One-score games continue to be Arkansas HC Sam Pittman's kryptonite

If you took one look at the box score from Saturday's Arkansas-Oklahoma State contest, you might assume that the Razorbacks went into Stillwater and walked all over the No. 16 team in the nation.

Arkansas gained 648 yards to Oklahoma State's 385. They held the ball for 12 more minutes than the Cowboys, earned 13 more first downs and led 21-7 at the break.

Unfortunately, a second-half collapse that Arkansas fans are all too familiar with followed, which included a missed field goal, a muffed punt and a puzzling fourth-down decision by head coach Sam Pittman that saw Arkansas turn the ball over on downs.

While Arkansas was able to push the game into double overtime, a personal foul on Georgia transfer Xavian Sorey gifted Oklahoma State a first down, which led to the go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing play.
Trailing 39-31 at that point, the Razorbacks stalled out following an initial first down, with their drive ending on a fourth-and-1 run by Rodney Hill which went nowhere, making the 180-mile trip back to Fayetteville a lot longer than originally intended.

Saturday's loss is extremely disappointing on its own, but when the bigger picture is examined, it's just the latest example of Pittman being unable to close out tight games. Since Pittman took over the program in 2020, one-score games have been his kryptonite.

Aside from a magical 2021 season that saw Arkansas go 9-4, Pittman's record in games decided by eight points or less is a paltry 3-13. Five seasons into the Pittman era, the lack of wins in clutch situations isn't just an unfortunate coincidence, but rather an appalling pattern that continues to crop up every season.

Let's not mince words: Pittman is leagues better than predecessors Bret Bielema and Chad Morris and this 2024 Razorbacks squad is much improved over last year's team. But unless major changes are made, close games will continue to swing in favor of Arkansas' opponents.

One of those changes will have to be an increase in discipline. Arkansas was only flagged for seven penalties on Saturday, but two defensive pass interference calls were handed down on Oklahoma State's final drive of regulation, with the aforementioned personal foul against Sorey handing the Cowboys the winning score on a silver platter.

Then come the tangible mistakes that Arkansas made on Saturday: A pick-six, a fumble, two missed field goals, a missed, wide-open throw that could've gone for a touchdown and a lack of a pass-rush all contributed to an Arkansas loss that was completely avoidable.

There's still enough talent in Fayetteville for Arkansas to potentially win seven or eight games, but unless Pittman and Co. can clean up the litany of tangible and intangible mistakes, Arkansas won't be able to realize its full potential.

Of course, Arkansas isn't the only program in college football history that has ever blown a lead, but it seems like the Razorbacks have more of a penchant for blowing leads than their peers. Whether it be the 1969 'Big Shootout' between Arkansas and Texas, the 2016 Belk Bowl against Virginia Tech or Saturday's contest in Stillwater, the Hogs always seem to come up on the short end of the stick.