Hopes were so high after the Tennessee win. Fans were hyped, as you could tell by the atmosphere in Donald W. Reynolds last Saturday. People were actually talking about Arkansas as a fringe College Football Playoff team. It felt amazing! And then it didn't.
The Razorbacks' loss to LSU was like reality collectively smacking the fanbase back down to earth. There is one good thing about the game — with the delusions of grandeur out of the way, now we can focus on the future. And the future is Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs are 1-6, but don't let that record fool you. Mississippi State is coming off back-to-back games against Georgia and Texas A&M, two of the best teams in the conference, losing by 10 points in each. Georgia allowed State to put up 31 points, while the Aggies didn't pull away until the second half. Part of the reason they seem to be improving is the Bulldogs' backup quarterback, Michael Van Buren Jr., replacing the injured Blake Shapen.
It would be Arkansas's luck to meet Mississippi State when it's getting hot, but we've crossed enemy lines to find out if that's the case. The site expert for Maroon and White Nation, Andrew Miller, gives us the inside information on the Bulldogs.
Q & A with Maroon and White Nation's site expert Andrew Miller
Q: One of the things that separates the SEC from the other Power Four conferences is talent in the trenches. How do you see that matchup shaking out between Arkansas and Mississippi State?
A: Well, if we're judging teams based on talent in the trenches, you wouldn't classify Mississippi State as a SEC team, to put it bluntly. For a program that's traditionally been strong along the lines of scrimmage, State has been awful along both the offensive and defensive lines this year.
Offensively, they cannot pass protect at all, and while they've slowly gotten better run blocking, they're not yet at a point where they can lean on the ground game. Defensively, pass rush is nonexistent, and they've consistently gotten pushed around against opposing rushing attacks. Considering Arkansas' talent along the DL and the strength of their run game, the Hogs look to have a massive edge in the trenches.
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Q: Mississippi State has gone through three head coaches in three years. How is the fanbase warming up to new head coach Jeff Lebby?
A: Overall there's been good buy-in from the fanbase with Lebby. This is a fanbase that's been desperate to see a consistently exciting offense, and while State hasn't been as strong offensively as we thought they'd be coming into the year, they're starting to find a groove and put an exciting product on the field despite the losses. That's really all you can ask for in year one. The feeling is the right moves are happening off the field as well.
Q: After Blake Shapen went down, I thought Mississippi State was toast. But I’ve been watching Michael Van Buren Jr. play and I like what I’ve seen. What do you think the freshmen will bring to the table on Saturday?
A: MVB has been a ton of fun to watch over these last three games. He's been incredibly accurate throwing down the field, and for a true freshman that's been under plenty of duress from opposing pass rushers, he has no issues navigating the pocket and stepping up to find an open man as opposed to just taking off to scramble. He's also just got some natural play-making ability to make things happen off script. His ceiling is quite high.
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Q: The Bulldogs haven’t faced a dual threat quarterback like Arkansas’s Taylen Green this season. How do you think they go about stopping him and Arkansas’s offense?
A: While State hasn't seen as dynamic a runner as Taylen Green, they did see plenty of QB runs from Arizona State's Sam Leavitt, both Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway from Florida, and Texas' Arch Manning. And in all of those instances, they didn't handle it well. State has played very conservative defense on the backend, which has allowed for scrambling opportunities.
They've been poor tackling as well, only adding to the concerns. Now to your point, they haven't faced many designed QB runs, so I'm not sure how they'll try handling it. I wouldn't count on their "solution" being effective though.
Q: A lot of Arkansas fans think Mississippi State should be an easy win, but after watching its performance against Georgia and Texas A&M, I’m not of that opinion. What did the Bulldogs do to keep those games close?
A: Offensively, they've just found much more success being able to sustain drives and hit explosive plays. They're still incredibly inconsistent there, but when they do get into a rhythm, they've been tough to stop. On defense, the one thing that's stood out is simply making a few key plays a game.
They've forced multiple turnovers now in 3-straight games and have gotten a few redzone stops. With the offense scoring more, those few stops have let them be competitive against really good teams. Now the question is if they'll be enough to find a win in SEC play down the stretch.
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Q: What are some things that Arkansas fans who are traveling to the game can expect? Where are some must see places when traveling to Starkville?
A: The Cotton District in Starkville is neat strip just off campus on University Drive with some unique architecture, great food, and some of the town's go-to bars. That area is just a short walk from the stadium.
Two Brothers Smoked Meats, in the heart of the Cotton District, is the best recommendation I can give, but I can assure you it and the rest of that strip will be absolutely packed after the game. Dave's Dark Horse Tavern is more of a laid back spot with outstanding food a bit further away off of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Q: Who are some Mississippi State players Arkansas fans need to know before the game?
A: We've already talked about Van Buren, so offensively I have to hit on Kevin Coleman. He's fourth in the SEC in receiving with 536 yards and 4 TDs. He's an explosive slot WR that State will both look to scheme up easy touches for but also take vertical shots to. He'll likely be the go-to target.
On defense, safety Isaac Smith has been the lone consistent bright-spot on that side of the ball. He leads the SEC with over 11 tackles per game and has been really good coming up in run support, which will obviously be important against Arkansas. If I were calling the Bulldog defense, I'd have him as my primary spy on Taylen Green.