Penn State will play Arkansas in the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl, a remarkable landing spot for a team that finished the regular season 7-5. The game is scheduled for 12 p.m. EST Jan. 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The Lions will make their first appearance in the Outback Bowl since 2011, when they also finished the regular season at 7-5. Florida, in Urban Meyer's last game as head coach, defeated Penn State 37-24. The appearance marked Joe Paterno's last bowl game as Penn State's head coach.
Penn State and Arkansas are playing for the first time.
"We are excited for our upcoming trip to Tampa Bay and to have the opportunity to represent Penn State in the Outback Bowl," Penn State coach James Franklin said in a statement. "I am thrilled for our guys to have one more month together as a family to prepare for Arkansas. Tampa Bay is a great destination for our loyal fan base, and we know they will be there in full force to help send this special group of seniors off on a high note."
Here's what you need to know about the Outback Bowl.
Outback Bowl Fast Facts
- Who: Penn State (7-5) vs. No. 21 Arkansas (8-4)
- When: Noon EST Jan. 1
- Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
- TV: ESPN2
- Streaming: fuboTV
- Tickets: Ticketmaster
- Betting Line: Penn State is a 3-point favorite, per SI Sports Book
- Payout: $6.4 million per team
Penn State's Outback Bowl History
Penn State is playing in the Outback Bowl for the fifth time. The Lions are 3-1, with victories over Auburn (43-14 in 1996), Kentucky (26-14 in 1999) and Tennessee (20-10 in 2007).
Penn State finished the 2010 regular season at 7-5 following a 28-22 loss to Michigan State but earned the bowl upgrade vs. Florida (also 7-5) in part because of the Paterno-Meyer matchup.
Interceptions dominated the game. Penn State cornerback D'Anton Lynn intercepted Florida's John Brantley on the team's first play from scrimmage, and the Lions capitalized with a touchdown.
But Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin threw five interceptions, including one that Florida's Ahmad Black returned 80 yards for a clinching touchdown in the game's final minutes.
Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno coached his last bowl game in the 2011 Outback Bowl. Florida defeated Penn State 37-24. (Rob Christy/USA Today Sports)
Scouting the Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas opened the season with four straight wins, including one over then No. 10 Texas A&M, to reach No. 8 in the AP Top 25. The Razorbacks then lost three straight (to Georgia, Mississippi and Auburn) and took Alabama to the final minute before falling 42-35. The 35 points were the second-most scored against Alabama this season.
Like Penn State, Arkansas was competitive in its losses, save for the 37-0 decision against Georgia. The Razorbacks fell by one point to Mississippi and were tied late against Alabama.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson has thrown for 2,578 yards this season, with a 66.9 completion rate and a 21-3 touchdown/interception ratio.
Arkansas is making its first bowl appearance since 2016.
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TAMPA, Fla. — On Saturday, Arkansas knocked off Penn State in the Outback Bowl. It's the program's first bowl win since 2016.
It's the first time Arkansas has beaten a school from the Big Ten in a bowl game. The Razorbacks finish the season at 9-4 and send their seniors off with a win.
After a three-week layoff between games, both teams took a while to settle into the action.
Arkansas and Penn State would enter the redzone on their opening drives and neither would come away with points. KJ Jefferson's streak of passes without an interception came to an end at 171.
Greg Brooks would return the favor with a one-handed interception.
Arkansas would break the ice with a three-yard Rocket Sanders touchdown run with time winding down in the first quarter. The Florida native was playing in his first career bowl game.
Sean Clifford would respond with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Keandre Lambert-Smith. Blown coverage by the Arkansas defense and the game was tied at seven. The Nittany Lions would take a 10-7 lead into halftime after a field goal.
The Arkansas offense would start the second half with a bang. A seven-play 75-yard drive would be capped off with an eight-yard Jefferson touchdown run. Arkansas was back on top, 14-10. Cam Little would add a field goal on the following drive.
On the ensuing drive, Jefferson would move to 108 rushing yards on the game. He would become the first Arkansas quarterback with over 100 rushing yards in a game since Matt Jones in 2004.
Jefferson would be shaken up on a hit to the back forcing Malik Hornsby to enter the game. Hornsby would run for 32 yards to set up Sander's second touchdown of the afternoon. Arkansas had a 24-10 advantage.
With the Nittany Lions driving Joe Foucha would intercept Clifford in the endzone.
