Arkansas has figured out how to compete with Alabama

Two years ago, the University of Alabama won at Arkansas by the margin of a blocked extra point.

Last year, the Crimson Tide won at home by 13 points, a more comfortable margin, but trailed at halftime and led by just a field goal going into the fourth quarter.

The Crimson Tide’s 14-13 victory in Fayetteville, Ark., in 2014 and the 27-14 win last year in Tuscaloosa served notice that the Razorbacks have figured out how to play with Alabama.

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, however, cautions that his team hasn’t yet sorted out how to pull off the upset against the nation’s premier program.

"The difference is Ole Miss has had success (with wins over Alabama in 2013 and ’14) and we haven’t," Bielema said on Wednesday’s weekly SEC coaches teleconference. "We’ve been on the losing end every time. I know we’ve done some good things, but we haven’t done enough to come over the top."

Arkansas held Alabama to 10 first downs, 66 rushing yards and 161 passing yards two years ago, while the Razorbacks gained 335 yards. Last year, Alabama had the clear statistical edge with nearly 400 total yards compared to 220 for Arkansas, but it was a close game until the final period.

"Defensively they’ve got eight starters back and they do a really good job of executing and it’s going to be important that we do a better job than we did last year for three quarters," Alabama coach Nick Saban said this week. "Obviously the year before we struggled, so playing on the road is always more difficult for the offense. We’re working on the noise and trying to get that worked out."

Playing competitively and beating Alabama are two different things, the Arkansas coach said.

"You definitely have to take advantage of the opportunities when they come," Bielema said. "One thing Alabama doesn’t do is they don’t beat themselves. They play very consistent, they play very smart, they’re well-coached and they have good talent, so that makes it hard to defeat them.

"On us on defense, we’ve held ourselves in good position but we’ve given out a play or two that ends up being the difference in the ballgame."

Two years ago, Alabama went no-huddle and quick-snapped to catch the Razorbacks napping on a 6-yard Blake Sims-to-DeAndrew White touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Last year, Alabama took the lead on an 81-yard touchdown pass from Jake Coker to Calvin Ridley.

One thing the Razorbacks plan to do is be themselves. They don’t gimmick things up for Alabama.

"I don’t think we play any different," Bielema said. "We don’t really come out and do anything other than what we’ve done in other games. Every game is going to have some wrinkles but the execution has to be there."