Pittman admits not much got fixed for Razorbacks in stunning loss to Memphis

Key moments turned the tide

Memphis’ comeback hinged on several game-changing plays in the fourth quarter.

With Arkansas leading 31-26 and just over six minutes remaining, the Tigers covered 94 yards in just 1:35, capped by a 64-yard touchdown run from Sutton Smith.

Soon after, as the Razorbacks advanced into the red zone, running back Mike Washington Jr. fumbled at the 9-yard line with 1:22 remaining. Memphis recovered, killing what would have been a go-ahead scoring opportunity.

On the ensuing possession, Memphis backup quarterback Arrington Maiden — pressed into action when starter Brendon Lewis briefly exited — carried what appeared to be half the Hogs' defense for an 11-yard run on third-and-8.

That scramble sealed the deal for the Tigers. Arkansas defenders admitted afterward they believed the play was contained before Maiden slipped away.

In other words, they admitted playing soft. Great defenses play through the whistle, not when you think they are being wrangled to the ground.

Defensive problems: Not just one play

Arkansas’ defense surrendered 489 total yards to Memphis, including 154 rushing yards in the second half. That breakdown underscored an inability to adjust as the Tigers shifted into tempo and spread formations.

Senior defensive tackle Cam Ball, one of the team captains, acknowledged fundamental issues.

“When he came in, we thought we had him bottled up … we should’ve put him on the ground,” Ball said. “Tackling in general, I just feel like as a whole we try to be too aggressive.

“Not setting down, and breaking down, and we don’t have to be overly aggressive on our tackles. We just have to go back to our fundamentals and our coaching.”

How long have we been hearing that around hear from a host of different coaches?

Former Razorback DJ Williams also criticized conditioning and depth, pointing to the defensive line’s fatigue in the second half.

“Cam Ball, I don’t know what it is, but when you get tired, it’s awful,” Williams said. “It’s hard football to watch. Even if we don’t have any depth in the d-line room, you have to figure out a way to not hurt your team because you’re tired.”

Offensive bright spots, missed opportunities

While the defense struggled, Arkansas’ offense produced enough to win — or so it seemed.

Quarterback Taylen Green again led the way, accounting for both passing and rushing yardage.

The Razorbacks scored 28 points in the first half, marking the fourth straight game with at least 28 before intermission — a program first.

But turnovers and miscues defined the finish.

Green threw multiple interceptions, and Washington’s fumble inside the 10-yard line loomed as the most decisive mistake.

The Razorbacks’ offense finished with more than 450 yards but failed to score in the final 20 minutes.

Arkansas’ offensive line provided strong pass protection most of the night, but the inability to convert red-zone trips into points left the door open.

Memphis capitalized, completing the comeback with two late scoring drives.

Implications, looking ahead

The defeat drops Arkansas to 2-2 and compounds the sting of last week’s SEC loss at Ole Miss.

Defensive breakdowns, inconsistent tackling, and questionable depth have now been the main story for two straight games.

With Notre Dame next week, then a brutal lieup of SEC teams, the Razorbacks face the reality that defensive adjustments must happen quickly.

Pittman’s comments echoed a larger concern — whether the program can reestablish a defensive identity.

“We tried to fix some things from last week,” he said, “and I don’t know how much we got fixed.”

Sorry, Sam, but all you did was find out things are getting worse almost every week.

Key takeaways

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