Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s 52-35 loss to Arkansas

The Deseret News is providing live coverage from Saturday’s game between BYU and Arkansas. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Score: Arkansas 52, BYU 35

Fourth quarter

14:25

BYU has no answer for SEC speed.

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The latest example: Raheim Sanders ran for a career-long 64-yard touchdown run in the first minute of the fourth quarter, and the Razorbacks are up three scores. Arkansas 52, BYU 35.

The Cougars are headed toward a second straight loss against a Power Five opponent.

Third quarter

1:13

If BYU can’t stop Arkansas, the Cougars have no shot.

The Razorbacks scored on their seventh straight possession — that includes six touchdowns — as KJ Jefferson completed a third-and-goal pass to Matt Landers for 5 yards and a score. Arkansas 45, BYU 35.

Landers has three TD catches, while Jefferson has thrown for five.

We’ve still got one quarter to go.

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5:11

Puka Nacua is having himself a game.

Jaren Hall threw a pretty timing ball to Nacua for a 33-yard touchdown, and BYU is back within three points. Arkansas 38, BYU 35.

Nacua now has three touchdowns — two rushing and the receiving score.

Hall went past 300 yards passing for the game on that throw.

9:20

That was easy.

KJ. Jefferson hit a wide-open Matt Landers for a 39-yard touchdown, and the Razorbacks are back up 10. Arkansas 38, BYU 28.

That was a two-play, 75-yard drive for Arkansas that took just 33 seconds and included two 15-yard penalties for BYU.

9:53

That was exactly what BYU needed to get back in this one.

The Cougars march 75 yards in 10 plays to open the second half and capped a touchdown drive with a Puka Nacua 3-yard jet sweep, his second score of the day. Arkansas 31, BYU 28.

BYU went with four straight runs from Chris Brooks to start the drive, and he delivered with carries of 9, 14, 6 and 10 yards.

Can the BYU defense come alive?

Halftime

Here’s what BYU coach Kalani Sitake said is ailing the Cougars, who went from up 21-14 to down 31-21 over the final nine and a half minutes of the half.

Arkansas has 373 yards of total offense — 242 passing and 131 running — and has converted 7 of 9 third downs in putting up 31 points.

BYU’s offense also turned the ball over twice, putting the Cougars in a precarious position heading into the second half.

Second quarter

0:40

BYU is making SportsCenter for the wrong reason.

With Arkansas facing a third-and-11, the Cougars appeared to have the stop when KJ Jefferson was met in the backfield by a group of BYU defenders.

Jefferson, though, fought through multiple sack attempts and found Trey Knox for a 36-yard gain on a play that’s sure to make the Top 10 plays tonight.

That set up a Rashod Dubinion 15-yard catch three plays later — again on a third down — and Arkansas is up by 10 points. Arkansas 31, BYU 21.

The Razorbacks have 373 yards of total offense in the first half.

2:22

For the first time all season, BYU has turnovers on back-to-back drives.

Jaren Hall was picked off by Hudson Clark at the Arkansas 32 on a long pass.

Can Arkansas cash in before halftime?

3:39

BYU’s first lost fumble of the season was a costly one.

The Cougars went for a fourth-and-1 at their own 34, but Jaren Hall couldn’t handle the snap and the Razorbacks recovered.

Arkansas scored four plays later on a 4-yard Matt Landers touchdown catch to give the Razorbacks the lead back. Arkansas 24, BYU 21.

The 34-yard drive included converting a first-and-25 after Arkansas was flagged for a personal foul.

6:46

BYU earned the upper hand on the sixth straight possession to end with points, as the Cougars held Arkansas to a 34-yard field goal from Cam Little. BYU 21, Arkansas 17.

Ethan Slade came up with the pass breakup on third down inside the BYU red zone to force the field goal attempt.

That was a 10-play, 59-yard drive with a good mix of run and pass for the Razorbacks.

9:48

Let the offensive fireworks continue.

Puka Nacua scored for BYU on a 5-yard jet sweep, then Keanu Hill caught a 2-point conversion to give the Cougars a seven-point lead to make up for the previous PAT miss. BYU 21, Arkansas 14.

The Cougars marched 75 yards in seven plays and Nacua appeared to have a 65-yard TD catch earlier in the drive, though he was called for a face mask on the play, wiping off the score.

Jaren Hall has already completed 12 of 17 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns in what’s looking like a shootout.

12:19

Arkansas had an impressive touchdown drive, going 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by Trey Knox catching a 6-yard touchdown pass from KJ Jefferson.

With a successful extra point, the Razorbacks lead for the first time. Arkansas 14, BYU 13.

First quarter

1:11

BYU is shaking off those slow starts of recent weeks and is back up a score with a quick answer to Arkansas’ touchdown.

Kody Epps caught a 21-yard touchdown pass on third-and-4 on Jaren Hall’s second TD pass of the first quarter, capping a quick four-play, 75-yard drive.

Unfortunately for BYU, Justen Smith missed the PAT. BYU 13, Arkansas 7.

Still, it’s encouraging to see the Cougars get things going offensively this early in the game.

2:37

Arkansas comes up with the answer, as the Razorbacks’ first score came on a 15-yard Raheim Sanders run. BYU 7, Arkansas 7.

The nine-play, 75-yard drive includes six runs for Arkansas and 39 rushing yards for Sanders.

5:39

BYU opened the scoring as Isaac Rex caught a 4-yard touchdown pass. BYU 7, Arkansas 0.

Jaren Hall and Puka Nacua connected on a 31-yard pass on fourth-and-8 to extend the drive — a beautifully executed throw and catch where Hall put it in a tight window along the sideline and Nacua got both feet in with little wiggle room — to set up BYU at the Arkansas 4.

It’s a reminder of what the Cougars’ passing game could do if players get healthy.

BYU’s drive covered 82 yards in 10 plays and took nearly five minutes off the clock.

12:10

The BYU defense got off to a hot start by recovering a fumble but the offense was unable to capitalize. BYU’s first offensive possession ends in a punt.

Pregame

BYU will be missing some offensive skill position players due to injury, per the Deseret News’ Jay Drew:

Here are a few stories to get you ready for the game: