The Arkansas football team had the ball on LSU’s 2-yard line on second-and-goal in the third quarter.
The Razorbacks got it inside the 1-yard line for third- and fourth-and-goal tries. They were stuffed both times.
That turnover on downs, in what eventually became a 23-22 loss Saturday in Baton Rouge, La., was an encapsulation of what the game was in general: A litany of missed opportunities.
Arkansas’ defense got a stop to open the second half, giving the offense an opportunity to take advantage.
It failed.
Missed chances, again, plagued the Razorbacks (2-8, 0-6 SEC) in another one-score defeat. Of Arkansas’ eight losses, six have come by six points or fewer — with four of those coming since Bobby Petrino took over as interim coach. Those have come for different reasons throughout the season.
Against LSU (6-4, 3-4), though, the offense’s inability to capitalize on advantageous positioning and turnovers were the primary causes.
Quarterback Taylen Green threw two interceptions, one of which was in the end zone. Running back Mike Washington fumbled on the game’s opening drive.
Then there was the turnover on downs just inches from the goal line.
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“We had a lot of chances to win that game,” Petrino said. “We’re down in the red zone too many times and come away with no points. That certainly hurt us…. Offense, defense and special teams, we all had our opportunities to find a way to win the game and didn’t get it done.”
Washington’s fumble proved the least costly of the giveaways, with Caleb Wooden earning Arkansas’ first blocked-punt touchdown since 2009 following a three-and-out, but the others were deadly.
Green’s interceptions were breakers. The first came while targeting O’Mega Blake in triple coverage while Jaden Platt was open. The second, which Petrino said should have been called for defensive pass interference, came when Blake stopped on his route.
LSU hit field goals on both drives.
“We had a couple interceptions. I had the fumble and we kind of ran into a wall,” Washington said. “So really, just being able to eliminate those turnovers, eliminate those things that we are doing bad on, and being able to push through that.”
photo LSU defensive back Dashawn Spears (second from right) celebrates with teammates after sacking Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (bottom), Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. (Hank Layton/WholeHogSports)
Washington added later: “It wouldn’t have been a one-score loss” if they hadn’t had the turnovers.
Green now has five interceptions in the last three games. Those directly gave Auburn a win on Oct. 25 and the same could be argued for Saturday.
His playmaking has kept Arkansas in many of these games. Without that, many of the one-score finishes likely would not be as friendly to the Razorbacks.
Green’s turnovers, though, have been costly.
Time and again, missed opportunities have been costly for the Razorbacks. That comes down to both sides of the ball — and special teams, with Scott Starzyk missing a go-ahead 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
“Whether the offense is doing really well or whether they're not, it's our job to have their backs,” Wooden said. “And that's just the message we kept conveying to [Green] and the whole offense.”
Arkansas did not get the stop to give its offense a final prayer after the missed field goal. Tigers quarterback Michael Van Buren kept his offense on the field with timely runs and completions.
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“Van Buren did a nice job, made some big plays when the pressure was on,” Petrino said. “Thought we had him bottled up a number of times, and we were able to get off the field and do a good job defensively at times. But he ended up making the plays to score.”
Arkansas finishes the season at Texas on Nov. 22 and with a home game against Missouri on Nov. 29.
Petrino has been adamant about the team maintaining its motivation and confidence. Should the Razorbacks find an elusive win and snap what is now a nine-game SEC losing streak, they need to take advantage of their opportunities on all sides of the ball.
That simply has not happened.
The turnovers, particularly that 4th-and-goal inside the 1-yard line, were symbolic of those shortcomings.
The Razorbacks had their chances. They failed to capitalize on them.
“We’ve had our chances and been in positions to do it, and we haven’t been able to get it done yet,” Petrino said. “Those guys in that locker room have been putting a tremendous amount of effort in it and they have a lot of pride. I don’t think there’s anyone in that locker room that has given up and not prepared and not competed extremely hard.”