Arkansas (4-2, 2-2 SEC) at Mississippi State (1-6, 0-4), Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET (SEC).
BetMGM College Sports Odds: Arkansas by 6 1/2.
Series: Arkansas leads 18-15-1.
The Razorbacks aim to rebound after losing two of their last three games against ranked opponents, including a 34-10 defeat at home to No. 8 LSU. Meanwhile, Mississippi State (MSU) is still searching for its first SEC win, coming off a sixth straight loss last week against No. 14 Texas A&M. This will be MSU’s first game against an unranked opponent in over a month, having also fallen to top-ranked Texas and then-No. 5 Georgia. The Bulldogs have won seven of the last 10 matchups, including a 7-3 victory last year in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Arkansas enters the game with the SEC’s fourth-best offense, averaging 455.3 yards per game, but managed just 277 yards on 50 plays against LSU—22 plays below their average, which is significant for a team that thrives on running a lot of plays and maintaining offensive balance. The Razorbacks could see an opportunity to improve their numbers against MSU’s defense, which ranks last in the SEC, allowing 449.7 yards per game. However, MSU showed some resilience, holding Texas to 353 yards and intercepting two passes. Takeaways have been a highlight for the Bulldogs, with a plus-2 turnover margin, picking off Georgia and Texas A&M twice in their last two games. This presents a chance against an Arkansas team that ranks second-to-last in the SEC with a minus-5 turnover margin.
Arkansas running back Ja’Quinden Jackson is second in the SEC with 10 rushing touchdowns and ranks fourth with 592 rushing yards. The Utah transfer is the first Razorback since Knile Davis in 2010 to record a rushing touchdown in six consecutive games, with three of those games featuring multiple scores.
Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. has thrown a league-high six touchdown passes this month. The freshman is also the first Bulldogs quarterback since Dak Prescott in 2014 to have multiple touchdown passes in back-to-back games against ranked opponents. He has completed 56% of his passes for 792 yards, including 692 yards on 60% accuracy in his three starts since taking over for the injured Blake Shapen.
The teams have split 16 games in Starkville, with Mississippi State winning 40-17 two years ago. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green has accounted for 1,741 of his 2,057 yards of offense and six of his 10 touchdowns. Razorbacks linebacker Xavian Sorey is 10th in the SEC with 49 tackles, while Doneiko Slaughter ranks 14th with 45. Mississippi State safety Isaac Smith is tied for the SEC lead with 68 tackles and ranks 10th in FBS.