Bryce Young passed for a school record 559 yards and also threw five touchdown passes to lead No. 2 Alabama to a 42-35 victory over No. 21 Arkansas in SEC play on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Young completed 31 of 40 passes and became the first-ever quarterback in Crimson Tide history to throw for over 500 yards in a game.
Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC) beat Arkansas (7-4, 3-4) for the 15th consecutive time and secured a berth in the SEC championship game for the second consecutive season and sixth time in the past eight seasons.
The Crimson Tide will play No. 1 Georgia in two weeks in Atlanta following next week’s annual Iron Bowl rivalry clash at Auburn.
K.J. Jefferson also had a strong passing game for the Razorbacks, completing 22 of 30 passes for 326 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. But despite gaining 468 total yards, Arkansas could not slow down Alabama’s offensive onslaught which amassed 671 total yards.
Jefferson’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Raheim Sanders with 1:02 left in the fourth pulled Arkansas within a score. But Arkansas could not recover the ensuing onside kick, ending its comeback hopes.
Treylon Burks led all Arkansas pass catchers with eight catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
The Crimson Tide’s wide receiver tandem of John Metchie III (10 catches for 173 yards and one touchdown) and Jameson Williams (eight for 190 yards and three TDs) each had huge performances. Brian Robinson Jr. contributed 122 rushing yards on 27 carries.
Trailing 34-21 in the fourth, Arkansas ran a fake field goal when holder Reid Bauer took the snap and threw a jump pass to tight end Blake Kern for a 32-yard touchdown with 11:24 left.
Alabama drove into the red zone but tight end Cameron Latu was stripped of the ball by Montaric Brown, who then recovered it at the Razorbacks’ 1-yard line with 8:52 to go. But the Razorbacks went three and out on their next series and punted, setting up Alabama on a short field.
Williams’ falling catch in the back of the end zone on a 40-yard pass from Young with 5:39 left in the fourth quarter followed by Young’s two-point conversion run gave Alabama enough of a cushion.
–Field Level Media