Arkansas @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 3, 2009 ) Arkansas 47, Texas A&M 19

Two weeks removed from a heartbreaking loss, Arkansas will look to pick up the pieces against an old rival.

Former Southwest Conference foes square off when the Razorbacks meet Texas A&M at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Saturday. Both teams are 3-1.

Arkansas held a 20-7 lead over No. 1 Alabama midway through the third quarter on September 25 and looked poised to assert itself as one of this season’s elite teams. But the Crimson Tide scored 17 unanswered points and Heisman hopeful Ryan Mallett was intercepted on each of the Razorbacks' final two drives in the 24-20 defeat.

Mallett, who finished the loss with 357 yards and a touchdown to go along with three interceptions, has had plenty of time to review what went wrong as the Razorbacks enjoyed a bye week. Despite that poor finish against Alabama, Mallett still leads an offense that ranks second in the nation in passing, averaging 365 yards per game.

The pass-happy attack relies on Mallett to spread the ball all over the field, and five different receivers have benefitted with at least 110 yards through four games. Greg Childs, one of the top wideouts in the country, leads the way with 22 catches and three touchdowns while Joe Adams has chipped in with 19 catches and a team-high 389 yards.

Mallett had little trouble getting the passing game going last season when Arkansas faced Texas A&M, throwing four touchdowns as the Razorbacks cruised, 47-19. The Aggies actually held a 10-0 lead and finished with more total yards (458-434) but were let down by two costly fumbles.

Texas A&M and Arkansas met regularly from 1934-1991 as members of the Southwest Conference but let the rivarly end when the Razorbacks left to join the SEC in 1992. When the new Cowboys Stadium opened last year, the schools agreed to a 10-year deal to renew the rivalry at the neutral site in a game dubbed the “Southwest Classic.” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was a co-captain on Arkansas’ 1964 national championship team.

The Aggies are looking to bounce back from a 38-35 loss to Oklahoma State last weekend. Texas A&M held a 14-point lead at the half, but quarterback Jerrod Johnson threw four interceptions for the second straight game as the lead evaporated. His last interception came in the final minute and set up Oklahoma State’s 40-yard game-winning field goal.

Johnson, who threw only eight picks last season and was named to preseason watch lists for most of the major quarterback awards, had shoulder surgery in the offseason and has been struggling with his throwing motion ever since.

He could be in for another long day Saturday, as the Razorbacks rank 15th in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 156.8 yards per game.