LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – JaMarcus Russell threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 9 LSU held off No. 5 Arkansas 31-26 Friday, derailing the Razorbacks’ slim national title hopes.

Arkansas was No. 6 in the BCS standings, but the Razorbacks hoped to jump with wins over the Tigers (10-2, 6-2) and next week against Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game.

Arkansas pulled within five at 31-26 on Felix Jones’ 5-yard touchdown run with 4:53 remaining, and the Razorbacks (10-2, 7-1) got the ball back at their own 27 with 2:04 to play. But Casey Dick threw four straight incompletions, completing a miserable 3-for-17 day in which he passed for only 29 yards.

Darren McFadden rushed for 182 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. That made it 24-19, but LSU’s Trindon Holliday returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown with 10:14 remaining.

The Razorbacks appeared unstoppable early, driving 80 yards in 2:30 and taking a 6-0 lead on McFadden’s 1-yard run. Arkansas was the first team this season to score on its first drive against LSU.

But Jeremy Davis missed the extra point, and the Tigers went ahead later in the quarter on Keiland Williams’ 29-yard scoring run. LSU never relinquished its lead.


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