The Arkansas Razorbacks suffered another heartbreaking loss on Saturday, falling 38–35 to the Mississippi State Bulldogs after surrendering a 28–14 lead midway through the third quarter. Interim head coach Bobby Petrino expressed both frustration and accountability following the defeat, citing penalties as a major turning point that ultimately cost the Razorbacks control of the game.
Penalties Derail Arkansas in the Second Half
Arkansas appeared to be in command for much of the first half, committing just three penalties before halftime. However, the second half told a much different story as the Razorbacks were flagged a staggering 18 times for 193 yards with both being single-game school records.
In stark contrast, Mississippi State drew just four penalties for 30 yards, a 14-penalty and 163-yard discrepancy that became a defining statistic of the matchup. To put that in perspective, Arkansas threw for 194 yards, only one yard more than their total penalty yardage. Having this many penalties is just as detrimental as losing the turnover battle in such a close game like this. This ended up being the deciding factor in a loss like this.
The Razorbacks’ string of infractions stalled drives, extended Mississippi State possessions, and allowed momentum to swing dramatically in favor of the Bulldogs, who scored 17 unanswered points to complete the comeback win.
Petrino Frustrated but Accepting of Responsibility
After the game, Petrino made it clear that he was unhappy with the officiating but careful not to cross the line in criticizing the referees.
"“You know I can’t say anything, but y’all ought to watch it,” Petrino said of the officiating. “I do want to say something, but I can’t — you know, that’s how they handcuff you. But I’ll just say, watch the video. And the one thing I can say is they picked our quarterback up and suplexed him, which is a really bad deal.”"Interim HC Bobby Petrino
Despite his clear frustration, Petrino also acknowledged that his team had opportunities to overcome the setbacks.
"“They were back-breaking penalties, there’s no question about that, but you’ve got to overcome it,” Petrino said. “You still have to get the first down, move the ball, and eat the clock. We weren’t able to do that, and I had to put our defense back on the field, and that’s a bad deal. We felt like we would be able to run the football and work the clock and end the game.”"Interim HC Bobby Petrino
Petrino’s comments reflected a balance of irritation with the officiating and ownership of his team’s inability to finish strong. The accountability part is what makes quotes like these feel more reasonable to hear. As long as there's some sort of acknowledgement, then other frustrations talked about come with more weight to it.
A Missed Opportunity and a Chance to Regroup
Ultimately, the game served as another example of undisciplined football costing the Razorbacks in critical moments. Despite leading comfortably in the third quarter, penalties and missed execution turned what could have been a statement win into another painful loss.
Arkansas now heads into its second bye week of the season, offering a chance to regroup and clean up the recurring mistakes that have plagued the team. With three games remaining, Petrino will look to get the most out of a roster that remains motivated and committed to finishing the season strong.
Looking Ahead
While Saturday’s loss will sting, there’s still an opportunity for Arkansas to end the year on a positive note. If the Razorbacks can tighten up their discipline and limit self-inflicted mistakes, Petrino’s squad has a chance to build momentum heading into the offseason and perhaps restore some pride to a fan base eager to see signs of progress.