Arkansas Needs To Bench Quarterback Brandon Allen

The most experienced quarterback in the SEC right now is facing a tough situation. Arkansas veteran quarterback Brandon Allen is beginning to not look so much like a veteran after back to back losses to unranked opponents for the Hogs.

Allen has had a rough four years as a Razorback. He has gone through the worst times in Arkansas football history, and many fans are blaming it on his performance. Some fans even decided to take their frustration out on his truck, lighting it on fire after his poor performance in his sophomore year. But things were beginning to look up for him in his junior season, taking the Hogs to a 7-6 season, including a bowl win over Texas.

The main concern with Allen’s performance is that he is not able to finish out close games. In many occasions, any game where Arkansas is down in the fourth quarter, Allen has is not able to come through and save the day. Since head coach Bret Bielema‘s arrival, Arkansas is 1-13 in games where they trail in the fourth quarter. Most of those close games have ended with an Allen interception close to the endzone. The most recent came against Texas Tech in Week 3, where Allen subsequently under threw tight end Jeremy Sprinkle in the endzone on a Razorback third down, leading to a missed field goal and a Hog loss. Witnessing this trauma week after week, Hog fans are understandably fed up.

If the Hogs continue to have a mediocre season, benching Allen is not a bad choice. If worse comes to worse, there’s really nothing the Hogs can risk by doing just that. It might even benefit their quarterback battle that they have brewing in Fayetteville. Getting to see the other options behind center could potentially help Arkansas in the long run. There are backup options like Austin Allen, Brandon’s younger brother, who hasn’t gotten much playing time in his career at Arkansas and is projected to be the starter for the 2016 season. There is also Ty Storey, a true freshman who got a little playing time in the spring game.

The Hogs take on the tough Texas A&M next Saturday, and Brandon Allen will likely get another shot at making his mark. But as of right now, Hog fans have taken a stance. Brandon Allen needs to step up his game if he wants to keep a starting job at Arkansas.