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If Ryan Mallett decides to turn pro this year, his last pass in college will be one he would rather forget.
Mallett capped a 277-yard, two-touchdown performance with a stunning interception deep in Ohio State territory in the final minute, dooming Arkansas to a 31-26 loss in the Sugar Bowl on Tuesday night.
''It was a tough play. It's not the way you want to end the year, obviously,'' Mallett said. ''I haven't thought about my future. This hurts as a team. We've been so close all year and we're going to continue to be that way. We're going to come back swinging and get ready to take another shot at the BCS.''
Whether they take another shot with Mallett under center remains to be seen. Mallett passed for a Southeastern Conference-leading 3,592 yards and 30 touchdowns - 2,366 yards and 16 TDS in SEC games only - during the regular season. With his strong arm, pocket awareness and ability to make difficult throws to a range of spots on the field, he is widely regarded as a player that would be a high first-round choice should he enter the NFL draft.
After the Sugar Bowl, however, his thoughts were focused on his disappointment over how one of the biggest games of his college career, if not the last one, had ended.
Arkansas was only 18 yards from a go-ahead touchdown after the Razorbacks had pulled off a dramatic blocked punt with about a minute to go.
The stage was set for Mallett to lead Arkansas to a victory in its first BCS bowl.
Then, on the second play of the drive, Ohio State came with an unconventional blitz in which defensive end Solomon Thomas backpedaled into coverage instead of joining the pass rush.
Looking to unload the ball quickly, Mallett tried to zip a short pass in the right flat to Jarious Wright. Thomas undercut Wright's route and snagged the game-sealing interception.
Mallett threw down his hands in disgust as Ohio State players celebrated wildly.
''I didn't see the guy,'' Mallett said. ''I tried to get rid of it quick. They had pressure coming. I didn't see him. He made a great play.''
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino was quick to defend Mallett after the interception.
''He did exactly what he was coached to do,'' Petrino said. ''The only difference is when they blitzed, they clicked out a lineman that he did not see.''
Petrino praised Mallett for the way he endured heavy pressure, shook off four sacks and numerous dropped passes by his normally reliable receivers, and nearly led Arkansas back to victory from a deficit that was as large as 28-7 in the first half.
Mallett was 24 of 47 and did not throw an interception until the end. His first touchdown pass was a 17-yarder to Joe Adams. He nearly connected with Adams for a second touchdown, but the receiver could not hold on in the end zone.
''We had opportunities to make plays and we didn't,'' Mallett said.
Mallett's second pass was a soft, 22-yard timing pass that hit Wright in stride in the end zone, pulling Arkansas to 31-21.
After the game, Petrino took a moment to thank the quarterback he lured to Fayetteville, Ark., as a transfer from Michigan for his role in making Arkansas one of the top teams in one of the best conferences in the nation.
''You really can't say enough about what Ryan's done for this program,'' Petrino said. ''You know, we kind of came in together. We went through that first year and he was redshirting and we were not a very good football team.
''Then this year we competed right there with every single team we played and won 10 games,'' Petrino added. ''So Ryan's done an unbelievable job with his leadership, his competitive spirit. He lifts everybody around him to compete and play better.''
