The Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores 31-21 on Oct. 17, ending Arkansas’ 14-game SEC skid. Both teams were listed at 3-4 after the game, and the Yahoo Sports box score recorded Arkansas’ first conference win since 2024.
The Southwest Times Record identified the victory as Arkansas’ first SEC football win since 2024 and the end of a 14-game conference losing streak. Arkansas overcame a 7-0 deficit after the first quarter and pulled away with 14 points in the third quarter.
KJ Jackson supplied 309 total yards and one rushing touchdown, while Cam Settles scored twice on the ground. Joker Johnson also produced the game’s defining defensive play with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Key Takeaways
- Vanderbilt led 7-0 after the first quarter before Arkansas took a 14-7 halftime advantage.
- KJ Jackson finished with 251 passing yards, 58 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
- Joker Johnson returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown during Arkansas’ comeback.
Arkansas Razorbacks 31-21 Win Over Vanderbilt by Quarter
Yahoo Sports recorded Vanderbilt’s early control through the opening quarter, when Sedrick Alexander scored on a four-yard run to give the Commodores a 7-0 lead. Arkansas answered in the second quarter with 14 points, including Johnson’s interception return and Settles’ 11-yard rushing touchdown.
| Team | First quarter | Second quarter | Third quarter | Fourth quarter | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Razorbacks | 0 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 31 |
| Vanderbilt Commodores | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
The second-quarter scoring was even at 14-14, but Arkansas entered halftime ahead 14-7 because its points came after Vanderbilt’s opening touchdown. Johnson’s pick-six tied the game at 7-7 before Settles’ touchdown put the Razorbacks in front.
Arkansas added 14 points in the third quarter while Vanderbilt scored seven. Jackson opened the quarter with an eight-yard rushing touchdown, and Settles followed with a three-yard touchdown run; Vanderbilt answered with a three-yard touchdown by Makhilyn Young to make the score 28-21.
Yahoo Sports recorded Arkansas’ only fourth-quarter points as Max Gilbert’s 39-yard field goal. The Razorbacks held Vanderbilt scoreless in the final quarter and finished with the 31-21 road victory.
KJ Jackson and Cam Settles Power Arkansas Offense
Jackson completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards, according to Yahoo Sports’ player statistics. He did not throw a touchdown pass or an interception, but he added 58 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown on 11 carries.
Jackson’s rushing score came on an eight-yard run in the third quarter, extending Arkansas’ lead to 21-14. His passing production also included a 32-yard completion to Antonio Jordan during the drive that ended with Settles’ third-quarter touchdown.
Settles carried 11 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns. His 11-yard run in the second quarter gave Arkansas its first lead, and his three-yard score in the third quarter restored a seven-point advantage after Vanderbilt had tied the game.
Antonio Jordan led Arkansas in receiving with five catches for 74 yards. Yahoo Sports also credited Jamari Hawkins with two receptions for 44 yards and Monte Harrison with one reception for 37 yards.
Joker Johnson’s Pick Six Changes the Game
Johnson intercepted Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis in the second quarter and returned the turnover 25 yards for a touchdown. The play came with Vanderbilt facing second-and-10 at its own 20-yard line and immediately erased the Commodores’ 7-0 lead.
Yahoo Sports’ defensive statistics credited Johnson with two solo tackles, one interception, 25 interception-return yards and one interception-return touchdown. The defensive score was Arkansas’ first touchdown of the game and shifted momentum before Settles’ scoring run later in the quarter.
The Southwest Times Record described the result as Arkansas’ first SEC win since 2024 and the end of the program’s 14-game SEC skid. Yahoo Sports listed both Arkansas and Vanderbilt at 3-4 following the game, with Arkansas securing the 31-21 result after outscoring Vanderbilt 28-14 over the final three quarters.
