Greatest single game passing performances in Razorback Football history

With the Razorbacks moving back to more of a pro-style approach on offense with new coordinator, Dan Enos, I thought it would be a god time to look back at a few of the greatest passing performances in Arkansas history.

There will likely be a couple of names that are duplicated and many of them have happened since the 2009 season when Bobby Petrino implemented his high octane offense to a new level with Ryan Mallett. Here are the top performances by a Razorback quarterback:

2016 Austin Allen vs. Alabama 400 yards, 3 touchdowns

This was the game in retrospect that if Arkansas won it would’ve done wonders for Bret Bielema and the Hogs. There likely wouldn’t have been a 56-3 shellacking to Auburn either.

The Razorback offense was eating throughout the game and were virtually unstoppable through the air. There were a couple of miscues during the game including a 100-yard pick six off Allen. However, the younger brother fought hard in defeat. Allen finished 25-48 for 400 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

If Bielema had decided to go more uptempo and less huddle the game might’ve had a different outcome. But, this was a very good performance.

2015 Brandon Allen vs Mississpippi State 406  yards, 7 touchdowns

Another incredible performance in a loss. That’s definitely something that marked Bielema’s tenure at Arkansas, right?

Deciding to kick a field goal while your quarterback was fiery hot and automatic all night? That’s insanity! That’s Bielema ball though. A lot of close losses but dumb decisions cost the Hogs a shot at a New Year’s bowl game.

Allen finished the night 30-43 for 406 yards, seven touchdowns and zero turnovers.

2009 Ryan Mallett vs Georgia 408 yards, 5 touchdowns

How come the first three performances came in losing style? This was another one of those games where Arkansas had control but just couldn’t overcome a miscue or two.

At the time of Mallet’s record breaking performance he set two school records for Razorbacks, throwing for 408 yards and five touchdowns.

The game went wide open after the Razorbacks allowed an 80-yard touchdown by Georgia running back Richard Samuel.

Memorable touchdowns like a pair of Greg Childs touchdowns and acrobatic catch by Joe Adams gave Razorback fans hope with a sophisticated offensive moving forward.

2010 Ryan Mallett vs Vanderbilt 409 yards, 3 touchdowns

In a game that Arkansas was heavily favored in they looked to be off sync as they trailed by a touchdown after one.

Ultimately, the Razorbacks took care of business scoring 43 straight points to rout the Commodores. Even without some of his top targets. Joe Adams and Greg Childs missed most of the matchup due to injury. While Jarius Wright took a big blow and sat for a brief period of time.

Even without his best weapons Mallett was still able to put together a school record breaking performance going 27-44 for 409 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers.

2012 Tyler Wilson vs Rutgers 419 yards, 3 touchdowns

20-39 for 419 yards and three touchdowns.

Thats usually enough for a Razorback victory.

There was also a SEC receiving record broken as Cobi Hamilton recorded 10 catches for 303 yards and three touchdowns.

Arkansas dropped this game 35-26 and lost the road game with Rutgers the next season.

2015 Brandon Allen vs Ole Miss 442 yards, 6 touchdowns

This performance is often overshadowed by the 4th and 25 “Henry Heave” and that’s not a bad thing either. On a cold November evening the Razorbacks faced off with a Rebels team in Oxford who had their eyes set on their first SEC Championship Game appearance.

In the all-time classic Arkansas and Ole Miss exchanged four leads and seven lead changes. Allen three for a career high 442-yards and six touchdowns before being asked to execute a gutsy two-point conversion attempt.

Allen, in the shotgun, rolled to his right retreating before being brought down which looked to be the game ending play. However, Ole Miss’ celebration was silenced as an official called a face mask penalty.

The conversion was attempted again as Allen ran off the right tackle and pushed into the endzone for the game winning play.

The fighting senior quarterback put an exclamation mark on his season going 33-45 for 442 yards, six touchdowns and no turnovers.

2011 Tyler Wilson vs Texas A&M 510 yards, 3 touchdowns

Call it lazy but there’s no way to simply describe the massive comeback by Arkansas.

Wilson was terrific and an all-time performance by Wright that day surely helped. The 510 yards thrown by Wilson that day can likely be surpassed one day but for now it is the best in program history.