Arkansas loses against Ole Miss, ranked No. 19

Fayetteville, Arkansas – The Razorbacks lost to No. 19 Ole Miss 63-31 on Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, meaning Arkansas will have to wait another week to try to earn bowl eligibility.

The Rebels (7-2, 3-2 SEC) ended a five-game losing streak in Fayetteville, and the Hogs (5-4, 3-3 SEC) never had a lead. Since head coach Sam Pittman took control in 2020, Arkansas’ record versus Ole Miss is presently 2-3. The Razorbacks had a terrible first quarter.

Taylen Green, the quarterback, forced a turnover on downs, and Arkansas grabbed control at its own one-yard line. Green fumbled after a sack, but the Rebels recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown, ending the drive.

After missing a few plays due to a leg injury sustained early in the first quarter, Green came back to finish 10-of-14 (71%) for 158 yards. In the third quarter, he was substituted by backup quarterback Malachi Singleton after adding 16 rushing yards on 10 carries.

With 3:19 remaining in the first quarter, kicker Matthew Shipley of Arkansas made a career-long 55-yard field goal on their subsequent possession to reduce Ole Miss’s lead to 7-3. Since Cam Little’s 56-yard field goal against the Rebels in 2023, it was the longest field goal made by a Razorback kicker.

With 21 consecutive points in the second quarter, Ole Miss put the pressure on. The Rebels led 28-3 with 10:07 remaining in the first half after quarterback Jaxson Dart found wide receiver Jordan Watkins for touchdowns of 62 and 66 yards and connected with tight end Dae’Quan Wright for a four-yard touchdown.

Dart and Watkins each argued for their spots in the upcoming SEC Offensive Player Week. Dart completed 25-of-31 (81%) passes for a school-record 515 yards and six touchdowns, while Watkins hauled in eight catches for a school-record 254 yards and five touchdowns.

Rashod Dubinion, a running back, replied with a six-yard rushing touchdown, but Arkansas was unable to close within 25 points the remainder of the game, and Ole Miss led 35-10 at the half.

The Hogs only averaged 3.4 yards per carry and were outscored 694 to 492 offensively. Andrew Armstrong led the Razorback pass catchers with 135 yards on six receptions, while Dubinion led the team on the ground with 12 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown.