Sam Pittman discusses decision to go for it on fourth down, how it impacted momentum

Arkansas‘ loss against BYU was full of ups and downs, and Sam Pittman admits a certain fourth down decision may have swung the game.

The newly-minted Big 12 powerhouse, BYU, traveled to Fayetteville for an out-of-conference bash with Arkansas, coming away with a 38-31 victory following a thrilling night of football.

It was a game of runs as Arkansas scored a touchdown on their first possession, and then returned a punt after forcing a fourth down on their first defensive possession. However, after those scores, the Cougars ran off 21 straight points before Arkansas added one more of their own to tie it at 21-21 heading into halftime.

Arkansas again built a lead to start the second half and had the ball up 31-21, but turned it over on downs and then allowed 18 straight points to end the contest. Afterwards, Pittman was asked about that inflection point — the failed fourth down conversion.

“I thought we could get it. I went for it, and obviously we didn’t,” he answered bluntly. “I really don’t know. It’s hard to say because I guess we could say all the points after that came because of that play. I know three of them came off of that play. I don’t know that the other 14 did. I mean, I don’t know. Who’s to know? I know three of them did.”

Pittman was asked about the issue again later on in his postgame presser and re-affirmed that perhaps he’d change his mind if he got to do it over. But he denies it was the primary reason the game wound up flipping in favor of BYU.

“I’ve been asked twice, I guess the answer is yes,” Pittman said. “I mean, we were up 14-0 and they went on a 21-0 run in the first half, and I don’t think it was because we went for it on fourth down. I mean, I think they were making third and longs and we couldn’t get them off the field. If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t go for it on fourth down. Obviously, we didn’t make it.”

Sounds like a man who is willing to live with his risky decisions.