Even after changing quarterbacks, Penn State was unable to find any rhythm on offense.
Arkansas ran down the clock late in the fourth quarter, leading to a Razorback win 24-10.
Arkansas Razorbacks football is headed for a New Year's Day bowl game in Florida.
The Hogs will play in the Outback Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 1, 2022.
Here's what you need to know about the event.
TREYLON BURKS AND WHO ELSE? USA TODAY Sports Network 2021 All-SEC football team: Alabama and Georgia lead the way
Who is playing in the Outback Bowl?
The SEC's Arkansas Razorbacks will face the Big Ten's Penn State on Jan. 1, 2022. The game will kickoff at 10 a.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
Where is the Outback Bowl?
Raymond James Stadium and its cannons will host the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. This will be Arkansas' first appearance in the game.
What about tickets to the Outback Bowl?
Tickets can be purchased through the bowl game on Ticketmaster, and tickets start at $80 before fees.
Parking is first come, first serve at the stadium on game day, according to the bowl's website. Parking prices start at $35.
What else should I know?
In terms of the schedule of events, the two teams will arrive on Dec. 26 according to the team's website. The teams will hold a bowling event at Splitsville on Dec. 27, and will visit children at Tampa General Hospital on Dec. 28. One day later, the two teams will visit Busch Gardens theme park.
The full schedule of events can be found here.
On game day, expect the same clear bag policy that is consistent among NFL stadiums.
Arkansas Football, Sam Pittman (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
The Arkansas football team recorded a bowl win for the first time since 2015 when they defeated Penn State 24-10 in the 2022 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida on Jan. 1.
The Razorbacks came into the game having not participated in a bowl game since 2016’s Belk Bowl against Virginia Tech.
We’re taking a look at five takeaways from Arkansas’ final game of the 2021 season: a win over Penn State.
No 5. It was Montaric Brown’s final game as a Razorback
We didn’t know it at the time, but the star cornerback for the Hogs played his final game as a Razorback. After the Outback Bowl game, Montaric Brown announced that he will be entering the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brown, in a statement posted to his Twitter account and shared by the official page of the Razorback football team, said his time at Arkansas was both challenging and some of “the best times of my life.”
Next: Takeaway No. 4 and No. 3
Arkansas Football, Sam Pittman (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
The Arkansas football team recorded a bowl win for the first time since 2015 when they defeated Penn State 24-10 in the 2022 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida on Jan. 1.
The Razorbacks came into the game having not participated in a bowl game since 2016’s Belk Bowl against Virginia Tech.
We’re taking a look at five takeaways from Arkansas’ final game of the 2021 season: a win over Penn State.
No 5. It was Montaric Brown’s final game as a Razorback
We didn’t know it at the time, but the star cornerback for the Hogs played his final game as a Razorback. After the Outback Bowl game, Montaric Brown announced that he will be entering the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brown, in a statement posted to his Twitter account and shared by the official page of the Razorback football team, said his time at Arkansas was both challenging and some of “the best times of my life.”
Next: Takeaway No. 4 and No. 3
KJ Jefferson, Arkansas Football (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
No 4. KJ Jefferson will has a chance to be in the 2022 Heisman Trophy conversation
Jefferson put the team on his back to help propel them to victory over Penn State. The MVP of the Outback Bowl finished with 14/19 passing for 98 yards and an interception. He really shined on the ground game, going for 110 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Jefferson wasn’t able to rack up the kind of receiving yardage he normally does, because of several factors. Chief among those factors was the absence of Treylon Burks, who opted-out of the game to preserve and prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft.
No 3. Don’t panic about the wide receiver corp post-Treylon Burks
The wide receiving corp did not look very good in this game. They were not productive, but that’s ok. There were several factors that’s led to a poor showing from the receivers.
The Penn State passing defense was well prepared. No Razorback wide-out was able to record more than 3 catches in the game or accumulate more than 33 receiving yards.
The Hogs will be getting reinforcements next season from freshman and transfers, which you can read about here.
Next: Takeaways No. 2 and No. 1
Arkansas Football (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
No 2. The ground game will continue to be the focal point for Arkansas Football
The ground game looked as good as ever against the Nittany Lions. The Hogs have been deep at running back all year and will continue to rely on their depth to gain the upper hand on defenses.
Dominique Johnson, Raheim Sanders, KJ Jefferson and Trelon Smith all finished with 500 or more rushing yards on the season. All but Smith are expected to be back and contribute next season.
