2015 Arkansas Razorbacks football Conference Southeastern Conference Division Western Division 2015 record 8–5 (5–3 SEC) Head coach Bret Bielema (3rd season)Offensive coordinator Dan Enos (1st season)Offensive scheme Pro-style Defensive coordinator Robb Smith (2nd season)Base defense 4–3 Home stadium Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium War Memorial Stadium Seasons
The 2015 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock . They competed as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference . Arkansas was led by third-year head coach Bret Bielema . Dan Enos served his first season as offensive coordinator , replacing Jim Chaney who left for a job with Pittsburgh . Enos was previously the head coach of Central Michigan .
Personnel [ ] Coaching staff [ ]
Name
Position
Seasons at
Alma Mater
Bret Bielema Head Coach 3
Iowa (1992)
Dan Enos Offensive coordinator /Quarterbacks 1
Michigan State (1991)
Sam Pittman Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line /Recruiting Coordinator
3
Pittsburg State (1986)
Barry Lunney Jr. Tight ends 3
Arkansas (1996)
Michael Smith
Wide receivers 3
Kansas State (1991)
Jemal Singleton Running backs 1
Air Force (1999)
Robb Smith Defensive Coordinator /Secondary 2
Allegheny College (1997)
Vernon Hargreaves
Linebackers 1
Connecticut (1986)
Clay Jennings
Secondary 2
North Texas (1996)
Rory Segrest
Defensive Line /Specialists2
Alabama (1996)
Ernest E.K. Franks
Director of Recruiting
3
Kansas State (2002)
Reference: [1]
Background [ ] In the second season under head coach Bret Bielema , the Razorbacks went to a bowl game and had a winning record for the first time since 2011, which was the last season of former head coach Bobby Petrino .
Arkansas won three of its last four games, including becoming the first team in NCAA Division I history to shut out consecutive ranked opponents (LSU, Ole Miss) as an unranked team.
They ended the year by routing rival Texas in the 2014 Texas Bowl , 31–7.
Recap [ ] Arkansas lost leading returning rusher Jonathan Williams before the season to a foot injury, tempering expectations slightly, but the #18 ranked Razorbacks cruised to a 48-13 victory over UTEP in the season opener.
The next three weeks, however, were full of disappointment. First, the Razorbacks lost to Toledo , a 23-point underdog, in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium , 16-12, and then turned around and lost to Texas Tech in Fayetteville, 35-24. A week later, Texas A&M defeated the Razorbacks in overtime for the second consecutive year, 28-21, to begin SEC play.
Bielema got his first SEC road win to begin October, defeating the Tennessee Volunteers 24-20 in Neyland Stadium . After dropping one on the road to eventual SEC champion Alabama on October 10, the Razorbacks would not lose again until November 21.
That included a four-overtime win at home over Auburn, a wild overtime victory over then #19 Ole Miss on the road which saw the Razorbacks convert a 4th-and-25 in overtime via a lateral from tight end Hunter Henry , and a 31-14 dismantling of then #9 LSU .
Despite losing a shootout to Mississippi State in Fayetteville, Arkansas bounced back with a 28-3 victory in the regular season finale over Missouri in Gary Pinkel's final game coaching the Tigers.
Arkansas accepted an invitation to the Liberty Bowl to play Kansas State on Jan. 2. Thanks to three touchdowns and 185 yards from running back Alex Collins , the Razorbacks defeated the Wildcats, 45-23. It was the first time Arkansas had won back-to-back bowl games in consecutive seasons in program history, and the 45 points was the most ever in a bowl game. The Razorbacks have won each of their last three bowl games, counting back to the 2012 Cotton Bowl .
The seven regular season wins, including five in SEC play, were the most for Arkansas since Bobby Petrino's final season in 2011. That season also ended with a bowl game victory against Kansas State.
Tight end Hunter Henry and offensive guard Sebastian Tretola were named first team All-SEC. Henry was also a consensus first team All-American, and won the John Mackey Award given to the nation's best tight end. Tretola was named an All-American as well. Quarterback Brandon Allen , Collins, and offensive tackle Dan Skipper were named second team All-SEC. Freshman linebacker Dre Greenlaw was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, as well as the Freshman All-American Team.
