LUBBOCK, Texas -- Even when Texas Tech's defense absolutely knew Arkansas was going to run the ball, the Red Raiders couldn't slow down the Razorbacks.
Not even close.
Arkansas tailbacks Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams ran and ran -- and then ran some more -- as the Razorbacks rolled to a 49-28 victory Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium.
"Just lined up and we knew it was coming," Texas Tech Coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "We just didn't get it stopped."
The Razorbacks rushed 68 times for 438 yards, with Collins racking up 212 yards on 27 carries and Williams rolling up 147 on 22 carries.
"We want to be the more physical, the more dominant team," Collins said. "It started up front with our offensive line, and once they started getting a great push and giving us holes, then the running backs say, 'Let's put our shoulders down and run hard.'
"We all were working together. We had tight ends getting in there and blocking. We had our wide receivers cracking on the safeties. Everybody just did a great job on the run game."
The Razorbacks' final 30 plays were all rushes -- including a 5-yard scramble by Brandon Allen for a touchdown and Collins' touchdowns run of 9 of 84 yards -- as they pulled away after Texas Tech was within 28-21.
"You get up in the huddle and you know what Brandon is going to call," offensive tackle Brey Cook said. "You know it's going to be a run. You know it's going to be behind you or it's going behind your boys to the left. It's awesome."
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he backed off the players in practice Wednesday and didn't go in full pads.
"I saw Tuesday they were ready to be physical," he said. "I didn't need to train them any more."
The running game allowed the Razorbacks to hold the ball for 40:29 compared to 19:21 for the Red Raiders, including 12:45 to 2:15 in Arkansas' favor in the third quarter.
"That's big-time for a defense to sit on the sideline and just watch the offense run it down their throat," Arkansas defensive end Trey Flowers said. "That gives us a lot of energy.
"We knew our offense could do anything they wanted to them, so we just had to make some stops. Our guys up front are pretty big, and they made it happen."
Williams said ball control was a major part of Arkansas' game plan with Texas Tech averaging 365 passing yards in victories over Central Arkansas and Texas-El Paso.
"That's something Coach B stressed throughout the week," Williams said.
The longer the Razorbacks controlled the ball, the stronger they seemed to play.
"That's when we started saying, 'Let's just keep going, we're wearing them out. Keep pushing, keep pushing,' " Collins said. "That's basically what we did.
"Our offensive linemen were giving us big holes and we were running 5 yards before we even got touched."
Allen completed 6 of 12 passes for 61 yards, but he was more than happy to keep handing off the ball.
"The offensive line was unbelievable," Allen said. "Any time you can outman an opponent like we did today, where they know we're coming at them and we can still yards, that's huge.
"It really just takes a will out of a team. ... They were getting tired. You could just see in their eyes they were ready to quit."
Williams became the first Razorback to rush for four touchdowns in a game since Darren McFadden did it against Florida International in 2007.
"Jonathan's great," Collins said. "It just feels good to see how positive he is and being able to follow up after him, having that 1-2 punch.
"He had some good gains, then I'd go in. That way we've always got fresh legs."
Collins said he got a little tired at the end of his 84-yard run that put the Razorbacks ahead 49-28 with 10:56 left.
"The offensive linemen gave me a great hole to run through," Collin said. "I wasn't expecting to break out, but after I gave the strong safety a stiff-arm and I broke free, I just ran for my life towards the end zone."
Sports on 09/14/2014