Four Downs: Key questions for Alabama vs. Arkansas

The top-ranked University of Alabama football team goes on the road this week to visit 16th-ranked Arkansas in an important SEC Western Division showdown. Here are four questions that the Crimson Tide will try to answer:

1. Will Alabama get off to a fast start?

The Crimson Tide fell far behind in the first half at Ole Miss in its other true road game this year, but kept its composure and mounted a dramatic comeback to win. Arkansas is a tough environment and the Razorbacks have a ground game better suited to hold onto a lead than Ole Miss did.

2. Who wins the passing game?

Both Alabama and Arkansas average around 250 yards per game through the air. UA will need a strong, poised performance from freshman Jalen Hurts to produce the big plays needed to win on the road and to open things up for the running game. Arkansas’ Austin Allen has completed 68 percent of his attempts and Alabama will need to disrupt his rhythm.

3. Can the Crimson Tide produce another non-offensive touchdown?

Alabama has reached the end zone with its defense or on a kick return of some sort in every game this season, tallying seven non-offensive touchdowns in five games so far. In fact, UA has 17 such scores in its last 16 games. Keeping up that pace would be a major bonus.

4. Which team will be more physical in the trenches?

Nick Saban has made a philosophical shift in recent years to build a defense more suited to stopping spread offenses, but Arkansas is more of a hard-nosed team that likes to bully opponents in the trenches. Whoever wins this battle up front will have a meaningful advantage.