The Razorbacks will use a fantastic ground game to create open passing lanes for Jefferson to target. Once the receiving corp becomes a threat, the ground game will see bigger and bigger holes to break through.
No 1. Winning the 2022 Outback Bowl was a massive win for the culture of the football program
Winning the Outback Bowl is a boon for the program. It gets the team to nine wins on the season, something Arkansas hasn’t done in more than a decade.
The last time they got nine wins or more in a single season was 2011—Bobby Petrino’s final season as head coach.
For the first time in a long time, the college football world is buzzing about the culture that Sam Pittman has constructed in Fayetteville. It’s once again become a destination for top-tier talent.
And the fanbase is buzzing more than ever before.
Next: 5 football players who would be studs for the basketball team
>Page 2
KJ Jefferson, Arkansas Football (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
Jefferson put the team on his back to help propel them to victory over Penn State. The MVP of the Outback Bowl finished with 14/19 passing for 98 yards and an interception. He really shined on the ground game, going for 110 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Jefferson wasn’t able to rack up the kind of receiving yardage he normally does, because of several factors. Chief among those factors was the absence of Treylon Burks, who opted-out of the game to preserve and prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft.
No 3. Don’t panic about the wide receiver corp post-Treylon Burks
The wide receiving corp did not look very good in this game. They were not productive, but that’s ok. There were several factors that’s led to a poor showing from the receivers.
The Penn State passing defense was well prepared. No Razorback wide-out was able to record more than 3 catches in the game or accumulate more than 33 receiving yards.
The Hogs will be getting reinforcements next season from freshman and transfers, which you can read about here.
Next: Takeaways No. 2 and No. 1
Arkansas Football, Sam Pittman (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
The Arkansas football team recorded a bowl win for the first time since 2015 when they defeated Penn State 24-10 in the 2022 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida on Jan. 1.
The Razorbacks came into the game having not participated in a bowl game since 2016’s Belk Bowl against Virginia Tech.
We’re taking a look at five takeaways from Arkansas’ final game of the 2021 season: a win over Penn State.
No 5. It was Montaric Brown’s final game as a Razorback
We didn’t know it at the time, but the star cornerback for the Hogs played his final game as a Razorback. After the Outback Bowl game, Montaric Brown announced that he will be entering the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brown, in a statement posted to his Twitter account and shared by the official page of the Razorback football team, said his time at Arkansas was both challenging and some of “the best times of my life.”
Next: Takeaway No. 4 and No. 3
KJ Jefferson, Arkansas Football (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
No 4. KJ Jefferson will has a chance to be in the 2022 Heisman Trophy conversation
Jefferson put the team on his back to help propel them to victory over Penn State. The MVP of the Outback Bowl finished with 14/19 passing for 98 yards and an interception. He really shined on the ground game, going for 110 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Jefferson wasn’t able to rack up the kind of receiving yardage he normally does, because of several factors. Chief among those factors was the absence of Treylon Burks, who opted-out of the game to preserve and prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft.
No 3. Don’t panic about the wide receiver corp post-Treylon Burks
The wide receiving corp did not look very good in this game. They were not productive, but that’s ok. There were several factors that’s led to a poor showing from the receivers.
The Penn State passing defense was well prepared. No Razorback wide-out was able to record more than 3 catches in the game or accumulate more than 33 receiving yards.
The Hogs will be getting reinforcements next season from freshman and transfers, which you can read about here.
Next: Takeaways No. 2 and No. 1
Arkansas Football (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
No 2. The ground game will continue to be the focal point for Arkansas Football
The ground game looked as good as ever against the Nittany Lions. The Hogs have been deep at running back all year and will continue to rely on their depth to gain the upper hand on defenses.
Dominique Johnson, Raheim Sanders, KJ Jefferson and Trelon Smith all finished with 500 or more rushing yards on the season. All but Smith are expected to be back and contribute next season.
The Razorbacks will use a fantastic ground game to create open passing lanes for Jefferson to target. Once the receiving corp becomes a threat, the ground game will see bigger and bigger holes to break through.
No 1. Winning the 2022 Outback Bowl was a massive win for the culture of the football program
Winning the Outback Bowl is a boon for the program. It gets the team to nine wins on the season, something Arkansas hasn’t done in more than a decade.
