MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a fitting conclusion to the 2015 season, a gritty effort was not good enough for Kansas State as the Wildcats fell to Arkansas, 45-23, in the 57th AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
K-State (6-7) went to Memphis on a three-game win streak and with its sights set on securing a winning season. But the Wildcats, who were shorthanded all year, ran into a more athletic version of themselves and could do little to slow down the Razorback offense once they fell behind.
Unlike many of K-State’s recent bowl games, a slow start was not the problem. Elijah Lee intercepted Arkansas’ Brandon Allen on the first possession of the game. Minutes later, Winston Dimel scored from nine yards out to put K-State in front.
From that point on, getting stops against one the nation’s most dynamic offense was almost impossible for a team missing starters Duke Shelley and Will Geary, who were held out for undisclosed reasons.
Arkansas scored 24 points in the first half, while the Wildcats countered with only a pair of field goals.
The Razorbacks (8-5) were paced by running back Alex Collins, who had 185 yards and three scores on the day.
K-State refused to go quietly, however. Kody Cook, who got the start at quarterback over Joe Hubener, hit a wide-open Dimel for a 48-yard touchdown to open the third quarter. Entering the final 15 minutes, the Wildcats trailed 31-23.
But Arkansas’ offensive line, which is the biggest in all of football, wore down K-State’s shorthanded defense when it mattered. The Hogs could not be stopped on third downs in the final quarter as Arkansas pulled away with a pair of 4th quarter touchdowns.
Cook completed 12 of 24 passes for 163 yards and Charles Jones added a team-best 40 rushing yards on just six carries. But extending drives was a constant problem, which allowed Arkansas to hold possession for almost two-thirds of the game.
The loss handed the Wildcats their first losing season since 2008. It was also K-State’s seventh bowl loss in its last eight attempts.
