Three Keys To Success For Arkansas Versus Mississippi State 

It is week ten of the Arkansas football season. With this, the Razorbacks enter the week riding the back of a six-game losing streak and looking to win for the first time in SEC play. Coming to town is the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who are looking for their first win in conference play in 16 attempts. Who would have thought Fayetteville was hosting a bowl game in 2025? We coined it the “Bottom Dweller Bowl”. In the end, someone will win, and we at Last Word will provide three keys to Arkansas’s success.

Can Arkansas start the game with a small win? The first key to success is the win the toss and take the ball. If so, it will immediately break a trend for the Bulldogs. Under Jeff Lebby, State has started the game on offense in 19 of the 20 games. To further this, Mississippi State has received the kickoff in 23 of its last 24 contests. On the season, the Bulldogs are an even 10-10 on the coin toss. An Arkansas coin toss win, combined with taking the ball wins early.

On the season, Arkansas is 2-4 in this scenario, including the most recent against Auburn. As a team and offense, they need something positive early on Saturday. No better way than potentially taking an early lead on the Bulldogs. At this point in the season, fans need to find these small wins along the way to remain mentally stable. While it is even a small victory, it is what it takes to gain some success.

We spoke about the offense needing something positive. Ok, fine. The second key to success for Arkansas is to maintain ball possession, also known as stopping the turnovers. In a common theme of the Bobby Petrino return, this program has ball possession issues, to say the least. This season, Arkansas has already committed 15 turnovers (seven fumbles, four interceptions), which is not a recipe for success. In total, Arkansas opponents have scored 42 points off these turnovers.

To make this even worse, turning teams over is a defensive Mississippi State staple. Last season, this unit created 12 turnovers on the season. This trend has continued into 2025, with the Bulldogs having 14 on the year. To get detailed, State has eleven interceptions, 8th-best nationally, along with three fumbles this season. The total takeaways are tied for 16th-best in the nation. In order to have a remote chance at success, Arkansas has to break its own trend, turnovers.

How do you slow down a talented quarterback? Get pressure, and make him uncomfortable. This is what the final key to success for Arkansas will be. If the Hogs get pressure, mistakes can be made by the Bulldogs. On the season, Arkansas has 14 sacks, which is 82nd in the nation. The team is led by Quincy Rhodes, with five sacks, and he will be a crucial key to the team’s success.

What may help this is that Mississippi State struggles in this area. On the season, the Bulldogs have allowed 27 sacks. This is 14th in the SEC and 128th in the country, which is terrible. An average of 3.4 allowed per game may benefit this struggling Arkansas defense. Can this defense win a game for the Hogs? For them to have a chance, pressure on what we assume will be Blake Shapen. In the end, this final key to success may in fact be the deciding factor in a win or loss for Arkansas.

In closing, this game has many keys to success for both programs. Of them, these three we have laid out will be vital for success on the Arkansas side. If executed well, the talk could shift from “Another loss” to “We finally won,” which is what is needed. Anything positive is needed. If not, another loss continues bleeding that may not stop at this point.

Main Photo: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images