College Football Game of the Week: Ole Miss Rebels vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

When the Ole Miss Rebels and Arkansas Razorbacks take the field on Saturday, it will be the 71st meeting all-time between the two SEC rivals, with Arkansas having the edge 37-32-1.

Last year, the Rebels took down Arkansas by a score of 27-20 in Oxford, but this year the series shifts back to Fayetteville. The last time this game was played at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, the Hogs won in dominating fashion, 42-27.

Arkansas has been dominant in this series when played in Fayetteville, boasting a 13-2 record all-time. Ole Miss looks to overcome what has been a thorn in their side for a long time.

The Rebels come into Saturday at 6-2 (2-2 in SEC play) and are the No. 19 team in the country. The team is led by one of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football, Jaxson Dart.

The senior quarterback has thrown for 2,695 yards this season, which is good for third in the country. Dart has also thrown for 15 touchdowns, as opposed to only three interceptions.

Dart will hope to have his number one target back this week, Tre Harris. Harris went down with an ankle injury in the Rebels loss vs. LSU and did not play against Oklahoma. He has been listed as questionable for this week.

The redshirt senior has caught 59 passes this year, for 987 yards and six touchdowns. His receiving yard mark ranks second in college football.

On the other side for Arkansas, they come into Saturday at 5-3 (3-2 in SEC play). The Razorbacks are coming off of what is most likely their most complete effort this season against Mississippi State.

Arkansas put up 673 yards of total offense in a 58-25 win versus the Bulldogs. The yardage is their second-most in a game this season. 359 of those yards came on the ground, and the defense forced five turnovers.

The Razorback offense ranks seventh nationally, with 482.1 yards per game, and boasts a very balanced attack.

The Arkansas passing game is led by redshirt junior Taylen Green. The Boise State transfer has thrown for 2,056 yards this season, along with 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Green has also added 395 yards on the ground and five rushing scores.

Green is coming off his best performance of the season, where he went 23-for-29 through the air, for 314 yards and five touchdown passes. Green also added 79 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown.

The Razorback rushing attack is headed by Ja’Quinden Jackson. The senior transfer from Utah has rushed for 592 yards this season on 104 carries, with 10 touchdowns.

Jackson is not the only contributor to the rushing offense, however. Arkansas has two other players that have run for over 300 yards this season. One is Taylen Green, the quarterback that I highlighted earlier.

The other is true freshman Braylen Russell.

Russell, who is an Arkansas native, comes in at 6-foot-1, and a whopping 253 pounds. He has rushed for 302 yards this season, two touchdowns and averages 7.0 yards per carry. The freshman is coming off his best game of the season, where he carried the ball 10 times for 175 yards, averaging 10.9 yards per carry.

To me, this game comes down to the Arkansas secondary versus the Ole Miss passing attack.

The Rebels come in with the second-ranked total offense in the country, with 538.1 yards per game, and the fourth-ranked passing offense in the country.

On the other hand, the Razorbacks come in at 88th in the country against the pass.

If Arkansas can limit the big passing plays, and grab a turnover or two, they can hang in this one.

The Rebels are favored by 6.5 points, but as we’ve seen earlier in the season, Arkansas has the ability to hang with top-ranked opponents.

Evan Pochas is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email ejp5753@psu.