Jackson, Green power Arkansas past mistake-plagued Auburn 24-14 in SEC opener

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Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) tires to hurdle Auburn safety Jerrin Thompson (1) as he carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) scrambles away from pressure by Auburn nose tackle Keyron Crawford (24) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Arkansas wide receiver Andrew Armstrong (2) stiff arms Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante (9) as he carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman talks with a referee during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Auburn quarterback Hank Brown throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, left, and Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, right, talk before an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green warms up before an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Auburn quarterback Hank Brown warms up before an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Ja’Quinden Jackson ran for two touchdowns, including the clincher with 3:38 left, and Arkansas capitalized on five Auburn turnovers to win the teams’ Southeastern Conference opener 24-14 on Saturday.

Taylen Green passed for 151 yards and a touchdown and ran for 80 yards for the Razorbacks (3-1), getting intercepted twice but also delivering a number of drive-saving runs and passes. Payton Thorne came off the bench for two second-half scoring passes to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the Tigers (2-2).

Takeaways

Arkansas: It was a good way to start off SEC play for the Razorbacks and coach Sam Pittman, who went 1-7 in league games last season. TJ Metcalf had two interceptions and a touchdown-saving forced fumble for Arkansas.

Auburn: Hank Brown’s three first-half interceptions show the Tigers may have no good answer at quarterback. Thorne, benched after throwing four interceptions in a loss to California, started the second half and also was picked off once on a deflected pass. His 67-yarder to Lambert-Smith in the fourth quarter cut it to 17-14.

Key moment

Green converted a third-and-19 with a scramble and 58-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna with 2:03 left in the third quarter. Sategna leapt over a defender to grab the ball and a 14-7 lead.

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Key stat

The Razorbacks converted 9 of 19 third-down attempts and 2 of 4 fourth-down tries. Bobby Petrino’s offense came in leading the nation in third-down conversion rate.

Up next

Auburn hosts No. 15 Oklahoma and Arkansas plays No. 25 Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas.

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