Collins was named the Liberty Bowl MVP. Collins would finish the season with 1,577 yards rushing, good enough for third place in the Arkansas all-time single season record book. Collins' 20 rushing touchdowns in 2015 ranks first for the Hogs program. Collins elected to leave early for the NFL draft, finishing his college career with 3,703 yards, which is second in school history behind only Darren McFadden , and 36 rushing touchdowns. He also became only the third player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, joining McFadden (2005-2007) and Ben Cowins (1976-1978), as well as joining McFadden and Herschel Walker as the only running backs in SEC history to have 1,000 yard seasons in their first three years playing college football.
Schedule [ ]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 5 2:30 p.m. UTEP * No. 18 ESPNU W 48–1367,708 September 12 3:00 p.m. Toledo * No. 18 War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR SECN L 12–1649,591 September 19 6:00 p.m. Texas Tech * Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR (rivalry ) ESPN2 L 24–3573,334 September 26 6:00 p.m. vs. No. 14 Texas A&M ESPN L 21–28 OT 67,339 October 3 6:00 p.m. at Tennessee ESPN2 W 24–20101,265 October 10 6:00 p.m. at No. 8 Alabama ESPN L 14–27101,821 October 24 11:00 a.m. Auburn Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR SECN W 54–46 4OT 72,008 October 31 3:00 p.m. Tennessee–Martin * Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR SECN W 63–2864,206 November 7 2:30 p.m. at No. 18 Ole Miss CBS W 53–52 OT 60,680 November 14 6:15 p.m. at No. 9 LSU ESPN W 31–14101,699 November 21 6:00 p.m. Mississippi State Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR ESPN L 50–5171,936 1:30 p.m. Missouri CBS W 28–365,228 January 2 2:20 p.m. vs. Kansas State * ESPN W 45–2361,136 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll All times are in Central time
Schedule Source: [2] Game summaries [ ] UTEP [ ]
UTEP Miners at #18 Arkansas Razorbacks
1
2
3 4 Total
Miners
0
10
3 0 13
#18 Razorbacks 14
14
17 3 48
at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR
Date : September 5, 2015Game time : 2:30 p.m. CTGame attendance : 67,708TV : ESPNU Source [3]
Game information
First Quarter (11:35) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 26-yard pass to Drew Morgan (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(4:11) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 20-yard pass to Keon Hatcher (Cole Hedlund PAT). Second Quarter (12:51) UTEP FG: Jay Mattox 38-yard field goal.
(11:17) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 58-yard pass to Jared Cornelius (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(8:56) UTEP TD: Autrey Golden 10-yard rush (Jay Mattox PAT).
(5:17) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 38-yard pass to Keon Hatcher (Cole Hedlund PAT). Third Quarter (14:42) ARK TD: Alex Collins 7-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(12:57) ARK TD: Kody Walker 3-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(8:38) ARK TD: Cole Hedlund 19-yard field goal.
(3:01) UTEP FG: Jay Mattox 44-yard field goal. Fourth Quarter (6:30) ARK FG: Cole Hedlund 27-yard field goal.
Top Passers UTEP – Mack Leftwich: 9/14, 120 yds, 1 INT
ARK – Brandon Allen: 14/18: 308 yds, 4 TD Top Rushers UTEP – Aaron Jones: 15 att, 70 yds
ARK – Alex Collins: 12 att, 127 yds, 1 TD Top Receiving UTEP – Aaron Jones: 6 rec, 83 yds
ARK – Keon Hatcher: 6 rec, 106 yds, 2 TD
Toledo [ ]
Toledo Rockets at #18 Arkansas Razorbacks
1
2
3 4 Total
Rockets 6
3
7 0 16
#18 Razorbacks
0
7
0 5 12
at War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, AR
Date : September 12, 2015Game time : 3:00 p.m. CTGame attendance : 49,591TV : SEC Network Source [4]
Game information
First Quarter (6:59) TOL TD: Phillip Ely 5-yard pass to Corey Jones (2-pt. no good). Second Quarter (7:53) ARK TD: Alex Collins 21-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(1:06) TOL FG: Jameson Vest 38-yard field goal. Third Quarter (5:09) TOL TD: Damion Jones-Moore 11-yard rush (Jameson Vest PAT). Fourth Quarter (9:30) ARK FG: Cole Hedlund 25-yard field goal.
