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WATCH: Arkansas fails 2-point conversion on final play

James Fletcher IIIby:James Fletcher III•10/09/21•

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Sam Pittman addresses Arkansas quarterback depth ahead of Outback Bowl KJ Jefferson Malik Hornsby
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson returned home to Mississippi with hopes of knocking off the Ole Miss Rebels in front of friends and family. Down seven points with a minute remaining, he led the Razorbacks to the endzone but failed to complete the two-point conversion.

Jefferson completed some big passes to his top targets on the way down the field, reaching the red zone with six seconds to play. Attempting to find Treylon Burks in the back of the endzone, he overshot the target, but as he looked up, one second remained.

On the next play, KJ Jefferson found Warren Thompson for the 6-yard touchdown, bring Arkansas within one point of Ole Miss. Instead of kicking the extra point and heading to overtime, Sam Pittman sent the offense on the field.

Jefferson rolled right but was met by two defenders and lofted a ball toward the corner. It fell incomplete and Ole Miss won the game 52-51 in the SEC shootout of the season.

Previous touchdown drive

Arkansas trailed 45-38 before KJ Jefferson led the team 65 yards in eight plays over 2:37 with a touchdown. In the ultimate SEC shootout, the Razorbacks continue to strike back.

After running to the right, Jefferson was brought down by the collar. The flag gave Arkansas a first down and led Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks back to the well. Jefferson got a block and trucked a defender on the edge for an 11-yard run, heading back to the line of scrimmage for first-and-goal. He then ran again behind the lead block and burst into the endzone for the touchdown.

Sam Pittman on analytics

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman expressed concern about analytic decisions last week, then decided to go for two on the road. Here is a look at what he told reporters on Wednesday.

“We have an analytics guru. I do [things based on] film more than I do analytics,” Pittman said in Wednesday’s SEC Coaches’ Teleconference. “Coach Kiffin has gone for it a little more over five times a game on fourth down, and they’ve only punted nine times. I don’t want to speak for him, but I’m assuming he looks at [analytics] maybe a little bit more than I do.”

The Arkansas Razorbacks have converted two of their four fourth-down conversion attempts this season, as Pittman has opted to roll with a more conservative approach to his play calling. He also says he prefers to make in-game decisions on a situational basis, diverting his attention away from analytics.

“A lot of my decisions go on feel of the game and things of that nature — what’s the score, how’s our defense playing and all those types of things,” Pittman continued. “I’m sure that’s what goes into [Kiffin’s] mind, too, but he’s probably a little bit smarter with analytics than I am.”