No. 19 Ole Miss (6-2, 2-2 SEC) will face off against Arkansas (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET, broadcasted on ESPN.
According to BetMGM College Football Odds, Ole Miss is favored by 9 1/2 points in this matchup.
Historically, Arkansas holds an edge in the series record, leading 38-30-1.
The stakes for this game are significant for both teams. For Ole Miss, a victory is essential to build momentum heading into next week’s crucial game against the second-ranked Georgia. Additionally, a win against Arkansas keeps their College Football Playoff aspirations alive. Meanwhile, Arkansas is vying for bowl eligibility with a win, a crucial goal for Coach Sam Pittman after last season’s disappointing 4-8 record. The hiring of first-year offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino has made a considerable impact, propelling the Razorbacks’ total offense from 100th in the FBS last season to an impressive 7th this year.
A key matchup to watch will be between Arkansas tight end Luke Hasz and Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul. Hasz comes off a strong performance with four receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Although Paul, who transferred from Arkansas, may not directly cover Hasz every time, he will likely be assigned to him at certain points in the game. Paul currently leads the Rebels in tackles, racking up 60 so far this season.
In terms of standout players, Ole Miss will be monitoring Tre Harris, who missed last week’s game against Oklahoma due to a leg injury. Despite this setback, he remains Ole Miss’s top receiver with 59 catches, accumulating 987 yards and scoring six touchdowns. Coach Lane Kiffin has praised him as “probably the best receiver in the country” and it is anticipated that he will be fit for this upcoming contest.
For Arkansas, quarterback Taylen Green is a player to keep an eye on, as his performance often dictates the team’s success. He ranks second in the SEC for passing yards among quarterbacks, trailing only Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia. However, Green has been inconsistent, previously maintaining a 1-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio before throwing five touchdown passes against Mississippi State last week.
Looking at the stats, the rivalry between Ole Miss and Arkansas has seen a deadlock in their last 14 meetings, with each team winning seven games. Notably, two of Ole Miss’s victories during this stretch were vacated due to NCAA violations that took place under former coach Hugh Freeze. Furthermore, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is on track to break the school’s single-season passing yards record. It’s also worth noting that Paul, who was Arkansas’s second-leading tackler in 2023, bears a unique history with this matchup: since 2008, Ole Miss has won only one game in Fayetteville, when Houston Nutt was leading the Rebels and Petrino was at the helm for Arkansas.