(0:52) ARK SAFETY: TOLEDO rush for -14 yds.
Top Passers TOL – Phillip Ely: 21/38, 237 yds, 1 TD
ARK – Brandon Allen: 32/53, 412 yds, 1 INT Top Rushers TOL – Damion Jones-Moore: 11 att, 68 yds, 1 TD
ARK – Alex Collins: 20 att, 54 yds, 1 TD Top Receiving TOL – Corey Jones: 8 rec, 61 yds, 1 TD
ARK – Hunter Henry: 8 rec, 117 yds
Texas Tech [ ]
Texas Tech Red Raiders at Arkansas Razorbacks
1
2
3 4 Total
Red Raiders 14
7
7 7 35
Razorbacks
7
14
3 0 24
at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR
Date : September 19, 2015Game time : 6:00 p.m. CTGame attendance : 73,334TV : ESPN2 Source [5]
Game information
First Quarter (10:45) TTU TD: Patrick Mahomes II 3-yard pass to Reginald Davis III (Michael Barden PAT).
(3:06) ARK TD: Alex Collins 1-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(0:21) TTU TD: Patick Mahomes II 1-yard rush (Michael Barden PAT). Second Quarter (8:18) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 7-yard pass to Hunter Henry (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(7:52) TTU TD: Jakeem Grant 72-yard pass to Reginald Davis III (Michael Barden PAT).
(1:03) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 24-yard pass to Drew Morgan (Cole Hedlund PAT). Third Quarter (10:31) TTU TD: Patrick Mahomes II 2-yard rush (Michael Barden PAT).
(2:00) ARK FG: Cole Hedlund 22-yard field goal. Fourth Quarter (13:09) TTU TD: Justin Stockton 22-yard rush (Michael Barden PAT).
Top Passers TTU – Patrick Mahomes II: 26/30, 243 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
ARK – Brandon Allen: 16/21: 196 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Top Rushers TTU – DeAndre Washington: 11 att, 75 yds
ARK – Alex Collins: 28 att, 170 yds, 1 TD Top Receiving TTU – Reginald Davis III: 5 rec, 115 yds, 2 TD
ARK – Drew Morgan: 4 rec, 45 yds, 1 TD
vs. No. 14 Texas A&M [ ]
#14 Texas A&M Aggies vs Arkansas Razorbacks
1
2
3 4 OT Total
#14 Aggies 0
10
3 8 7 28
Razorbacks
7
0
7 7 0 21
at AT&T Stadium • Arlington, TX
Date : September 26, 2015Game time : 6:00 p.m. CTGame attendance : 67,339TV : ESPN Source [6]
Game information
First Quarter (1:08) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 17-yard pass to Drew Morgan (Cole Hedlund PAT). Second Quarter (14:48) A&M TD: Kyle Allen 44-yard pass to Christian Kirk (Taylor Bertolet PAT).
(5:33) A&M FG: Taylor Bertolet 23-yard field goal. Third Quarter (8:04) A&M FG: Taylor Bertolet 22-yard field goal.
(4:17) ARK TD: Alex Collins 4-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT). Fourth Quarter (14:12) ARK TD: Rawleigh Williams III 3-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(2:50) A&M TD: Tra Carson 2-yard rush (2-pt. good). Overtime (OT) A&M TD: Kyle Allen 20-yard pass to Christian Kirk (Taylor Bertolet PAT).
Top Passers A&M – Kyle Allen: 21/28, 358 yds, 2 TD
ARK – Brandon Allen: 20/25: 225 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Top Rushers A&M – Tra Carson: 8 att, 28 yds, 1 TD
ARK – Alex Collins: 26 att, 151 yds, 1 TD Top Receiving A&M – Christian Kirk: 8 rec, 173 yds, 2 TD
ARK – Drew Morgan: 8 rec, 155 yds, 1 TD
at Tennessee [ ]
Arkansas Razorbacks at Tennessee Volunteers
1
2
3 4 Total
Razorbacks 7
10
7 0 24
Volunteers
14
3
3 0 20
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN
Date : October 3, 2015Game time : 6:00 p.m. CTGame attendance : 101,265TV : ESPN2 Source [7]
Game information
First Quarter (14:46) TENN TD: Evan Berry 96-yard kickoff return (Aaron Medley PAT).
