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Arkansas, keyed by a Joe Adams punt-return touchdown, gave the SEC a key win over the Big Twelve by beating Kansas State 29-16 in the Cotton Bowl.
After holding a precarious 3-0 first quarter lead in a surprisingly defensive game, Arkansas took control early in the 2nd on Adams' 51-yard return. He got some great blocks and found the sideline, giving the Razorbacks a 10-0 lead. Zach Hocker added another field goal, and when Tyler Wilson found Jarius Wright for a 45-yard touchdown strike it was 19-0 looked like it might be the Orange Bowl all over again.
But Kansas State blocked the extra point attempt and returned it for two points, then recovered a late Wilson fumble deep in Razorback territory. A few plays later Collin Klein passed to Andre McDonald wide open in the end zone and just like that it was 19-9 at the half.
The Wildcat momentum continued into the 2nd half when Klein ran for a 6-yard touchdown on their opening drive, and we had a ball game at 19-16, Arkansas.
The hard-hitting, defensive struggle continued, but Arkansas got a short field and Wilson hit Cobi Hamilton for 9-yard score to go up 26-16. The fourth quarter was like the first quarter—defensive, and only a Zach Hocker field goal for scoring. Kansas State missed a field goal and Klein was intercepted late to seal the deal.
Arkansas finished 11-2, with losses to #1 LSU and #2 Alabama (both on the road) and a win over South Carolina. In 1971, Colorado finished #3 with only road losses to #1 Nebraska and #2 Oklahoma, and the scores (31-7, 45-17) were very similar to Arkansas' losses (38-14, 41-17). But in that year, Nebraska defeated eventual #4 Alabama 38-6, and this season, none of the top SEC teams played #3 Oklahoma State. Even though the Razorbacks are currently #7 in the AP—the same spot Colorado was the week before the bowl games—the Razorbacks will probably have to settle for #4 or #5.
Kansas State finished 10-3 with losses to Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State and a win over Baylor.
The win gives the SEC some bragging rights over the Big Twelve, as the two are roughly the same rank in their respective conferences, and it's the second Arkansas win over a Big Twelve team. The Razorbacks beat Texas A&M earlier in the season.
More previews and results: View the complete 2011-2012 bowl game schedule.
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