URGENT UPDATE: In a heart-wrenching finish, the Arkansas Razorbacks fell to the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 38-35, in a game marred by controversial officiating. The loss, witnessed by 68,358 fans at Razorback Stadium, leaves Arkansas struggling with a 2-7 record while Mississippi State improves to 5-4.
With just under 14 minutes remaining, Arkansas held a commanding 35-21 lead. However, the Bulldogs rallied with 17 unanswered points, benefiting from a staggering disparity in penalties — Arkansas was flagged for 18 penalties totaling 193 yards, compared to Mississippi State’s mere 4 penalties for 30 yards.
Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino expressed frustration over the officiating, stating, “That’s a hard game to take. Our guys played hard and good football. There were some things outside of football that hurt us that I can’t quite understand.”
In the critical fourth quarter, Mississippi State clawed back, first scoring on a 3-yard run by running back Davon Booth and then tying the game with a 46-yard field goal by Kyle Ferrie, which was made possible by a controversial penalty against Arkansas for running into the kicker.
With the game tied at 35-35, Mississippi State executed a dramatic 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Shapen to Anthony Evans III on a pivotal fourth-and-4 play, sealing the victory with just 1:41 remaining.
Defensive standout Quincy Rhodes Jr. shone for Arkansas with 6 tackles, including 1 sack and 4.5 tackles for loss. Petrino acknowledged, “He did get to the quarterback and make him pay.” Yet, the Razorbacks’ inability to overcome penalties proved costly.
The game began with Mississippi State taking an early lead at 7-0, but Arkansas quickly responded, tying the game with a 3-yard pass from quarterback Taylen Green to Rohan Jones. The Razorbacks managed to take a 13-7 lead into halftime, fueled by field goals from Scott Starzyk.
After a quarterback change for Mississippi State at halftime, Kamario Taylor orchestrated a rapid scoring drive, regaining the lead at 14-13. However, Arkansas surged ahead again, with Green scoring on an 8-yard run and later connecting on a shovel pass for a successful 2-point conversion.
Despite the Razorbacks’ initial success, the final moments of the game were dominated by penalties that stifled their offense and allowed Mississippi State to capitalize. The Bulldogs’ victory marks their first SEC win this season, while Arkansas faces a bye week before an upcoming matchup against LSU.
Looking ahead, Petrino emphasized the need for reflection and hard work: “We’ll take tomorrow and come in Monday to watch the video. We need a couple of good, hard work days before heading out on the recruiting trail.”
As the Razorbacks regroup, fans will be watching closely to see if they can bounce back against LSU and finish the season strong, with challenging games against Texas and Missouri on the horizon.