The last time they got nine wins or more in a single season was 2011—Bobby Petrino’s final season as head coach.
For the first time in a long time, the college football world is buzzing about the culture that Sam Pittman has constructed in Fayetteville. It’s once again become a destination for top-tier talent.
And the fanbase is buzzing more than ever before.
Next: 5 football players who would be studs for the basketball team
>Page 3
Arkansas Football (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
The ground game looked as good as ever against the Nittany Lions. The Hogs have been deep at running back all year and will continue to rely on their depth to gain the upper hand on defenses.
Dominique Johnson, Raheim Sanders, KJ Jefferson and Trelon Smith all finished with 500 or more rushing yards on the season. All but Smith are expected to be back and contribute next season.
The Razorbacks will use a fantastic ground game to create open passing lanes for Jefferson to target. Once the receiving corp becomes a threat, the ground game will see bigger and bigger holes to break through.
No 1. Winning the 2022 Outback Bowl was a massive win for the culture of the football program
Winning the Outback Bowl is a boon for the program. It gets the team to nine wins on the season, something Arkansas hasn’t done in more than a decade.
The last time they got nine wins or more in a single season was 2011—Bobby Petrino’s final season as head coach.
For the first time in a long time, the college football world is buzzing about the culture that Sam Pittman has constructed in Fayetteville. It’s once again become a destination for top-tier talent.
And the fanbase is buzzing more than ever before.
Next: 5 football players who would be studs for the basketball team
Arkansas Football, Sam Pittman (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
The Arkansas football team recorded a bowl win for the first time since 2015 when they defeated Penn State 24-10 in the 2022 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida on Jan. 1.
The Razorbacks came into the game having not participated in a bowl game since 2016’s Belk Bowl against Virginia Tech.
We’re taking a look at five takeaways from Arkansas’ final game of the 2021 season: a win over Penn State.
No 5. It was Montaric Brown’s final game as a Razorback
We didn’t know it at the time, but the star cornerback for the Hogs played his final game as a Razorback. After the Outback Bowl game, Montaric Brown announced that he will be entering the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brown, in a statement posted to his Twitter account and shared by the official page of the Razorback football team, said his time at Arkansas was both challenging and some of “the best times of my life.”
Next: Takeaway No. 4 and No. 3
KJ Jefferson, Arkansas Football (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
No 4. KJ Jefferson will has a chance to be in the 2022 Heisman Trophy conversation
Jefferson put the team on his back to help propel them to victory over Penn State. The MVP of the Outback Bowl finished with 14/19 passing for 98 yards and an interception. He really shined on the ground game, going for 110 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Jefferson wasn’t able to rack up the kind of receiving yardage he normally does, because of several factors. Chief among those factors was the absence of Treylon Burks, who opted-out of the game to preserve and prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft.
No 3. Don’t panic about the wide receiver corp post-Treylon Burks
The wide receiving corp did not look very good in this game. They were not productive, but that’s ok. There were several factors that’s led to a poor showing from the receivers.
The Penn State passing defense was well prepared. No Razorback wide-out was able to record more than 3 catches in the game or accumulate more than 33 receiving yards.
The Hogs will be getting reinforcements next season from freshman and transfers, which you can read about here.
Next: Takeaways No. 2 and No. 1
Arkansas Football (Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
No 2. The ground game will continue to be the focal point for Arkansas Football
The ground game looked as good as ever against the Nittany Lions. The Hogs have been deep at running back all year and will continue to rely on their depth to gain the upper hand on defenses.
Dominique Johnson, Raheim Sanders, KJ Jefferson and Trelon Smith all finished with 500 or more rushing yards on the season. All but Smith are expected to be back and contribute next season.
The Razorbacks will use a fantastic ground game to create open passing lanes for Jefferson to target. Once the receiving corp becomes a threat, the ground game will see bigger and bigger holes to break through.
No 1. Winning the 2022 Outback Bowl was a massive win for the culture of the football program
Winning the Outback Bowl is a boon for the program. It gets the team to nine wins on the season, something Arkansas hasn’t done in more than a decade.
The last time they got nine wins or more in a single season was 2011—Bobby Petrino’s final season as head coach.
For the first time in a long time, the college football world is buzzing about the culture that Sam Pittman has constructed in Fayetteville. It’s once again become a destination for top-tier talent.
And the fanbase is buzzing more than ever before.
Next: 5 football players who would be studs for the basketball team
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