Settles’ two touchdowns help Arkansas end its 14-game SEC losing streak

Cam Settles ran for two touchdowns, and Miguel Mitchell intercepted Jared Curtis late as Arkansas beat Vanderbilt 31-21 Saturday in Nashville to end a 14-game SEC losing streak.

The Razorbacks earned their first conference victory under Ryan Silverfield and improved to 3-4 overall, 1-3 in the SEC. Their defense produced one touchdown and protected a seven-point lead long enough for the offense to finish the game with a field goal.

Vanderbilt was moving toward a potential tying score when Mitchell intercepted a second-and-12 pass with 3:46 remaining. That gave Arkansas the ball at its own 31. Two Cam Settles runs gained nothing, leaving KJ Jackson facing third-and-10 with the Commodores still within a touchdown.

Jackson found Jamari Hawkins for 31 yards. Braylen Russell later ran for another first down, and Max Gilbert made a 39-yard field goal with 24 seconds left to put Arkansas ahead by 10. Arkansas On SI’s Samuel Stubbs identified Mitchell’s interception and Hawkins’ catch as the plays that secured the result.

Jackson completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards without an interception and led Arkansas with 58 rushing yards. He also scored on an 8-yard run. Settles carried 11 times for 45 yards, with his scoring runs covering 11 and 3 yards. The Razorbacks totaled 187 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Antonio Jordan caught five passes for 74 yards, including the 32-yard reception that set up Settles’ second touchdown. Jackson and Jordan appeared in Arkansas’ official postgame press conference after the win.

Arkansas had needed help from the defense to get started. Joker Johnson returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, tying the game at 7. Vanderbilt reclaimed the lead on Curtis’ 24-yard touchdown pass to Junior Sherrill, but Settles answered with his 11-yard score with 38 seconds left before halftime.

The Razorbacks then opened the second half with Jackson’s touchdown run to go ahead 21-14. Vanderbilt tied it again on Makhilyn Young’s 3-yard run. Arkansas’ winning touchdown drive covered 53 yards in five plays, ending with Settles scoring from the 3 with nine seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Vanderbilt never scored again. Curtis finished 19 of 31 for 274 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Arkansas won the turnover count 2-0 and gained 438 total yards to Vanderbilt’s 390. Arkansas converted eight of its 16 third-down opportunities and its only fourth-down attempt, helping it hold the ball for 33:47. The Commodores fell to 3-4 and 0-4 in conference play.