Arkansas’ 41-35 shootout loss at Ole Miss on Saturday night was a huge heartbreaker for Razorback fans. Over the past three seasons, the Hogs are 4-12 in one-possession games. Last night adds another loss to that category.
With this being a loss, there were definitely some aspects of the game that I disliked. But there was still a lot that I liked. Even in a crushing loss, there are good things that we can take away from this game.
Arkansas football vs. Ole Miss: 3 things I liked and 3 I didn't
I liked how good the offense looked
This offense is still playing lights out. Forget the loss for a minute. Arkansas had 221 rushing yards on 37 total carries for an average of almost six yards per run. QB Taylen Green accounted for 115 of those yards on 14 carries with a touchdown, while RB Mike Washington ran 13 times for 65 yards and two scores.
Green was just as good through the air by completing 22 of his 35 pass attempts for 305 yards and a touchdown. The offense is looking pretty good all around in both the passing and running games. Every time Ole Miss scored, Arkansas punched right back and tied the game. The Razorbacks are capable of scoring on every possession and will be a threat to any Southeastern Conference team.
But on the flip side…
I disliked how the defense was dominated
With how good the Arkansas offense looked, it was a whole different story on defense. Ole Miss’s first four drives of the first half all ended in touchdowns. The Rebels also had 1:18 left to go in the second quarter with the game tied and marched down the field to kick a 36-yard field goal to take a 31-28 lead at the half as time expired.
The Razorbacks' first stop did not come until the start of the third quarter, where they forced a three-and-out. Arkansas was stopped on offense at its own 46-yard line, but Devin Bale pinned Ole Miss at its own seven-yard line on a 47-yard punt. In 12 plays, the Rebels rolled down the field and scored a touchdown to take a 38-28 lead with 4:56 left in the third quarter.
The Razorback defense is becoming an issue, giving up big pass plays and points. Arkansas allowed 353 passing yards to QB Trinidad Chambliss, who was a late submission as the starter when it was announced that the usual starting QB Austin Simmons would not start the game due to an injured right ankle. Simmons came in to play at the end of Ole Miss’ fourth drive of the game when Chambliss came off the field after cutting open his hand. Simmons led the offense on the last couple of plays of the drive and finished with a four-yard touchdown pass to WR Harrison Wallace III.
This defense also allowed a 66.7% third-down conversion rate and was penalized seven times for 68 yards. Arkansas is starting to show signs of 2020 and 2021, when its offense was pretty solid, but its defense struggled heavily.
I liked Taylen Green's performance in the second half
Green was doing well in the first half but completed just eight of his 16 pass attempts. He turned it around by being more accurate in the second half, going 14-for-19 through the air.
Green also did not have any interceptions in the game and was looking pretty consistent overall with his throws. He was just as dangerous on the run and is looking like the SEC quarterback we all thought he could be.
I disliked that Kani Walker got hurt
Losing DB Kani Walker was a huge loss for the defense. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Chambliss completed a 35-yard pass to WR Deuce Alexander at the Arkansas 29-yard line. Walker took a knee to the back of the head while trying to make the tackle and was down for roughly 10 minutes.
Walker was placed on a stretcher and was taken out of the game in a golf cart. Before exiting the stadium, he stuck his arm up and gave a thumbs-up to the crowd to signal that he was okay. Walker had six tackles on the night.
You always hate to see a scary injury like that happen. Thankfully, Walker’s thumbs-up to the crowd was a good sign that he is going to be okay.
I liked how good O’Mega Blake has looked so far this season
WR O’Mega Blake has cemented himself as WR1 for Arkansas. He had another huge game with six receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. His score came on the second drive of the game for the Razorbacks with 16 seconds remaining in the first quarter. With the Hogs down, 14-7, on 3rd & 16, Green threw a strike to Blake over the middle to the 10-yard line, where he ran it in the rest of the way for a 30-yard touchdown.
The Charlotte transfer has 18 receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns so far this season. He has undoubtedly been a huge addition out of the transfer portal for the Hogs and will be a guy to keep an eye on.
I disliked how the game ended
I think a lot of Razorback fans feel the same way. But just to recap, Arkansas got the ball back with 3:53 left in the game after the defense forced Ole Miss to go three-and-out. The drive was looking promising enough with Green completing a 15-yard pass to WR Jalen Brown and an 18-yard completion to WR O’Mega Blake one play later to the Ole Miss 44-yard line. After the two-minute timeout, the Hogs were facing 2nd & 4 at the 27 with a chance to take the lead.
Green completed a screen pass to Jalen Brown on the left side. He picked up three yards before fumbling the football. DB Wydett Williams Jr. recovered the ball at the 24-yard line to put the Ole Miss offense back on the field with 1:52 to go. A seven- and two-yard run by Chambliss forced the Razorbacks to use their final two timeouts of the half. On 3rd & 1 at the 33, Lacy ran for a three-yard gain to pick up the first down and ice the game.
With how much the offense was helping Arkansas stay in the game, I hated how it ended with a turnover. The defense was not able to give the Razorbacks a second chance on offense to potentially steal the game, and the Rebels came away with the victory in what is going to be considered a “classic.” The Hogs are going to have to go back to the drawing board on defense to improve for next week’s contest at Memphis and for the rest of the season.
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