Kansas State vs. Arkansas: Score and Reaction for 2016 Liberty Bowl

The Arkansas Razorbacks ended their season on a high note Saturday, knocking off the Kansas State Wildcats, 45-23, in the 2016 Liberty Bowl.

It's been a slow process for Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema, but his program has improved in each of the last two years after a three-win campaign in 2013. The Razorbacks' eight wins this season represent their best mark since 2011.

The difference proved to be in the red zone. Arkansas converted its six trips inside Kansas State's 20-yard line into five touchdowns. The Wildcats scored one touchdown on four trips to the red zone with three field goals.

According to David Scott Fritchen of Rivals.com, the 22-point margin of defeat is one of the worst for Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder in a bowl game:

Arkansas' high-powered offense had no problems solving Kansas State's overmatched defense. The Razorbacks finished with 569 total yards, led by running back Alex Collins, who capped off his best season with 185 yards and three touchdowns.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Collins' third rushing touchdown of the game broke the school's single-season record:

The records didn't stop there for Collins. He passed the century mark for the 10th time this season, tying Darren McFadden for the most in school history, according to Thomas Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Collins, a junior, hasn't announced whether he will enter the NFL draft, though his stock is climbing enough to make it an enticing option. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. listed the Arkansas standout as the sixth-best draft-eligible running back Dec. 17. 

ESPN's Greg Ostendorf provided Arkansas fans with a simple message regarding Collins:

Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen also fared well with 315 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. David Bazzel of 103.7 The Fan in Little Rock, Arkansas, noted how impressive Allen looked despite not playing in a game since the regular season ended Nov. 27:

Allen's season was often erratic, with some brilliant performances mixed in. He threw for a total of 13 touchdowns with 848 passing yards in two games against Mississippi and Mississippi State.

The problem was his play in games against LSU and Missouri, when he threw for a combined 243 passing yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Allen is a senior who has played his final game at Arkansas, so he couldn't have picked a stronger note to go out on.

Things were not all roses for Arkansas, though. There was a scary incident involving wide receiver Dominique Reed, who was carted off the field after taking a direct hit to his head and neck area late in the second quarter. 

ESPN sideline reporter Dawn Davenport said on the television broadcast (via SportsCenter on Twitter) that Reed was awake and had movement in his fingers.

Looking for a spark entering the game, Kansas State made changes to the offense. Wide receiver Kody Cook earned the start at quarterback in place of Joe Hubener. The senior didn't fare well, going for 163 passing yards, 19 rushing yards and one passing touchdown.

The Wildcats defense struggled all season, ranking 77th in points allowed per game, and those problems were evident against Arkansas. One bright spot was defensive end Jordan Willis, prompting an amusing response from Brandon Chatmon of ESPN.com:

The lack of a defensive presence outside of Willis put a lot of pressure on the offense to perform. Unfortunately the burden on Cook's shoulders was too great. Running back Charles Jones did his best with 40 rushing yards, though he was limited to six carries.

Snyder deserves credit for getting his team to a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season, especially after it looked buried during a six-game losing streak. They rallied to win their final three games to become bowl-eligible.

Jeff Rosen of the Kansas City Star took a big-picture look at what Snyder has been able to accomplish with Kansas State:

Sometimes the marriage between a head coach and program works for whatever reason. Snyder has led the Wildcats to 17 bowl appearances in his 24-year career, compared to one for the 21 other men who have coached the team since 1912, according to Sports-Reference.com.

Snyder has work to do before the Wildcats can become a Top 25 program again, but his extensive resume makes it easy to think he can lead a quick turnaround despite the disappointing finish this year. 

Bielema may have to replace several key pieces, notably Collins, but reinforcements are on the way, with 247Sports ranking Arkansas' 2016 recruiting class 24th overall. 

The SEC is always difficult to break through because programs such as Alabama, LSU, Florida and Georgia can recruit at a high level, but Arkansas has a strong foundation in place thanks to Bielema.

Postgame Reaction

Starting with the foundation and future, Bielema started his postgame press conference by saying he felt "blessed to be in this position and excited about the future," per Kyle Deckelbaum of KATV-7 in Little Rock. 

Bielema expanded a little on why things are looking up for Arkansas, per Deckelbaum:

Bielema also provided an update on Reed, saying the wideout "was knocked out but he is alive and well. He was in the locker room with us after the game, smiling," per Deckelbaum. 

Focusing on Collins, Allen and offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola had high praise for the star running back, per Deckelbaum:

Allen got the chance to sound off about how far this Razorbacks team has come during his stint with the school, per Deckelbaum:

As for Allen's future, per Bo Mattingly of the Sports Talk with Bo radio show, Bielema said he will meet with his superstar in February before any decision is made about the NFL. 

Collins did take a moment to praise the job his team did in never falling to adversity this season, per Deckelbaum:

Snyder was quick to complement Allen's performance, as well, per Mattingly:

As for the view from his sideline, per Kellis Robinett of the Wichita Eagle, Snyder said he and his coaches "put players in bad positions throughout" the game. 

Despite putting this game and the way his team played on himself, Snyder didn't completely dismiss the job done by Arkansas, per Mattingly:

Snyder has not made any definitive statements about his future, though he told Robinett (per Fox Sports) on Dec. 8 there was "no reason not to" coach in 2016. He's a legendary figure in Wildcats history and deserves a better ending than this one. 

The Razorbacks' ceiling for next season will be determined in February with national signing day and Collins' decision. It's a huge moment for a program on the rise in the SEC, though Bielema's continued improvement is reason enough to think they will be a postseason staple.