AUBURN, Ala. — Ja'Quinden Jackson ran for two touchdowns, including the clincher with 3:38 left, and Arkansas capitalized on five Auburn turnovers to win the teams’ Southeastern Conference opener 24-14 on Saturday.
Taylen Green passed for 151 yards and a touchdown and ran for 80 yards for the Razorbacks (3-1), getting intercepted twice but also delivering a number of drive-saving runs and passes. Payton Thorne came off the bench for two second-half scoring passes to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the Tigers (2-2).
Auburn defensive back Champ Anthony was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury in the first quarter.
Anthony had an air cast on his left leg when he was taken off the field after being placed on a stretcher. ESPN opted to not show a replay of the injury.
The injury happened one play after Anthony's hit to the chest area knocked the helmet off Arkansas receiver Anthony Armstrong. Armstrong lay on the field before walking to the medical tent but returned soon after.
Auburn players ran across the field in support before Anthony was placed on the cart. He came into the game tied for third on the team with 12 tackles and had three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry in the game before the injury.
Anthony had five tackles last season after transferring from junior college.
Arkansas: It was a good way to start off SEC play for the Razorbacks and coach Sam Pittman, who went 1-7 in league games last season. TJ Metcalf had two interceptions and a touchdown-saving forced fumble for Arkansas.
Auburn: Hank Brown's three first-half interceptions show the Tigers may have no good answer at quarterback. Thorne, benched after throwing four interceptions in a loss to California, started the second half and also was picked off once on a deflected pass. His 67-yarder to Lambert-Smith in the fourth quarter cut it to 17-14.
Green converted a third-and-19 with a scramble and 58-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna with 2:03 left in the third quarter. Sategna leapt over a defender to grab the ball and a 14-7 lead.
The Razorbacks converted 9 of 19 third-down attempts and 2 of 4 fourth-down tries. Bobby Petrino's offense came in leading the nation in third-down conversion rate.
Auburn hosts No. 15 Oklahoma and Arkansas plays No. 25 Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas.