FAYETTEVILLE -- One of the biggest plays for Arkansas on Saturday came on Auburn's first snap of the fourth overtime. The Razorbacks lined up in what defensive coordinator Robb Smith termed a "Bear" look, with defenders lined up over both guards and the center, and JaMichael Winston stuffed Peyton Barber for a 1-yard gain.
The Tigers threw incomplete on their final three plays, with Jared Collins and Josh Liddell breaking up the last two throws from Sean White.
"Obviously what we'd done the previous three overtimes hadn't worked," Smith said.
"They had been running it down our throats in the first couple of overtimes," Bielema said.
"It was something that we normally do closer to the goal line, basically a double eagle type of deal," linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said. "We kind of covered everybody up inside and it allowed us to get more people in the box."
It stacked up Auburn's run call effectively and got the Tigers behind the chains.
"That was 100 percent Robb Smith," Bielema said. "Robb called a pretty ballsy call on that first down and it stopped them.
"It put them in a second and nine and three straight pass defenses and you win the game. I give Robb a lot of credit."
Smaller change
Tennessee-Martin's guarantee for Saturday's game against the Razorbacks will be $500,000 according to the Union City (Tenn.) Daily Messenger. That guarantee is half of the $1 million Toledo received when it stunned No. 18 Arkansas 16-12 on Sept. 12.
Cutback
Bret Bielema said he's tried to cut a few minutes out of practice here and there to take a little off his players during the second half of the season and after a four-overtime game.
"This week was pretty much a normal Tuesday. We might have shaved off about four or five minutes," Bielema said. "You always have to balance out 'what do we need and what do we have to prepare for?' "
Safety Rohan Gaines said the Razorbacks are still getting after it in workouts.
"We've shortened up the periods maybe a little bit, but all in all it's pretty much the same," Gaines said.
On alert
The Razorbacks insist they're not taking Tennessee-Martin lightly even though Ole Miss beat the Skyhawks 76-3 to open the season.
"We know at this point we have to respect everybody," safety Rohan Gaines said. "They have some good athletes. We know we have to go out and play ball."
Quarterback Brandon Allen said UT-Martin has Arkansas' full attention.
"Everyone in this building is really locked in to who we're playing," Allen said. "They've won four straight. We're playing a good team that knows how to win. They played Jacksonville State close, who played Auburn close. We've got to be ready to play. We're preparing for these guys like anybody else."
Jacksonville State, which lost at Auburn 27-20 in overtime, beat UT-Martin 48-41.
Dre's play
Freshman Dre Greenlaw not only made a season-high 16 tackles last week, he was the deep man on the opening kickoff return with D.J. Dean.
"He's a freak," safety Rohan Gaines said. "He can do anything. He's back there on kickoff returns as an off returner playing linebacker. That should tell you a lot."
Big for B.A.
One of the enduring images from Arkansas' 54-46 victory over Auburn was the postgame hug shared by starting quarterback Brandon Allen and his father Bobby, the program's director of high school and NFL relations, with Bret Bielema joining the duo.
"I'm glad we were able to go through those four overtimes and see guys champion the moment," Bielema said. "Probably the biggest one -- there were a lot of guys -- but B.A., just to throw strike after strike, there was no hesitation. ... Just a lot of positives. And just to see him, I caught him and his dad hugging right after the game. It was pretty special to see a father and a son be able to enjoy that moment."
Tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr., the former Arkansas quarterback, knew what Brandon Allen was experiencing.
"That was probably my first reaction about the win, was how good I felt for him," Lunney said. "We couldn't have gotten it done if it hadn't been the for the plays he made. We just couldn't have.
"He rose up to the challenge and played a fantastic game."
Jojo a no-go
Bret Bielema said "the door got closed" on receiver Jojo Robinson by a mandatory university rule regarding class attendance. Robinson, who was suspended for parts of the offseason, sat out the opener and is now on indefinite suspension.
"I understand injuries and certain things that come up ... but when you purposely self-inflict playing time [restrictions] on yourself by not going to class, I just can't understand that," Bielema said.
"I'm very disappointed," receiver coach Michael Smith said. "It's like being a parent when your children fail. I'm disappointed because I failed. It's a situation where I hope Jojo matures and understands that with some of the things he's done there's consequences and he grows up. I wish him all the luck in the world."
Bielema said receiver Kendrick Edwards is "very close" to facing the same issue.
Long ride
Tennessee-Martin will travel to the game on buses rather than by air. The roughly 455-mile trip from Martin, Tenn., in the northwestern part of the state, to the Arkansas campus will take about 7 hours. The Skyhawks also will bus a little more than 5 hours to their game at Eastern Kentucky next week.
Dinged up
Arkansas and Tennessee-Martin have both been bruised by injuries this season. The Razorbacks have lost seven key players for large chunks of the season, including seniors Jonathan Williams and Keon Hatcher, while the Skyhawks have been hurting since their 76-3 loss at Ole Miss to open the season.
"We haven't gotten over the injury bug since the Ole Miss game," Coach Jason Simpson said this week. "I looked on the injury report today and there are 26 guys on there with six guys out."
First drive
Arkansas scored a touchdown at the end of a 75-yard drive on its first possession against Auburn, the first time the Razorbacks had scored on their opening sequence since a first-series touchdown in their 48-13 victory over Texas-El Paso to begin the season.
Sports on 10/29/2015