UPDATE: In a dramatic finish, the Arkansas Razorbacks suffered a heartbreaking 38-35 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs, marked by controversial officiating decisions that left fans and players visibly frustrated. With just 13:43 remaining in the game, Arkansas held a commanding 35-21 lead before Mississippi State rallied for an unanswered 17 points to steal the victory at Razorback Stadium, where 68,358 spectators witnessed the clash.
The game took a turn when Arkansas was hit with a staggering 18 penalties for 193 yards, while Mississippi State was only penalized four times for a mere 30 yards. Coach Bobby Petrino expressed his frustration, stating, “That’s a hard game to take… There were some things outside of football that hurt us that I can’t quite understand.”
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs clawed back into contention, narrowing the gap to 35-28 when running back Davon Booth scored from the 3-yard line. Arkansas struggled to maintain momentum, as the offense failed to secure a first down on the subsequent drive, leading to a punt. A controversial call for running into the kicker allowed Mississippi State to attempt a 46-yard field goal, which they converted, bringing the score to 35-31 with 5:07 remaining.
With time winding down, Mississippi State took possession at their own 31-yard line. They capitalized on a fourth-and-4 situation, where quarterback Blake Shapen connected with Anthony Evans III for an 18-yard touchdown, sealing the comeback and handing Arkansas its fifth consecutive SEC loss.
The Razorbacks initially struggled but fought back to tie the game at 13:54 in the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Taylen Green to Rohan Jones. Arkansas took a 10-7 lead shortly after with a 42-yard field goal, and by halftime, they led 13-7 thanks to another field goal from Scott Starzyk.
After a quarterback change for Mississippi State at halftime, Kamario Taylor quickly led a 75-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown, swinging the momentum. However, Arkansas responded with back-to-back scoring drives, including an 8-yard touchdown run by Green that pushed the score to 20-14.
Despite the Razorbacks’ strong performance, key penalties plagued their efforts, including a crucial holding call that thwarted a potential first down. Petrino acknowledged his team’s hard work but highlighted the impact of the officiating, saying, “We obviously didn’t do enough to win the game.”
With this loss, Arkansas falls to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the SEC, while Mississippi State improves to 5-4 with their first conference win. The Razorbacks now face a critical bye week before preparing for their next challenge against LSU.
As the team regroups, Petrino indicated they will analyze the game film and focus on recovery, stating, “We’ll take tomorrow and come in Monday and watch the video.” Fans and players alike are left reeling from the frustrating defeat, igniting discussions about the implications of officiating in college football.
Stay tuned for updates as the Razorbacks prepare for their upcoming match and the fallout from this contentious game continues to unfold.
