[College Sports News]

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Ben Tate rushed for a career-high 184 yards and two touchdowns for No. 17 Auburn, but Arkansas defeated the Tigers 44-23 to hand Auburn its first loss of the season before 72,599 in Reynolds Razorback Stadium Saturday.

Arkansas' Ryan Mallett threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another while Michael Smith rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown. It was the second consecutive game Tate rushed for over 100 yards, and marked Auburn's first loss in Fayetteville since 2001.

Trailing 34-3 with 7:56 to go in the third quarter, Auburn (5-1, 2-1) scored 20 straight points on three touchdowns in 5:05 to make it a game at 34-23 with nine seconds to go in the third quarter, a quarter in which the Tigers gained 248 yards total offense.

Tate scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 34-10 with 5:14 to go in the third quarter after Auburn drove 67 yards in eight plays in 2:42. The Tigers then made Arkansas (3-2, 1-2) go three and out to set up a career-long 60-yard Tate touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage to draw Auburn to within 34-16 with 3:52 left in the third. It was Auburn's second touchdown in only 1:22. The Tigers' pass failed for the two point conversion.

Arkansas Hands Auburn First Loss of the Season, 44-23