TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- KJ Jefferson did something on Saturday against No. 2 Alabama that a long string of former University of Arkansas quarterbacks, plus receiver Treylon Burks, failed to do against the Crimson Tide.
Jefferson did not throw an interception against the Crimson Tide, making the first time in 23 games that Alabama did not pick off a Razorback pass.
The last time it didn't happen came in the Razorbacks' 42-6 stomping of Alabama in 1998, the first SEC game of the Houston Nutt Era.
Clint Stoener threw one the following year (while the Razorbacks were intercepting three of their own) in a 35-28 loss in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
In last year's game, a 52-3 victory by No. 1 Alabama at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, the only interception thrown was by Burks on his only pass attempt.
In between Stoerner and Burks on the interceptions thrown against Alabama list, in chronological order: Robby Hampton, Zak Clark, Tarvaris Jackson, Matt Jones (5 in 3 games), Ryan Sorahan, Robert Johnson, Mitch Mustain (3 in 1 game), Casey Dick (4 in 2 games), Tyler Wilson (2 in 3 games), Ryan Mallett (4 in 2 games), Brandon Mitchell, Brandon Allen (6 in 4 games), Austin Allen (3 in 1 game), Cole Kelley, Ty Storey and Nick Starkel (3 in 1 game).
Bryce remarks
Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan was very complimentary of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who torched the Razorbacks for 559 yards and 5 touchdowns on 31-of-40 passing.
"We're playing another Heisman candidate," Morgan said. "I feel like every other week we've got someone up for the Heisman we're playing.
"Bryce is a very good athlete and he's a very good player. You could see how he extended plays throughout the game with his feet. We'd hug up, we'd send an extra guy and he'd find a way to get out or he would find a way to kind of elude a defender and be able to make a play."
Burks goes big
Treylon Burks' performance marked an all-time high for a Razorback in receiving yards in a game against the Crimson Tide.
Burks had 8 catches for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns.
That marked the fourth 100-yard receiving performance by an Arkansas player in the series. The previous high had been 146 yards on five catches by Jared Cornelius on Oct. 8, 2016. Jarius Wright caught six passes for 131 yards against Alabama on Sept. 25, 2010, and Anthony Eubanks had seven catches for 104 yards, including the game-winning 29-yard touchdown pass from Clint Stoerner in a 17-16 win at Alabama on Sept. 20, 1997.
Good 'Will' hunt
The Razorbacks did a decent job keeping Alabama linebacker Will Anderson from taking over the game as he had done against other opponents.
Anderson had 1 sack and accounted for 11 tackles, 7 solo and 2 quarterback hurries.
Anderson's sack took him to 13.5 for the season, tied for the national lead with Army linebacker Andre Carter II.
Big yards
Alabama's 559 passing yards not only marked a school single-game record for Bryce Young, they also had one of the all-time performances in the SEC.
The only bigger passing game in conference play came in last year's season opener, when Mississippi State's KJ Costello passed for 623 yards in Coach Mike Leach's debut, a 44-34 upset of defending national champion LSU on the road.
Fake pick
Alabama Coach Nick Saban said the Tide were aware Arkansas might fake a field goal, as the Razorbacks did successfully their prior game at LSU on Reid Bauer's 23-yard run. However, Saban said, the Tide had a stroke of bad luck when Bauer popped up with the snap and lofted a jump pass to Blake Kern for a 32-yard score early in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown drew the Razorbacks within 34-28 with 11:24 left in the game.
"We were trying to cover the guy and we ran into the official," Saban said.
Third and fourth
Arkansas had its best game of the season at converting on third and fourth downs. The Razorbacks were 7 of 16 on third downs and 3 of 3 on fourth downs, including Trey Knox's 16-yard catch on fourth and 11 and Reid Bauer's 32-yard touchdown pass to Blake Kern on a fake field goal.
"We gave up a couple of big plays but the big thing was they were like 10 of 19 on third and fourth down, so when we had opportunities to get off the field we didn't get off the field," Alabama Coach Nick Saban said.
Players of the week
Offense
WR Treylon Burks
Burks caught 8 of 10 targets for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns. The junior from Warren, playing with an injury to his right side, had scores from 15 and 66 yards as he broke tackles and out-ran defensive backs.
Defense
LB Grant Morgan
Morgan logged a game-high 11 tackles including 5 solo stops. The Greenwood native, who also had two quarterback hurries, was the only Razorback with double-figure tackles.