Texas Tech Safety CJ Baskerville Accuses Arkansas Lineman of Dirty Play

The fallout from the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, where Texas Tech lost to Arkansas 39-26, escalated on Saturday after a social media post from CJ Baskerville, a senior safety for Texas Tech. Baskerville accused Arkansas offensive lineman Fernando Carmona of intentionally attempting to injure him during a post-play altercation.

On X (formerly Twitter), Baskerville shared:

“There’s no denying that Arkansas played a great game last night, I am not taking that away from them. But #55 Fernando Carmona blatantly stepping on my ankle and pressing down on it on purpose is straight-up dirty. Proceeds to say ‘got your b**** a***.’ Do better @RazorbackFB.”

Baskerville included two video clips in his post, which appear to show Carmona stepping on his ankle and pressing down. The incident, which went unpenalized during the game, has drawn sharp criticism, with Baskerville calling for accountability from Arkansas Football and the SEC.

Key Players Involved

• CJ Baskerville (Texas Tech): A standout safety for the Red Raiders, Baskerville recorded 10 tackles against Arkansas and finished the season with 78 tackles and four interceptions, mirroring his performance from the previous year.
• Fernando Carmona (Arkansas): A redshirt junior lineman, Carmona started nine games this season and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice.

What’s Next?

While the incident didn’t result in a flag or immediate repercussions, the severity of Baskerville’s accusation could prompt a review from the SEC or Arkansas officials. Baskerville emphasized the need for fair play, stating there’s “no place” for such actions in football.

As the story develops, fans and analysts alike are calling for greater scrutiny of on-field conduct to ensure player safety remains a top priority.