By The Numbers: Arkansas 20, Texas A&M 10

Here’s a statistical look, by the numbers, at the Aggies’ 10-point loss to Arkansas Saturday at AT&T Stadium...

2 - Plays over 20 yards on offense. Zach Calzada hit Ainias Smith for 23 yards in the 4th quarter and Isaiah Spiller ripped off a 67-yard touchdown run with 7:51 left in the 3rd quarter.

#2 - A&M’s national ranking in scoring defense. It was #1 after last week but moved back one slot behind Georgia at 9.3 points allowed per game.

3 - Total number of losses for A&M in the Jimbo Fisher era to a team not ranked in the top 8 nationally. Fisher is now 27-3 (.900) against teams ranked outside the top 8 at the time the Aggies played them and 29-5 (.853) vs. teams not ranked #1 or #2.

3 - Sacks allowed on offense against the Razorbacks, running the season total for sacks allowed to 9. That number (2.25 sacks allowed per game) ranks #81 nationally through four games. A&M’s offensive line gave up just 7 sacks total in 2020. The Aggies also gave up 9 TFL in the game and currently rank #84 in TFL allowed per game (6.25 PG).

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the loss, the Aggies’ pass defense remains in the top four in the country. 

#4 - A&M’s national ranking in pass defense. It was #1 at the end of three weeks but moved back a few spots after giving up 246 passing yards vs. Arkansas. The Ags have allowed an average of 119.5 passing yards per game so far in 2021. That trails only Georgia in the SEC.

5 - Consecutive offensive series to open the game that ended in a punt. The Aggies gained just 73 total yards in those 5 series. A&M punted 8 times in the game.

6 - Pass plays allowed over 20 yards against Arkansas. The A&M defense entered Saturday as the only team in FBS that had not allowed a single pass play of 20+ yards but that went out the window in a big way vs. the Razorbacks, with all explosive passes coming in the first half. That included touchdown passes of 48 and 85 yards.

6.5 - Yards per play allowed against Arkansas. The Razorbacks gained 443 total yards on 68 plays. For the season, the Aggies rank 18th nationally in yards per play allowed (4.38 YPP). A&M was #3 nationally in YPP allowed coming into the game on Saturday.

11 - Number of penalties in the game that went against the Aggies, totaling 75 yards. A&M currently ranks #108 nationally in penalties per game (7.5 PG) and #82 nationally in penalty yards per game (61.3 PG).

13 - The number of teams in FBS that have not recovered a fumble this season. A&M is one of those teams, along with Kentucky and Vanderbilt in the SEC. The Aggies have forced just 4 turnovers through 4 games - all interceptions - and have just 2 takeaways in the last 3 games.

16.2 - “Havoc Rate” for the A&M defense in the game. Havoc Rate is an advanced metric from longtime stat man Bill Connelly (now with ESPN) that is determined by calculating the total number of tackles-for-loss, passes defended (including INTs) and forced fumbles divided by the total number of plays. The Aggies had 0 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 2 pass breakups and 8 TFL (2 sacks / 6 run TFL) vs. Arkansas. That’s 11 “Havoc points” divided by 68 defensive snaps for a game rating of 16.2, meaning that the Aggies created havoc on exactly 16.2% of the Hogs’ offensive snaps. For the season, A&M’s Havoc Rate is 20.4 (54 havoc points in 265 defensive snaps). Last season, the Ags had a Havoc Rate of 19.1 and it was 18.6 in ’19. A&M ranked 5th in the nation in 2018 with a Havoc Rate of 20.4.

16.7% - Percentage of successful targets to preseason All-American tight end Jalen Wydermyer. The junior was targeted in the passing game six times but managed just one catch for 18 yards. Through four games, Wydermyer has just 13 catches for 159 yards and 0 touchdowns.

28.6% - A&M’s third-down conversion percentage on offense against the Hogs. The Aggies were just 4-of-14 on third down. Meanwhile, the Aggie D held the Razorbacks to 3-of-13 (23.1%) on third down.

#92 - A&M’s national ranking in run defense. The Aggies are allowing their opponents to run for an average of 170.75 yards per game. That ranks 12th in the SEC... only Vanderbilt and Missouri average more rushing yards per game.

#98 - A&M’s national ranking in scoring offense. The Aggies are averaging just 23.8 points per game. Only South Carolina and Vanderbilt in the SEC average fewer points per contest.

#110 - A&M’s national ranking in passes over 30 yards. The Aggies have completed just three pass plays of 30+ yards through 4 games, including 0 vs. Arkansas. That trails everyone but Vanderbilt among SEC teams.

#116 - A&M’s national ranking in turnover margin. The Aggies have turned the ball over 8 times through 4 games and have just 4 takeaways on defense, producing a margin of -4 in the turnover category. Only Vanderbilt and Kentucky rank lower in turnover margin among SEC teams.

282 - Total yards allowed by the Aggies in the 1st half, including TD drives of 1-play, 80 yards and 4-plays, 82 yards. To the Aggies’ credit, they gave up just 131 yards in the 2nd half but a big part of that was 2nd half injuries to Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson and wide receiver Treylon Burks.

2011 - The year of A&M’s last loss to Arkansas before Saturday’s defeat. The Hogs snapped a 9-game losing skid to the Aggies, including 6 consecutive losses to A&M in Arlington.
 

