Arkansas @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2015 ) Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 21

The SEC West figures to go through No. 1 Alabama again this season, but both Texas A&M and Arkansas plan to be in the thick of the race. One of those teams will make an early statement in that regard when the 13th-ranked Aggies host the 18th-ranked Razorbacks in the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday.

Arkansas is playing its SEC opener while Texas A&M got that out of the way last weekend with a 29-16 triumph at Auburn that featured an improved defense and an offense that struggled in the red zone. "Fortunately, we won on the road in the SEC," Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin told reporters. "But we recognize there's a whole lot of football to be played." The Razorbacks won their first two games by a total of four points - including a thrilling 41-38 triumph at TCU in Week 2 - and finally gave their fans a chance to take a breath in the fourth quarter during last week's 42-3 demolition of Texas State. "I’m excited to see where we’re at in SEC play," Arkansas coach Bret Bielema told reporters after win. "Obviously we’ll turn the page, like I said, pretty quickly tomorrow and focus on A&M and (I) really can’t wait to get on that plane and get over there."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Texas A&M -6

ABOUT ARKANSAS (3-0, 0-0 SEC): First-year starter Austin Allen has quickly established himself as a solid quarterback for the Razorbacks and passed for a career-high 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Texas State after totaling four scores (three passing, one rushing) the previous week. Allen is getting plenty of support from the ground game and sophomore Rawleigh Williams III, who has rushed for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Defensive ends Jeremiah Ledbetter and Deatrich Wise Jr. recorded at least a half-sack in each of the first three games to lead the defensive line.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (3-0, 1-0): The Aggies are breaking in their own first-year starter at quarterback in Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight, who has yet to complete 60 percent of his passes in a game and went 20-of-40 at Auburn without an interception. Knight is also helping out with 151 yards and three TDs on the ground but the star of the rushing attack is freshman Trayveon Williams, who needed only eight attempts to churn out 127 yards and a TD last week. Star defensive lineman Myles Garrett got off to a bit of a slow start in the first two games but recorded a pair of sacks at Auburn to lead the defense.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas A&M has taken four straight in the series, including a 28-21 overtime triumph in Arlington, Texas, last season.

2. The Razorbacks have won three straight games against ranked teams on the road.

3. Aggies WR Josh Reynolds needs 22 yards to reach 2,000 for his career.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 24, Texas A&M 21