2016-media-guide

2015 SEASON NOTES
AT A GLANCE
Arkansas went 8-5 (5-3 SEC) and won six of its last seven games, including a
45-23 decision over Kansas State in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. It was the
41st bowl appearance in school history. With the win, Arkansas became the only
SEC West program to win a bowl game each of the last two seasons (2014, 2015).
In addition, it was the Razorbacks’ third consecutive bowl win, the longest bowl
winning streak in program history. At 8-5 (5-3 SEC), Arkansas posted a winning
record in SEC play and its most overall wins in a single season since 2011. The
Razorbacks played nine teams in the regular season that earned a bowl bid,
including seven that won its bowl game. Arkansas’ opponents combined for a
100-52 record.
ROAD WARRIORS
Highlighted by back-to-back wins at No. 19 Ole Miss and No. 9 LSU, Arkansas went
3-1 in true road games in 2015. All three road wins came against SEC programs
that finished in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.
UNPRECEDENTED OFFENSE
The Razorbacks led the SEC in scoring in conference games, averaging 34.4
points per conference game. Arkansas averaged 46.3 points over the last seven
games, nearly 10 points more than any other SEC program over its final seven
games. The Razorbacks scored 50+ points four times over the final six regular
season games, breaking the previous program single-season record of three set
in 1910, 1916 and 2007. Arkansas scored a touchdown in 26 of its last 29 quarters
and points in 28 of 29.
BALANCE BREEDS SUCCESS
The Razorback off ense was wildly successful primarily due to the incredible
balance between the passing and rushing attacks. Arkansas was the only school
in the SEC and one of eight nationally to have both a 3,000-yard passer and 1,000-
yard rusher during the regular season. Arkansas has produced a 1,000-yard rusher
each of the last three seasons under head coach Bret Bielema, four total during
that span.
PRO-STYLE U
Arkansas’ pro-style off ense produced some of the best statistics in program
history and landed several players on All-America and national award lists.
The Razorbacks were joined by Stanford as the only two programs to have a
semifinalist for the Manning Award (quarterback), Doak Walker Award (running
back) and John Mackey Award (tight end).
ON ANOTHER LEVEL
In the month of November, Brandon Allen was simply lights out. He paced the
SEC with 14 touchdown passes (third-most nationally) and a 179.21 passer rating
(fifth-best nationally). His 14 touchdown passes were the most by an SEC
quarterback in the month of November since Tyler Bray (Tennessee) tossed 14 in
2012, while his 179.21 passer rating was the best since Aaron Murray’s (Georgia)
215.80 in 2012.
Allen led the SEC with a 161.40 passer rating on third down. He also directed the
Razorback off ense to a 46.88 third down conversion percentage, which was tops
in the SEC and ranked 15th nationally.
Allen finished his senior campaign with 3,440 yards passing and 30 touchdowns.
With 406 passing yards against Mississippi State, Allen became only the fourth
player in school history to surpass 7,000 career passing yards. With 7,463 career
passing yards, Allen ranks third all-time in school history. He made 38 career
starts at quarterback for his career, including his final 34 games – the longest
streak for an Arkansas quarterback since joining the SEC in 1992. He also finished
second in program history in career pass completions (583), second in attempts
(1,016) and third in completion percentage (57.4).
DOMINIQUE REED burst onto the scene after the first month of the
season, scoring a touchdown in six straight games, including all four SEC
road games.
AC3 RUNS INTO RECORD BOOKS
Alex Collins entered the 2015 season 14th in school history with 2,126 career yards
rushing after joining Darren McFadden as the only Razorbacks to ever begin their
careers with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He then used a school record-tying
10 100-yard rushing eff orts to help total 1,577 yards rushing as a junior, soaring to
second all-time in program history in career rushing yards with 3,703. He became
only the third player in SEC history to open his career with three consecutive
1,000-yard seasons on the ground, accompanying McFadden and Georgia great
Herschel Walker.
Collins’ 10 100-yard rushing performances – which led the SEC along with Heisman
Trophy winner Derrick Henry – also included five 150-yard performances to equal
McFadden’s mark set in 2007. Overall, he racked up 1,577 yards on the ground to
rank 12th among FBS running backs.
In the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Collins found the end zone for the 20th time on
the season to break Arkansas’ single-season record that was set in 1969.
Collins also ended the 2015 campaign and his collegiate career ranked second in
100-yard games (17) and fourth in rushing touchdowns (36).
2016 RAZORBACK FOOTBALL
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