FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Something we all anticipated, or at least hypothesized, would eventually happen did Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. And defensive coordinators on Alabama’s remaining schedule have now lost a few more hours of sleep for the future.

On the Crimson Tide’s third series against Arkansas, quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts were on the field together for back-to-back plays and at different positions both times. And 12th-year head coach Nick Saban said the plan was for the snap count to be higher.

“We had a few more things that we were going to do out of it, but we didn’t do it. That’s the way the game went,” Saban said after the 65-31 win. “But I think because of these two guys’ skill set, it could present some problems for defensive teams. That’s why we’re doing it.”

The first play saw Hurts join the formation as a slot receiver. After moving in motion, Tagovailoa handed the ball off to the junior, who turned it into a five-yard gain. On 2nd and 5, Hurts was behind center with Tagovailoa split out wide. Hurts took a direct snap 27 yards for a first down. According to senior tight end Hale Hentges, the plays were added to the playbook this week.

Jalen Hurts at QB.

Tua Tagovailoa at WR.



Alabama's offense is getting tricky. pic.twitter.com/qweuTYeWrr — ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) October 6, 2018

“That’s something where we have that capability to work on whenever, but that’s something that we just kind of put in to get Jalen in there, obviously, because he’s a great player,” Hentges said.

“We need him to win.”

Alabama’s offense had success running practically whatever it wanted Saturday against the Razorbacks. Its 639 yards in total offense marked the sixth time the Tide has topped 500 yards this season and the 18th time in the last 50 games dating to the start of the 2015 campaign. It is also Alabama’s first six-game run of 500-yard total offense performances in program history.

With Tagovailoa as its starting quarterback, four wide receivers that can take a five-yard slant to the house, two experienced tight ends -- one of which (Irv Smith Jr.) eclipsed 100 receiving yards Saturday -- and a full stable of running backs, the Crimson Tide was already had a lethal offense. This new wrinkle only adds to what arguably the best offense in college football.

“I don’t know exactly what they thought of it, but that was probably something they didn’t think was going to happen,” Hentges said. “That’s what makes our offense so good. There’s multiple ways to get people involved and many different ways we can try to catch people off guard and that’s what we’re trying to do under Coach (Mike) Locksley.”

Alabama will next host Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Bryant-Denny Stadium for a 6 p.m. kick.

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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