The Arkansas Razorbacks are in a familiar position needing an unfamiliar result.
Despite losing quarterback Brandon Allen and running back Alex Collins from last year's team that capped an 8-5 season with a drubbing of Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl, the Razorbacks have continued their ascent under fourth-year coach Bret Bielema entering this week's game against Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium near Dallas. Arkansas has yet to defeat Kevin Sumlin's Aggies since Texas A&M joined the Southeastern Conference in 2012, with each loss somehow topping the previous year in the heartache department.
"It's a game that has not gone well for us, and our guys are wired into that," Bielema said this week in a news conference. "It should be a lot of fun."
The No. 17 Razorbacks (3-0, 0-0) and No. 10 Aggies (3-0, 1-0) are former Southwest Conference programs meeting for the 73rd time, but it's the first matchup of undefeated teams in this rivalry since 1927.
Texas A&M was thriving and Arkansas reeling in 2012, when quarterback Johnny Manziel led the Aggies to a 58-10 blowout of the Razorbacks, but the Hogs were competitive a year later in Bielema's first season, losing a 45-33 shootout. The last two meetings were decided in a single overtime, with Texas A&M winning 35-28 two years ago and 28-21 last season.
The Razorbacks led 28-14 two years ago in the fourth quarter and were up 21-13 late last season until a 63-yard pass from Kyle Allen to Josh Reynolds set up a tying touchdown and two-point conversion. Texas A&M has outscored Arkansas 29-7 during the fourth quarter of the past three meetings.
"We've lost it, but they've earned it," Bielema said. "The one thing I've said all along is that you earn everything, and we just haven't been able to close this baby out."
Brandon Allen never tasted a victory against the Aggies, so now his younger brother will take a crack at it.
Austin Allen, a 6-foot-1, 209-pound redshirt junior from Fayetteville, threw just three passes last year in relief of his sibling but leads the SEC in efficiency (160.9) through three games this season. He has completed 53 of 79 attempts for 655 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions, with his 67.1-percent completion clip also leading the league.
There already is a gut-check test Allen has passed, as he led the Razorbacks from a late 28-20 deficit at TCU to a 34-31 overtime victory on Sept. 10, and that could serve as a confidence boost heading into Saturday night.
"I've just got to go in prepared like I have the first three weeks," Allen said in a news conference. "I know the speed of the game is going to pick up a little bit, but I'll just do what I've always done and prepare and really leave no stone unturned in the preparation."
The Razorbacks have the top quarterback-tailback statistical combination so far in the SEC, with sophomore tailback Rawleigh Williams III ranking third in the league with 354 rushing yards and 118 per game. Williams had a 100-yard rushing game last season at Tennessee and scored the touchdown that gave the Hogs their 21-13 lead over Texas A&M, but his year was cut short by a neck injury in the seventh game against Auburn.
Arkansas has its highest ranking since September 2012, when the program suffered a free-fall following the firing of Bobby Petrino for off-the-field issues. A win this week would produce the first 4-0 start for the Razorbacks since 2003.
Also at stake could be the program that emerges as Alabama's chief challenger this season in the SEC West.
"It should be fun," Bielema said. "I think, as a program, that we've gotten better every week."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.