HOUSTON — Arkansas got a victory in the Texas Bowl to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2011.
Now coach Bret Bielema is looking for much bigger things from his program in the future.
“If they continue to have the growth they did this year, they’re going to be able to do some special things,” Bielema said.
Brandon Allen threw for 160 yards and two scores as Arkansas rolled to an easy 31-7 win over Texas in the Texas Bowl on Monday night, the Razorbacks’ first bowl appearance since 2011.
It was the first game between these former Southwest Conference rivals since 2008 and it ended a two-game skid in the series for Arkansas. The game was played in front of a sellout crowd that included Earl Campbell, who won the Heisman Trophy at Texas in 1977.
“To go through what we’ve been through and come back around and pull this program back together and beat Texas – it couldn’t have been set up any better,” Arkansas senior defensive end Trey Flowers said.
Arkansas (7-6) built a 24-7 lead by halftime and Jonathan Williams, who finished with 105 yards rushing, added a 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Texas (6-7) was smothered by Arkansas’ defense almost all night and finished with a season-low 59 total yards to wrap up its first season under coach Charlie Strong. It was the second straight lopsided bowl loss for the Longhorns, beaten 30-7 by Oregon in the Alamo Bowl last season.
“At some point we’ve got to develop and get the pride back in this program,” Strong said. “Texas has got to mean something. Right now it doesn’t mean much.”
Tyrone Swoopes, hurried and harassed all night, finished 13 of 25 for 57 yards with an interception for Texas.
Allen credited his team’s performance on defense for helping the offense excel.
“Holding teams to zero points, to seven points is such a huge confidence boost to us on offense,” said Allen, selected the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Alex Collins added 76 yards rushing for the Razorbacks and Keon Hatcher had 41 yards receiving with a touchdown.
Flowers had a sack and two tackles for losses to give him 47 1/2 tackles for losses in his career.
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