FAYETTEVILLE — Can Arkansas football contain a quarterback who likes to run?
The defining struggle from early-season losses will be tested once again.
The Razorbacks (3-5, 1-4 SEC) travel to face Auburn (4-4, 2-4) and Byrum Brown on Saturday, Nov. 7. Brown isn’t the average dual-threat quarterback. He actually leads Auburn with 484 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season.
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“(Brown’s) certainly a big, powerful runner and he’s not just a big quarterback,” Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield said. “He can run. He’s got legit speed. He’s one of the top athletes in all of college football.”
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Adam Hawkes (54) blocks Missouri Tigers defensive end Darris Smith (19) in the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Adam Hawkes (54) blocks Missouri Tigers defensive end Darris Smith (19) in the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
(Brett Rojo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Donovan Olugbode (1) is tackled by Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Khmori House (6) during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Christian Harrison (1) tackles Missouri Tigers wide receiver Damarion Fowlkes (3) during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers kicker Blake Craig (19) kicks a field goal from holder Brunno Reus (40) during the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jackson (7) rolls out to pass during first quarter in the game against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers cornerback Chris Graves Jr. (1) breaks up a pass intended for Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Antonio Jordan (19) during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Khmori House (6) celebrates after a tackle during the first quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Jamal Roberts (20) follows offensive lineman Curtis Peagler (77) through the line as Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Steven Soles Jr. (35) closes in during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jackson (7) runs the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Damarion Fowlkes (3) tries to get around Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Christian Harrison (1) during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders perform before the start of the game against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback AJ Hill (2) warms up before the game against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Christian Harrison (1) tackles Missouri Tigers wide receiver Damarion Fowlkes (3) during the second quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
(Brett Rojo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Damarion Fowlkes (3) fields a punt during pregame warmups before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
(Brett Rojo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Ryan Silverfield walks to the sidelines as his team warms up before the game against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Cayden Lee (19) fields a punt during pregame warmups before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
(Brett Rojo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Arkansas native, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz trolls Hogs after another romp
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz and Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Ryan Silverfield talk at midfield before their game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
(Brett Rojo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Arkansas vs Missouri football battle in soggy weather: Photos
Oct 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz talks with Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Ryan Silverfield before the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
(Brett Rojo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Brown is in his first year as Auburn’s starting quarterback, but this is his fourth year in Alex Golesh’s system. Brown followed Golesh from South Florida this offseason.
He and Golesh also have history with the Arkansas coaching staff. Brown is 0-2 against Silverfield, with Memphis beating the Bulls in 2023 and 2025. Silverfield’s Tigers were able to win despite big games from the North Carolina native, who racked up 626 passing yards, 221 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns across the two losses.
Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts had an inverse experience coaching against Brown last fall. Roberts was at Florida when the Gators lost to USF 18-16. Despite the final score, Byrum only averaged 3.6 yards per carry and had a modest passing day with 263 yards through the air.
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Roberts believes the Arkansas defense has to treat Brown as if he is a running back, which means gang tackling and swarming the ballcarrier.
“We’ve got to get two at the point of attack,” Roberts said. “I mean, if we don’t have two, is it a concern? Yeah, it’s a huge concern.”
The quarterbacks at Utah, Georgia and Texas A&M combined for 212 yards on 27 carries in wins over Arkansas earlier this year. Georgia’s Gunner Stockton had an explosive play on a designed run, but a large portion of the damage came on passing plays when the quarterback would tuck the ball and improvise.
Brown can do both. He has nearly double the amount of carries as starting running back Jeremiah Cobb when including sacks. In the Tigers’ two biggest wins of the season against Baylor and Georgia, Brown totaled 47 carries. The emphasis Auburn puts on the quarterback run will be a new challenge for Srkansas.
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“You definitely got to sit and think about it. It’s like you got another running back right there, too; you got two backs in the backfield, but he can throw the ball as well,” linebacker Brad Shaw said. “It’s just taking him into account with everything we do.”
Arkansas should pay close attention to the film from the Tigers’ last two losses. LSU and Ole Miss shut down any running lanes for Brown, who averaged 0.8 yards per carry.
That number is impacted by 10 sacks, and Roberts believes an impactful pass rush would go a long way toward the Hogs containing Brown and potentially securing a road upset win.
“You’ve got to keep (Brown) in, but you’ve got a chance to hit him,” Roberts said. “His eyes are downfield, he doesn’t drop his eyes and look at the rush. He’s not doing that stuff. He’s a good quarterback and you’ve got to be able to affect him.”
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Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