A&M in national stat rankings

Offense
• Total O = #66 (402.3 YPG)
• Scoring O = #98 (23.8 PPG)
• Rushing O = #56 (169 YPG)
• Passing O = #67 (233.3 YPG)
• Yards Per Play = #58 (5.94 YPP)
• First Downs = #83 (20.0 PG)
• 3rd Down Conversions = #48 (44.26%)
• Red Zone TD% = #106 (50% - 6-of-12)
• Explosiveness = #91 (15 plays over 20 yards)
    - #72 with 7 plays over 30 yards
    - #40 with 5 plays over 40 yards
    - #21 with 4 plays over 50 yards
    - #12 with 3 play over 60 yards
    - #22 with 1 play over 70 yards
• Explosive Run Plays = #77 (4 plays over 20 yards)
    - #14 with 4 plays over 30 yards
    - #8 with 3 plays over 40 yards
    - #10 with 2 plays over 50 yards
    - #3 with 2 plays over 60 yards
• Explosive Pass Plays = #76 (11 plays over 20 yards)
    - #110 with 3 plays over 30 yards
    - #58 with 2 plays over 40 yards
    - #19 with 2 plays over 50 yards
    - #18 with 1 play over 60 yards
    - #7 with 1 play over 70 yards
• Sacks Allowed Per Game = #81 (2.25 PG ... 9 total)
• Tackles For Loss Allowed Per Game = #84 (6.25 PG ... 25 total)

Defense
• Total D = #23 (290.3 YPG)
• Scoring D = #2 (9.3 PPG)
• Rushing D = #92 (170.75 YPG)
• Passing D = #4 (119.5 YPG)
• Yards Per Play Allowed = #18 (4.38 YPP)
• First Downs Allowed = #17 (15.5 PG)
• Opponent 3rd Down Conversions = #37 (32.26%)
• Opponent Red Zone TD% = #4 (25% - 2-of-8)
• Explosiveness Against = #7 (9 plays allowed over 20 yards)
    - #12 with 4 plays allowed over 30 yards
    - #24 with 2 plays allowed over 40 yards
    - #26 with 1 play allowed over 50 yards
    - #55 with 1 play allowed over 60 yards
    - #80 with 1 play allowed over 70 yards
    - #109 with 1 play allowed over 80 yards
• Explosive Run Plays Against = #31 (3 plays allowed over 20 yards)
    - #55 with 2 plays allowed over 30 yards
    - #1 with 0 plays allowed over 40 yards
• Explosive Pass Plays Against = #8 (6 plays allowed over 20 yards)
    - #3 with 2 plays allowed over 30 yards
    - #43 with 2 plays allowed over 40 yards
    - #49 with 1 play allowed over 50 yards
    - #77 with 1 play allowed over 60 yards
    - #101 with 1 play allowed over 70 yards
    - #118 with 1 play allowed over 80 yards
• Sacks = #29 (3.0 PG ... 12 total)
• Tackles For Loss = #12 (8.25 PG ... 33 total)
• Interceptions = #34 (4)
• Fumble Recoveries = #118 (0)

Team
• Time of Possession = #31 (31:41)
• Turnover Margin = #116 (-4)
• Penalties = #108 with 7.5 penalties per game
    - #82 with 61.3 penalty yards per game

Special Teams
• Field Goal % = #63 (75% - 6-of-8)
• Punting = #18 (47.0 Avg.)
• Kick Returns = #15 (30.3 Avg.)
• Explosive Kick Returns = #16 (2 returns over 30 yards)
• Opponent Kick Returns Average = #107 (25.0 yards per return)
• Explosive Kick Returns Allowed = #58 (1 return allowed over 30 yards)
• Punt Returns = #56 (9.27 yards per return)
• Explosive Punt Returns = #12 (2 returns over 20 yards)
    - #3 with 2 returns over 30 yards
• Opponent Punt Returns Average = #38 (4.2 yards per return)
• Explosive Punt Returns Allowed = #1 (0 returns allowed over 20 yards)

Individual
• QB Zach Calzada = #96 in passing yards per game (158.3 YPG); #85 in passing TDs (4): #91 in QBR (42.7)
    - #51 in passes over 50 yards (1); #29 in passes over 60 yards (1); #9 in passes over 70 yards (1)

• RB Isaiah Spiller = #50 in rushing yards per game (86.25 YPG); #54 in yards per carry (6.63); #39 in yards from scrimmage (112.8 PG)
    - #38 in runs over 10 yards (10); #6 in runs over 40 yards (2) 

• RB Devon Achane = #59 in yards per carry (6.49 Avg.); #81 in rushing TDs (2); #89 in yards from scrimmage (90.7 PG)
    - #81 in runs over 20 yards (2); #20 in runs over 30 yards (2); #30 in runs over 40 yards (1); #9 in kick returns over 30 yards (2) 

• RB/WR Ainias Smith = #30 in punt return average (9.93 Avg.); #5 in punt returns over 20 yards (2); #2 in punt returns over 30 yards (2)

• WR Demond Demas = #73 in catches over 30 yards (2); #20 in catches over 50 yards (1); #11 in catches over 50 yards (1)
    - #9 in catches over 60 yards (1); #5 in catches over 70 yards (1)

• WR Caleb Chapman = #20 in catches over 50 yards (1)

• DL DeMarvin Leal = #82 in sacks (2.5)

• DL Micheal Clemons = #78 in tackles-for-loss per game (1.17 PG ... 3.5 total)

• DL Jayden Peevy = #72 in tackles-for-loss (4.5); #50 in passes defended (4 ... #1 nationally among DL)

• LB Aaron Hansford = #72 in tackles-for-loss (4.5) 

• S Leon O’Neal = #13 in interceptions (2); #50 in passes defended (4)

• PK Seth Small = #22 in field goal % (85.7% - 6-of-7)

• P Nik Constantinou = #16 in punting average (47.0 Avg.)