ARLINGTON, Texas — It wasn’t that the Arkansas Razorbacks were purposely scoreboard-watching in the final moments of their 24-17 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday.
But when something is shown on the largest high definition video screen in the world - which is 180 feet long, 72 feet wide and hangs above the field at Cowboys Stadium - it’s kind of hard to miss.
So many of the Razorbacks saw a final score posted on the screen: South Carolina 35, Alabama 21.
“That’s a big deal,” Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette said. “That means a lot for us.”
Alabama’s loss at South Carolina means if the No. 12 Razorbacks (4-1, 1-1) win out, they’re guaranteed at least a share of the SEC West title.
The Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1), who fell from No. 1 to No. 8 in Sunday’s Associated Press poll after having their19-game winning streak broken, beat Arkansas 24-20 on Sept. 25.
So the Razorbacks needed help - and South Carolina supplied some -to have shot to tie or pass the Tide in the West race.
“It’s motivation to us,” Arkansas wide receiver Cobi Hamilton said of Alabama’s loss. “The red carpet is laid out for us if we keep winning.”
Arkansas led Alabama 20-7 before the Tide rallied with 17 points in the final 16 minutes.
“We gave them a run for their money,” Hamilton said. “We should have beat them.
“We knew somebody could get to them. ... It’s hard to go undefeated in the SEC.”
LSU (6-0, 4-0) and Auburn (6-0, 3-0) still have hopes of doing it, and the Razorbacks have shots at both sets of Tigers.
The Razorbacks play at No. 7 Auburn on Saturday and take on No. 9 LSU at Little Rock on Nov. 27 in the regular-season finale.
Arkansas’ remaining SEC games also include road trips to No. 10 South Carolina and Mississippi State as well as home games against Ole Missand Vanderbilt.
“Our focus is going to Auburn and getting a win,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “And that’s all you can do in this conference and in college football - concentrate on the week you have.
“Auburn is a very, very good football team. We’ve been able to see them play a few times this year. We know we’re going to have to be at the top of our game on offense, defense and special teams.”
Some in the media had labeled Alabama as a cut above any other team in college football after the Tide routed Florida 31-6 on Oct. 2.
“I thought the way Alabama handled Florida, they were probably going to go undefeated again,” Bequette said. “But you never know in the SEC.”
Alabama and Florida were a combined 27-1 in SEC regular-season games in 2008 and 2009 in setting up heavyweight matches against each other in the conference championship game in Atlanta.
Florida won the 2008 SEC title and went on to win the national championship. Ditto for Alabama in 2009.
This season Alabama and Florida are a combined 4-3 in SEC play, including LSU’s 33-29 victory at Florida on Saturday night.
Balance is back in the SEC, and the West race appears to be especially competitive with four teams ranked among the top 12 nationally.
Six of the SEC’s 12 teams are ranked in the top 25.
“That speaks a lot of the strength of this conference, especially in the Western Division,” Bequette said. “Only one team can go to Atlanta from the West, and hopefully we can be that team.” Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams said the Razorbacks are looking forward to resuming SEC play at Auburn.
“A great atmosphere,” Williams said. “They’re a great football team.
“It’s going to be another SEC showdown, and we can’t wait.”
Sports, Pages 15 on 10/11/2010