(8:06) TENN TD: Joshua Dobbs 7-yard rush (Aaron Medley PAT).
(5:57) ARK TD: Alex Collins 4-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT). Second Quarter (14:03) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 33-yard pass to Dominique Reed (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(9:54) TENN FG: Aaron Medley 35-yard field goal.
(0:00) ARK FG: Cole Hedlund 26-yard field goal. Third Quarter (9:12) ARK TD: Alex Collins 1-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(6:41) TENN FG: Aaron Medley 45-yard field goal. Fourth Quarter No scoring
Top Passers ARK – Brandon Allen: 11/24, 219 yds, 1 TD
TENN – Joshua Dobbs: 20/36, 232 yds Top Rushers ARK – Alex Collins: 27 att, 154 yds, 2 TD
TENN – Jalen Hurd: 19 att, 90 yds Top Receiving ARK – Drew Morgan: 5 rec, 110 yds
TENN – Jalen Hurd: 3 rec, 51 yds
at No. 8 Alabama [ ]
Arkansas Razorbacks at #8 Alabama Crimson Tide
1
2
3 4 Total
Razorbacks
0
7
0 7 14
#8 Crimson Tide 3
0
7 17 27
at Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL
Date : October 10, 2015Game time : 6:00 p.m. CTGame attendance : 101,821TV : ESPN Source [8]
Game information
First Quarter (7:09) ALA FG: Adam Griffith 24-yard field goal. Second Quarter (1:29) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 4-yard pass to Drew Morgan (Cole Hedlund PAT). Third Quarter (1:39) ALA TD: Jake Coker 81-yard pass to Calvin Ridley (Adam Griffith PAT). Fourth Quarter (12:49) ALA TD: Jake Coker 3-yard pass to Richard Mullaney (Adam Griffith PAT).
(10:07) ALA FG: Adam Griffith 35-yard field goal.
(2:44) ALA TD: Derrick Henry 1-yard rush (Adam Griffith PAT).
(1:37) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 54-yard pass to Dominique Reed (Cole Hedlund PAT).
Top Passers ARK – Brandon Allen: 15/32, 176 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
ALA – Jake Coker: 24/33, 262 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Top Rushers ARK – Alex Collins: 12 att, 26 yds
ALA – Derrick Henry: 27 att, 95 yds, 1 TD Top Receiving ARK – Dominique Reed: 3 rec, 77 yds, 1 TD
ALA – Calvin Ridley: 9 rec, 140 yds, 1 TD
Auburn [ ]
Auburn Tigers at Arkansas Razorbacks
1
2
3 4 OT 2OT 3OT 4OT Total
Tigers
0
7
7 10 7 7 8 0 46
Razorbacks 7
7
7 3 7 7 8 8 54
at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR
Date : October 24, 2015Game time : 11:00 a.m. CTGame attendance : 72,008TV : ESPNU Source [9]
Game information
First Quarter (11:33) ARK TD: Dominique Reed 11-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT). Second Quarter (14:22) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 23-yard pass to Jeremy Sprinkle (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(0:30) AUB TD: Peyton Barber 1-yard rush (Daniel Carson PAT). Third Quarter (9:09) AUB TD: Jason Smith 9-yard rush (Daniel Carson PAT).
(2:14) ARK TD: Alex Collins 7-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT). Fourth Quarter (6:54) AUB TD: Jeremy Johnson 1-yard rush (Daniel Carson PAT).
(1:07) ARK FG: Cole Hedlund 25-yard field goal.
(0:04) AUB FG: Daniel Carson 41-yard field goal. Overtime (OT) AUB TD: Peyton Barber 2-yard rush (Daniel Carson PAT).
(OT) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 6-yard pass to Drew Morgan (Cole Hedlund PAT). 2nd Overtime (2OT) ARK TD: Kody Walker 3-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(2OT) AUB TD: Peyton Barber 2-yard rush (Daniel Carson PAT). 3rd Overtime (3OT) AUB TD: Peyton Barber 1-yard rush (2-pt. good).
