Live Blog: Penn State football vs Arkansas
Penn State Nittany Lions football closes the book on the 2021 season on Saturday, taking on Arkansas in the Outback Bowl.
Follow along with the Blue White Illustrated Live Blog as we provide updates from warmups, play-by-play and analysis.
Fourth Quarter
FINAL: Arkansas 24, Penn State 10.
5:55 A costly sack disrupts this drive with Christian Veilleux at QB, and Penn State punts.
8:30: Ji’Ayir Brown makes a third-down stop and Penn State will get the ball back. Veilleux will lead this drive at QB.
10:08: Sean Clifford is heading to the locker room and Christian Veilleux is warming up on the sideline.
12:39 INTERCEPTION: Clifford is picked off in the end zone by Joe Foucha, and a nice looking Penn State drive ends in nothing.
Third Quarter
END 3: Arkansas 24, Penn State 10.
2:08 TOUCHDOWN, Arkansas: Sanders gets his second of the game, and it’s a two-touchdown lead for the Razorbacks Arkansas 24, Penn State 10
3:52 Penn State still can’t get anything going on offense in this half and will punt again.
6:30 FIELD GOAL, Arkansas: Penn State makes an important defensive stand, the Hogs settle for three points and lead 17-10.
11:07: Penn State goes three-and-out on its next drive and the Razorbacks will get the ball right back.
12:42: TOUCHDOWN, Arkansas: The Razorbacks march right down the field to start the half as KJ Jefferson punches it in. Razorbacks 14, Penn State 10
Second Quarter
END 2: Penn State 10, Arkansas 7.
0:21 INTERCEPTION: Ji’Ayir Brown gets his second pick of the game as an Arkansas trick play fails. Penn State ball with a few seconds remaining in the half.
0:36 A bizarre fake punt attempt fails and gives Arkansas the ball at its 36-yard line.
2:50 Smith Vilbert’s third sack of the half gets the Arkansas offense off-schedule and the Razorbacks will punt.
5:20 FIELD GOAL, Penn State: The Nittany Lions settle for a short field goal from Pinegar as a nice-looking drive stalls. Penn State 10, Arkansas 7
8:20 Nick Tarburton comes up with a third-down sack and the Nittany Lions will get the ball back.
10:53 TOUCHDOWN, Penn State: KeAndre Lambert-Smith is left wide open by the Razorbacks in the end zone for a 43-yard score. The PAT is good. Penn State 7, Arkansas 7
11:20 Smith Vilbert sacks Jefferson on third down and Penn State forces an Arkansas three-and-out.
12:11: Penn State gets over the 50 thanks to a ridiculous catch by Parker Washington, but the drive stalls and Jordan Stout punts to the Arkansas 10.
First Quarter
TOUCHDOWN, Arkansas: Raheim Sanders carries it in from the three-yard line to give the Razorbacks the lead as the first quarter ends.
7-0 Razorbacks after one.
6:00 Penn State follows up with a three-and-out of its own and the Nittany Lions will punt
7:39 Penn State’s defense forces a three-and-out after the turnover and the Nittany Lions regain possession.
8:51 INTERCEPTION: Penn State gives the ball right back to the Razorbacks, as Greg Brooks Jr. picks off Clifford at the Arkansas 46.
9:24 INTERCEPTION: Ji’Ayir Brown intercepts KJ Jefferson in the end zone. It’s his fifth pick of the year, and the Nittany Lions take over.
12:39: A 50-yard field goal attempt by Jake Pinegar is no good. A 42-yard pass to Parker Washington set PSU up in the red zone, but an intentional grounding penalty made it a long field-goal try for Pinegar.
Arkansas wins the toss and will defer. Penn State will start the game with the ball.
Pregame
11:42: It looks like Parker Washington will be Penn State’s punt returner. Keaton Ellis will start at safety.
11:27: Look for Jonathan Sutherland to get some first-team work at linebacker as well. He’s taking some first-team warmup reps alongside Luketa and Jacobs.
11:23: It appears veteran Cam Sullivan-Brown will step into Jahan Dotson’s shoes today. Also, offensive lineman Bryce Effner is not dressed.
11:19: Jesse Luketa, Charlie Katshir and Curtis Jacobs are taking the first-team warmup reps at LB.
11:09: Despite warming up earlier, Castro-Fields is not in uniform as the corners come out onto the field.
11:07: With no Jahan Dotson today, Marquis Wilson, KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Parker Washington are fielding punts for the Nittany Lions in warmups.
11:01 a.m: Today’s Penn State-Arkansas referee is Tuta Salaam. It’s a Big 12 crew on the call for the Outback Bowl.
10:46 a.m: Tariq Castro-Fields is warming up ahead of the game. The starting senior cornerback did not make an announcement regarding his future ahead of this one.
Pregame reads from the BWI Staff
Penn State-Arkansas game day: Outback Bowl kick time, TV info, latest spread, stat leaders, more
Behind Enemy Lines: Turnaround at hand, Arkansas set for Outback Bowl
Path to Victory: Three things Penn State must do to beat Arkansas
New-look Penn State faces tall test in Outback Bowl: 3-2-1
Penn State teammates, Mike Yurcich, confident in Olu Fashanu ahead of Outback Bowl start
Penn State stat leaders
Note: Only players who are expected to play are included.
Passing: Sean Clifford has completed 247 of 396 passes (62.37%) for 2,912 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Rushing: Keyvone Lee has 495 yards on 104 carries through 12 games and two touchdowns.
Receiving: Parker Washington has 57 catches for 722 yards and four touchdowns. He leads all active receivers in all three categories.
Defense: Middle linebacker Ellis Brooks is first with 100 tackles. Linebacker Curtis Jacobs has two sacks. End Jesse Luketa has 7.5 tackles for loss. Safety Ji’Ayir Brown leads with four interceptions.
Special teams: Jordan Stout is 16 for 23 on field goal tries, has boomed 56 of 62 kickoffs for touchbacks, and averages 46.55 yards per punt, nearly half of which have landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Arkansas stat leaders
Note: Only players who are expected to play are included.
Passing: Quarterback KJ Jefferson has completed 184 of 275 passes (66.9 percent) for 2,578 yards. He has a 21-to-3 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio.
Rushing: Running back Trelon Smith has carried 117 times for 592 yards. He leads in that category, but Dominique Johnson has a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.
Receiving: Tyson Morris has 21 catches for 305 yards and two touchdowns.
Defense: Linebacker Bumper Pool has a team-high 120 tackles, and position mate Hayden Henry has 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, respectively. Corner Montaric Brown has five interceptions.
Special teams: Reid Bauer averages 43.2 yards per punt. Cam Little is 19 of 23 on field goal tries.
Penn State-Arkansas staff picks
Nate Bauer: Arkansas 27,PSU 24
Greg Pickel: Arkansas 34, PSU 24
David Eckert: Arkansas 30, PSu 21
Matt Herb: Arkansas 31, PSU 21
Ryan Snyder: Arkansas 28, PSU 21
