FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Interstat) — In a game that defied pregame projections, the Missouri Tigers capitalized on a dominant ground attack and a pivotal special teams touchdown to defeat the Arkansas Razorbacks 31 to 17 on Saturday at Razorback Stadium.

The victory improved Missouri’s record to 8-4, concluding its regular season on a high note, while Arkansas finished its campaign at 2-10.

The contest unfolded in stark contrast to expectations, as Arkansas had been installed as a 3.5-point favorite by oddsmakers, and Interstat’s game simulator had projected a Razorbacks victory. Instead, Missouri’s offense, led by a relentless rushing duo, controlled the tempo for much of the afternoon.

Missouri set the tone immediately, needing just four plays to find the end zone on the game’s opening drive. Quarterback Beau Pribula, a York, Pennsylvania, native, ignited the possession with a 49-yard run, and Jamal Roberts of St. Louis, Missouri, capped it with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Arkansas responded with a methodical 16-play, 80-yard drive that consumed over half of the first quarter. Quarterback KJ Jackson from Montgomery, Alabama, finished the series with a 16-yard touchdown pass to even the score.

The momentum swung violently back to Arkansas early in the second quarter. On a first-down play from their own 46, Pribula was stripped of the ball on a run. Arkansas linebacker Bradley Shaw of Hoover, Alabama, scooped the fumble and returned it 32 yards for a defensive touchdown, giving the Razorbacks their first and only lead at 14-7.

Unfazed, the Tigers engineered a 10-play, 75-yard answering drive. Pribula, showcasing his dual-threat ability, finished it with an 11-yard touchdown run to tie the game once again.

After forcing an Arkansas punt, Missouri’s offense drove into field goal range late in the first half. However, a botched snap resulted in a 31-yard loss and a turnover on downs, giving Arkansas the ball at the Missouri 22 with 32 seconds remaining. The Razorbacks capitalized with a 28-yard field goal from Scott Starzyk of The Woodlands, Texas, to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.

The Tigers reclaimed the lead for good on their first possession of the second half. On the fifth play of the drive, running back Ahmad Hardy from Monticello, Mississippi, broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Missouri with a 20-17 advantage.

The game’s decisive blow came early in the fourth quarter. After an Arkansas three-and-out, punter Devin Bale of La Jolla, California, sent a 49-yard punt to Missouri’s Kevin Coleman Jr. The Saint Louis native fielded the kick at his own 33, found a seam, and exploded for a 67-yard punt return touchdown. A successful two-point conversion extended the Tigers’ lead to 28-17.

Missouri added a 41-yard field goal from Owen Robbins later in the quarter to provide the final margin.

The Tigers’ offense was powered by its backfield. Ahmad Hardy amassed a staggering 157 rushing yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Jamal Roberts complemented him with 100 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts. Quarterback Beau Pribula, while attempting only seven passes, was a constant threat with his legs, rushing for 78 yards and a score.

Defensively, Missouri was led by linebacker Josiah Trotter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who recorded 10 tackles and a sack. The Tigers’ defense also sacked Arkansas quarterbacks six times, with Chris McClellan of Tulsa, Oklahoma, notching two.

For Arkansas, the quarterback duo of KJ Jackson and Taylen Green of Lewisville, Texas, combined for 185 passing yards but could not consistently sustain drives against the Missouri pressure. Jackson also threw the game’s only touchdown pass. Defensively, linebacker Larry Worth III of Baldwin, Florida, stood out with a game-high 10 tackles.

The loss concluded a difficult season for Arkansas, which lost six games by a single score or less. Missouri, meanwhile, secured its eighth win, positioning itself for a bowl game invitation.