, finding the end zone on a six-play drive. Mertz hit Wilson on a terrific route against Hudson Clark in coverage.

Touchdown Florida, 5:33. Graham Mertz hits Eugene Wilson III for a 19-yard score.

  • Arkansas goes three-and-out deep inside its own territory. A quarterback sneak on third down went nowhere, and now Florida has great field position at the Arkansas 33.

  • After sitting out the first series, running back Rocket Sanders takes the field on the Razorbacks' second possession. His first carry went for two yards.

  • Now, a three-and-out for the Florida offense. Braxton was in coverage on the third-down incompletion. Braxton appears to be a star in the making.

  • Are Hogs fans dreaming? Freshman cornerback Jaylon Braxton strips a Florida wide receiver and returns it for a touchdown. The ball never hit the turf, as Braxton just ripped the ball out of the arms of Ricky Pearsall. Arkansas leads 14-0, not even five minutes into the game.

Touchdown Arkansas, 11:54. Jaylon Braxton returns a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown.

  • Kenny Guiton's first drive as offensive coordinator could not have gone any better. Seven plays, 75 yards and the Razorbacks have an early 7-0 lead.

Touchdown Arkansas, 12:06. KJ Jefferson finds AJ Green for an 8-yard score.

Pregame

  • Florida wins the toss and defers to the second half. Arkansas' new-look offense under Kenny Guiton will get the ball first.

  • Florida will be without three defensive starters Saturday. Linebacker Shemar James, defensive tackle Cam Jackson and defensive end Tyreak Sapp are all unavailable, according to USA Today's Kevin Brockway.

  • According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, running back Rashod Dubinion is attending his grandmother's funeral and did not travel with the team to Florida.

  • Arkansas running back Raheim 'Rocket' Sanders did make the trip to Florida this week. Sanders has missed five games this season, including the previous two, with a knee injury. Sanders has not traveled to an away game in which he hasn't been able to play this season.

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

  • When: 11 a.m. CT

  • Channel: ESPN2

  • Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

  • Betting line: Florida by 3.5; Over/Under of 49.5

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas football beats Florida: Updates, highlights from Week 10