Saturday afternoon will feature a crucial Southeastern Conference matchup as the Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-4) visit the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-6) at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Both teams are eager to secure their first conference victory of the season.
Mississippi State is coming off a heartbreaking defeat, having relinquished a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter against then-No. 22 Texas, ultimately falling 45-38 in overtime. This loss marked the Bulldogs’ 16th consecutive defeat in SEC play. Quarterback Blake Shapen had an impressive outing, throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns, with two of those touchdowns going to Brenen Thompson. Running back Davon Booth also made significant contributions, rushing for 99 yards on 24 attempts and catching three passes for an additional 85 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the Bulldogs managed to sack Texas quarterback Arch Manning five times and recorded an interception by Kelley Jones.
On the other hand, Arkansas also faced disappointment last week, losing its sixth straight game to Auburn, which rallied for a 33-24 win. The Razorbacks initially took a lead following a thrilling 89-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kani Walker just before halftime. However, Auburn dominated the second half, scoring the final 17 points of the game. Despite throwing for 268 yards and a touchdown, Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green struggled with three interceptions, while his primary target, Rohan Jones, excelled with three receptions for 127 yards.
Historically, the Razorbacks have had the upper hand in this series, leading with a record of 19-14-1, including a strong 58-25 victory last season in Starkville that snapped a two-game losing streak against Mississippi State.
As the two teams gear up for this weekend’s game, fans can look forward to what promises to be an exciting showdown. Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM ET, and the action will be broadcast live on SEC Network, with streaming available on Fubo. Don’t miss this chance to witness what could be a turning point for either squad in the heated SEC competition.