Miami dominated the statistics, with advantages of 26-6 in first downs and 438-186 in total yards.
But the Razorbacks, playing a top 20 team for the first team this season, stopped Miami on downs twice inside their 30-yard line, and an 80-yard touchdown run by Arkansas' Barry Foster helped keep the score close.
"Hopefully, this game will show college football that Arkansas is for real," Foster said. "Hopefully, it will give us some respect among the top teams in college football."
The Cotton Bowl-bound Razorbacks fell to 10-1, while Miami, which will play Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, stayed in contention for the national championship by improving to 9-1.
"About the only time we were enthusiastic was at the end of the game," Hurricanes coach Jimmy Johnson said. "I've been screaming and hollering at them all week, telling them that Arkansas is a better team than 51-7. But they just weren't listening to me."
Miami's defense finally took charge in the fourth quarter, holding Arkansas to minus-14 yards and no first downs.
Huerta's field goal, his third, capped a 10-play, 74-yard drive. Arkansas' Steve Atwater dropped a potential interception in the end zone one play before the kick.
"It was a little high, but I should have had it," Atwater said. "There are no excuses. We had chances to win the game. We just didn't capitalize."
Two trick plays in the first quarter helped the Hurricanes score their only touchdown. On fourth and 1 at the Miami 46, Maurice Crum ran 9 yards on a fake punt. The Hurricanes faked an end-around on the next play, and quarterback Steve Walsh threw long to Dale Dawkins for a 44-yard gain to the Arkansas 1.
Cleveland Gary dove over on the next play for the touchdown.
Walsh completed 33 of 50 passes for 361 yards. The completion total broke the school record of 31 Walsh set earlier this season against Michigan.
But Walsh failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season, and the Hurricanes' point total was their lowest since a 14-10 loss to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl two seasons ago.
"Defensively, our effort was as good as any we've had in the five years I've been at Arkansas," coach Ken Hatfield said.
"We came down here with a chance to win the national championship, even though no one gave us a chance at that. If we had won this game, I'd be fighting to say our team is as deserving of No. 1 as anybody."
