FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ march toward bowl eligibility hit a major speed bump Saturday.
The Razorbacks lost 21-19 to Liberty in front of an announced 70,072 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The Flames (8-1), who are ranked 23rd by The Associated Press but were unranked in the first College Football Playoff poll this week, were a 14 1/2-point underdog and beat a Southeastern Conference team for the first time.
"We're going to celebrate this," said Liberty coach Hugh Freeze, who was 0-2 in Fayetteville as head coach at Ole Miss from 2012-16. "I know Sam Pitman is a heck of a coach and I know the hurt and steam that comes with losses like this, and I hate that for him, Barry (Odom) and his staff...but I'm more happy for Liberty than I am sad for them."
Arkansas (5-4) lost to a non-conference opponent for the first time under third-year coach Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks had won their previous eight games against non-SEC teams, including over Cincinnati, Missouri State and BYU this year.
The Razorbacks lost against a team from outside the Power 5 for the first time since November 2019, when Western Kentucky won 45-19. Then-Arkansas coach Chad Morris was fired the following day following his fourth loss against a team from outside the Power 5.
Liberty plays as an independent in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“We’ve lost games since I’ve been here, but not like this,” Pittman said. “These games we’ve won since I’ve been head coach here.
"That’s my responsibility.”
The Razorbacks scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but a two-point run by quarterback KJ Jefferson was ruled short with 1:11 remaining and upheld via replay. The Flames recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
Liberty jumped to a 21-0 lead and was never threatened until the fourth quarter. Cam Little kicked a 50-yard field goal on the final play of the first half and Quincy McAdoo blocked a punt out of the back of the end zone to account for Arkansas’ only points through three quarters.
Jefferson threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Trey Knox with 7:42 remaining to cap a 17-play, 84-yard drive that included 3 fourth-down conversions. Running back Raheim Sanders took a direct snap on the two-point attempt and scored to cut the lead to 21-13.
Following a punt, Arkansas drove 85 yards in 7 plays and scored when Jefferson threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Knox, who made a diving catch in the back of the end zone. On the two-point try, Jefferson ran into the middle of the formation and his knee was ruled down before he crossed the goal line.
Jefferson completed 23 of 37 passes for 284 yards and was intercepted twice. He also rushed for 36 yards on 16 attempts, which included 4 sacks.
“Obviously he didn’t play as well as what he had,” Pittman said. “He was busting his butt down there at the end, making plays and trying to get us to overtime. He just didn’t throw the ball as well as he normally does.”
Liberty quarterback Johnathan Bennett threw three first-half touchdown passes to put the Flames ahead 21-0 with 42 seconds left in the first half.
Bennett did not practice Wednesday or Thursday due to the flu, Flames coach Hugh Freeze said earlier in the week. He finished 15-of-25 passing for 224 yards and was intercepted by McAdoo to set up a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Shedro Louis rushed 15 times for 57 yards to lead Liberty three days after the death of his father. Dae Dae Hunter, the Flames’ leading rusher, had nine carries for 29 yards before an injury in the first half.
Sanders, the SEC’s leading rusher before the game, was held to 60 yards on 17 carries. He also had two catches for 25 yards.
Matt Landers led Arkansas with 119 yards on 6 receptions, and Jadon Haselwood added 8 catches for 86 yards.
The Razorbacks were held to 428 yards of offense after totaling 1,164 yards during a 2-game win streak at BYU and Auburn.
Arkansas is scheduled to host No. 10 LSU next Saturday at 11 a.m. in the second game of a three-game homestand. The Razorbacks will play Ole Miss and Missouri to end the season and must win one of their final three games to earn bowl eligibility.
“I know the sky fell today, but I think we can bounce back," Pittman said.