(3OT) ARK TD: Kody Walker 4-yard rush (2-pt. good). 4th Overtime (4OT) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 25-yard pass to Drew Morgan (2-pt. good).
Top Passers AUB – Sean White: 19/32, 254 yds
ARK – Brandon Allen: 19/31, 233 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Top Rushers AUB – Peyton Barber: 37 att, 120 yds, 4 TD
ARK – Alex Collins: 25 att, 105 yds, 1 TD Top Receiving AUB – Ricardo Louis: 6 rec, 79 yds
ARK – Hunter Henry: 5 rec, 68 yds
UT Martin [ ]
UT Martin Skyhawks at Arkansas Razorbacks
1
2
3 4 Total
Skyhawks
0
14
7 7 28
Razorbacks 7
28
21 7 63
at War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, AR
Date : October 31Game time : 3:00 p.m. CTGame attendance : 64,206TV : SEC Network Source [10]
Game information
First Quarter (10:20) ARK TD: Alex Collins 2-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT). Second Quarter (14:18) ARK TD: Alex Collins 6-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(10:05) ARK TD: Alex Collins 5-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(7:23) UTM TD: Jaimiee Bowe 26-yard rush (Jackson Redditt PAT).
(6:15) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 49-yard pass to Damon Mitchell (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(3:48) ARK TD: Alex Collins 3-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(1:28) UTM TD: Najee Ray 21-yard rush (Jackson Redditt PAT). Third Quarter (12:11) UTM TD: Trent Garland 1-yard rush (Jackson Redditt PAT).
(11:10) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 71-yard pass to Dominique Reed (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(6:01) ARK TD: Brandon Allen 3-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(0:18) ARK TD: Alex Collins 63-yard rush (Cole Hedlund PAT). Fourth Quarter (14:08) ARK TD: Austin Allen 35-yard pass to Hunter Henry (Cole Hedlund PAT).
(2:42) UTM TD: Jarod Neal 12-yard pass to Ben Axline (Jackson Redditt PAT).
Top Passers UTM – Jarod Neal: 30/43, 380 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
ARK – Brandon Allen: 14/19, 265 yds, 2 TD Top Rushers UTM – Trent Garland: 11 att, 55 yds, 1 TD
ARK – Alex Collins: 16 att, 173 yds, 5 TD Top Receiving UTM – Caylon Weathers: 6 rec, 111 yds
ARK – Dominique Reed: 1 rec, 71 yds, 1 TD
at No. 19 Ole Miss [ ]
Arkansas Razorbacks at #19 Ole Miss Rebels
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Razorbacks 7
10
14 14 8 53
#19 Rebels
7
10
14 14 7 52
at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS
Date : October 10, 2015Game time : 6:00 p.m. CTGame attendance : 60,680TV : CBS Source [11]
Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Overtime
Top Passers Top Rushers Top Receiving
Rankings [ ]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
Week
Poll
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Final
AP
18
18
RV
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
Coaches
20
18
RV
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
RV
RV
RV
NR
NR
RV
CFP
Not released
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
Not released
References [ ]
^ "Football – 2015 Coaches" . University of Arkansas Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2015 .^ "2014 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Schedule" . FB Schedules. Retrieved December 4, 2014 .^ "UTEP vs. Arkansas - Box Score - September 5, 2015 - ESPN" .^ "Toledo vs. Arkansas - Box Score - September 12, 2015 - ESPN" .^ "Texas Tech vs. Arkansas - Box Score - September 19, 2015 - ESPN" .^ "Texas A&M vs. Arkansas - Box Score - September 26, 2015 - ESPN" .^ "Arkansas vs. Tennessee - Box Score - October 3, 2015 - ESPN" .^ "Arkansas vs. Alabama - Box Score - October 10, 2015 - ESPN" .^ "Toledo vs. Arkansas - Box Score - September 12, 2015 - ESPN" .^ "Tennessee-Martin vs. Arkansas - Game Summary - October 31, 2015 - ESPN" .^ "Arkansas vs. Ole Miss - Game Summary - November 7, 2015 - ESPN" .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
