Arkansas and Kansas went wild in Memphis at the Liberty Bowl! Arkansas would come away with a 55-53 three-overtime win in the highest-scoring game in Liberty Bowl history. We will look at who stood out, what this win means for the Arkansas program, and what is next for this program. First, we will look at who stood out in this win.
Who Stood Out?
Quarterback KJ Jefferson
When we look at this season there isn’t a more important player on the Hogs roster than quarterback Kj Jefferson. On Wednesday, Jefferson put the program on his back and led them to their second consecutive bowl win. Jefferson would finish the game 19 for 29 for 287 yards and a touchdown. Jefferson also ran for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries. This averages out to 9.3 yards per carry.
Jefferson’s performance was vital in the win for the Hogs. His poise and composure showed throughout the game in his play. He is THE leader of the offense and quite honestly the team.
Running Back – Rashod Dubinion
Freshman, Rashod Dubinion has made an immediate impact on the offense this season. On Wednesday night, Dubinion would become the feature back with starter, Raheim Sanders, going down with an injury and he did not disappoint. The freshman standout would rush for 112 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry for the game. To come in for the starter in a bowl game and perform as he did was impressive to watch. It was apparent that the moment was not too big. Dominion is just one of a stable of talent in the backfield for these running Hogs and will be utilized moving forward.
What Does This Win Mean?
With the win, Arkansas finishes the season with a 7-6 record. This means that under head coach, Sam Pittman, the Hogs have a 19-17 record. This makes the first time that Arkansas has won a bowl game in back-to-back seasons in school history. For a program that just a few short years ago was struggling to defeat a group of five programs. This win shows this program is trending in the right direction.
What Is Next?
As Arkansas embarks on the offseason they started it with a huge win. The recruiting class combined with the portal has been both a success for this program. With players such as the above-mentioned coming back this program is in good hands. The fan base has somewhat of a reality check this season.
This program will continue to meet and exceed the standards set by Pittman. The Pittman Effect is still very strong.
