Fayetteville, Arkansas: Razorbacks Fall 26-23 at Auburn on Field Goal With 33 Seconds Left

Arkansas left Jordan-Hare Stadium with a loss that was in its hands twice. The Razorbacks led 10-0 in the first half, tied the game at 23 with 1:54 to play, and still lost 26-23 to Auburn on Saturday when Alex McPherson kicked a 43-yard field goal with 33 seconds remaining.

Arkansas (3-6, 1-5 SEC) built the early lead with defense and one long run. Max Gilbert opened the scoring with a 38-yard field goal. Sutton Smith then broke a 65-yard run, and Braylen Russell finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run for a 10-0 lead. Auburn produced one first down across its next five drives, and safety AnQuon Fegans intercepted a pass to keep the Tigers close.

McPherson got Auburn on the board with a 33-yard field goal three seconds before halftime, cutting the lead to 10-3.

Auburn takes over after halftime

Byrum Brown changed the game in the second half. He hit Chas Nimrod for a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Auburn missed the extra point and trailed 10-9, and Arkansas answered with a 37-yard field goal for a 13-9 lead late in the third.

Brown then led a 12-play, 75-yard drive and ran in a 5-yard touchdown with 12:50 to play, putting Auburn ahead 16-13. Arkansas tied it at 16 with 9:32 left on a 46-yard field goal that went in off the left upright.

On third-and-12 late in the fourth quarter, Brown avoided a sack, rolled right and found Keshaun Singleton for a 28-yard touchdown and a 23-16 lead with 3:56 remaining. Singleton led Auburn with six catches for 58 yards.

The tie, then the kick

Arkansas answered fast. A 43-yard pass to its tight end moved the ball deep, and KJ Jackson hit Antonio Jordan for a 23-yard touchdown that tied the game at 23 with 1:54 to play.

Auburn used every second it had left. The Tigers drove 50 yards in 10 plays, and McPherson, who finished 2 for 2 on field goals and reached 50 makes for his career, sent the 43-yard kick through with 33 seconds left.

Brown completed 23 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, and he added the rushing score. The story of the Auburn defense was freshman linebacker Shadarius Toodle, who played his first career game and finished with 11 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Auburn said Toodle is the first SEC freshman since at least 1996 with three sacks in his first career game.

"Today was a really proud moment," Auburn coach Alex Golesh said. "These guys continue to strain and fight and claw."

Auburn (5-4, 3-4 SEC) is one win from bowl eligibility and plays at Mississippi State next Saturday. Arkansas fell to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the SEC, a game it led by 10 points and tied in the final two minutes, gone in the last half minute.