Hogs ready to fight No. 1 Bulldogs
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks, 4-4, 0-4, make history visiting the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 7-0, 4-0, tonight in Starkvile, Miss.
It marks Arkansas’ first meeting with a No. 1 Mississippi State, topranked for the first time in school history.
Mississippi State’s ranking puts the Razorbacks in the historic category of playing five straight conference games against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 10 at kickoff.
Texas A&M, currently unranked but sixth when outlasting Arkansas on Sept. 27 in overtime, and current Top Ten occupants Auburn, Alabama and Georgia account for Arkansas’ four losses.
“We are going to be the first team in college-football history, not just this year or the last 10 years or 20, the first team in college history to play five straight ranked conference opponents in the top 10,” second-year Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. “That’s kind of mind-boggling.”
The streak may extend to seven. After a Nov. 8 open date the Hogs on Nov. 15 host current No. 16 and rising LSU with the chance to soar if it upsets No. 3 Alabama next week. On Nov. 22 Arkansas hosts No. 7 Ole Miss before finishing Nov. 28 at previously ranked Missouri.
Arkansas has major SEC opportunities ahead after losing 16 straight conference games since October 2012, although winning in Starkville tonight is the main priority. Kickoff is 6:15 p.m. on ESPN2 (Resort Channel 29) and Arkansas Razorback Sports Network radio affiliates.
Given the variously ultra- competitive halves the Razorbacks have mustered in SEC games, they harbor exhilarating hope that they could spring a surprise in Starkville.
Coach Dan Mullen’s Bulldogs feature the quarterback-running back dynamic duo of Dak Prescott (664 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing; 1,694 yards and 15 touchdowns passing), and 5-9, 215 bowling-ball rusher Josh Robinson (887 yards and 10 touchdowns) and a big bend- butseldom break defense led by Butkus Award semifinalist middle linebacker Benardrick McKinney.
Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney exuded the Hogs’ excitement to play No. 1.
“It’s why we do what we do, get an opportunity to go compete at the highest level,” Chaney said. ” I don’t know if you can get much higher than when we’re there. Let’s go and see what happens.”
With cause, Mullen exudes confidence in his Bulldogs but shows respect to an Arkansas team that tied through regulation before an overtime loss in Little Rock and has improved vastly.
A dreadful defense last year, Arkansas held Alabama to season offensive lows in October’s 14-13 loss at Fayetteville.
Behind an offensive line bigger than any in the NFL, Arkansas run- ning backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins combine for 1,577 yards rushing while quarterback Brandon Allen has 1,498 yards passing with 15 touchdowns vs. four interceptions.
“I look at Arkansas, and the record might not show this but to me, they can play and beat every single team in this conference and do it pretty easily,” Mullen said. ” They play very, very aggressive defense. They’re big and physical on offense. They have a great recipe for success.”
The Bulldogs have the home-field advantage and have negotiated every crunch-time situation while Arkansas has committed fatal flaws to remain SEC winless.
“I would say (State’s) responses in critical moments have been very, very positive,” Bielema said. “I would say overall their offense, defense and special teams, when they have been challenged, responded very, very well.”