Everything Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman said after losing to Ole Miss

The last-minute announcement that a lingering foot injury to starting Ole Miss Rebel quarterback Austin Simmons boosted the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks’ chances of an upset bid in their 2025 Southeastern Conference opener on Saturday against the nation’s No. 17-ranked team. 

With Trinidad Chambliss — a Division II transfer from Ferris State — at the helm of Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin’s offense and making his SEC debut against Razorback senior quarterback Taylen Green, who began his second run through the conference after finishing top five last season, it seemed Razorback coach Sam Pittman might have an edge in turning around his fortunes in SEC games decided by one score. 

The eventual 41-35 outcome was not decided by the quarterbacks however. As it turned out, two missed Arkansas field goals, repeated missed defensive assignments and a fumble with Green leading the Razorbacks toward the would-be game-winning drive gave Ole Miss their sixth win over Arkansas in their last eight meetings and dropped Pittman to 7-18 in one-score SEC games. 

Here’s what the coaches had to say afterwards. 

Everything Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman said after losing to Ole Miss

“Well, it was a heck of a game by two good offenses and certainly came down to the end where we had a chance to win,” Pittman said. “Unfortunately we couldn't (finish the final drive) but I was really proud of our offense and (they) kept us in it.  

“You know our defense couldn't do anything in the first half especially — most the game.  We’ve got problems there. We ‘ve got to get them fixed, but the offense kept us in the game there. Then the defense got a three-and-out and we had a chance to win at the end. But, two good SEC football teams out there. Unfortunately we came up on the short end.”

Green, who finished last season just 39 yards short of Ryan Mallett’s single-season yardage total, further distinguished himself by becoming the first player in school history to throw for over 300 yards (305) and rush for over a hundred (111) in a single game. He also threw a 30-yard touchdown to O'Mega Blake and ran for one of the team’s four scores on the ground. 

Senior halfback Mike Washington ran for two scores to go with 65 yards, and sophomore Braylen Russell scored the other while averaging five yards a carry. 

Pittman, who earned the Arkansas job six years ago as one of the top offensive line coaches in the country, credited his rebuilt unit upfront with paving the way for the offensive production. The Razorbacks outrushed Ole Miss in the game 221 to 118. 

“(Green) never got hit late you know now. Taylen took off but not necessarily because of the pressure. We rushed for 200 some yards and threw for 300 some yards, and the offensive line just seems to me to get better and better.  I just didn't feel any edge (pressure). I didn't feel anybody on the edge problems, and a lot of times they went to rushing three and dropping eight because we were hitting them  so much with our crossing routes. 

So, my offensive line played really well. I think we had one holding call called on us, but other than that that's going to happen. Other than that, I think they played extremely well.”

Defensive Lapses

The same could not be said for the Razorback defensive line or the defense as a whole. As good as Green and Arkansas’ offense was, they were matched — if not out done — by Chambliss and Simmons. Fresh off of winning a Division II national title, Chambliss stepped in for the injured starter and looked like an All-SEC caliber quarterback against defensive coordinator Travis Williams’ defense. 

The senior from Grand Rapids Michigan completed 72 percent of his passes compared to Green’s 62 percent. He finished with more yards at 353 while accounting for three touchdowns — one passing and two rushing. The hobbled Simmons also got into the act when he came off the bench and completed his only pass attempt for a four-yard touchdown to a wide open Harrison Wallace. 

The score put Ole Miss up 28-21 with 3:17 to play before halftime. Green answered by capping the ensuing drive with a five yard touchdown run with 1:18 left. Ole Miss finished the first half by scoring on every possession thanks to a 36-yard field goal by Lucas Carneiro and took a 31-28 lead into the locker rooms. 

“Obviously, Trinidad played extremely well,” Kiffin said. “Austin came in and made a huge touchdown throw. Unfortunately, he hurt himself on that drive, but really proud of Austin for going in there and making a big play in that situation.”

Unlike the Razorbacks and many observers around the country, Kiffin said he was not surprised to see his backup Division II signal caller practically steal the show at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford.

“Trinidad's day didn't surprise me. Any time we've gone in the stadium in scrimmages or in his play of the last two games, he's done a fabulous job. I just think he has the “it.” It's why we brought him here. I think as you look around the country and look at a year ago.  When there's an SEC team and they lose their quarterback and they're a completely different team without them. Then when they get them back, they totally change.”

Kiffin’s offense picked up where they left off a season ago when the Rebels came into Donald W. Reynold’s Razorback Stadium and steam rolled the Razorback defense for 63 points and a record-setting performance from then-quarterback Jackson Dart and wide receiver Jordan Watkins. Both are now in the NFL, and — at least against the Razorbacks — Chambliss’ future looked bright as well. 

“I mean we've got to communicate better,” Pittman said. “I mean you know, two or three of the scores in the first half we just had guys wide open. We couldn't cover a back. We were checking to check lanes and we cut all that out in the second half because we had to give our guys a chance.

“We didn't open-field tackle very well — especially in the first half. Couldn't cover a back and didn't put pressure on the quarterback. Those are some of the things that we certainly talked about (at halftime) and during the first half. I don't think there's anybody in the (locker) room that didn't think we weren’t going to win the game at the end of game. We just had a turnover.”

Other unfortunate events

The six-point final advantage by the Rebels also came courtesy of two missed field goal opportunities by Razorback freshman kicker Scott Starzyk. Arkansas’ opening drive ended with a missed kick from 50-plus yards. Starzyk, who came to Arkansas as the No. 1 ranked kicker out of high school, also missed a shorter kick in the second half. 

Arkansas’ final missed opportunity came on the final drive when Green found sophomore wideout Jalen Brown open just outside the Ole Miss red zone with under two minutes to play. Ole Miss defenders converged on Green and as he was going to the ground, Rebel defensive back TJ Dottery stripped the ball loose and Wydell Williams made the recovery for the only turnover of the game. 

Brown, who finished with four catches for 40 yards and has played well so far in his first year as a starter, was visibly distraught afterwards. Pittman and teammates consoled him afterwards and credited the Ole Miss defense for making a good defensive play in a game dominated by both offenses.

“I've taken Jaylen already aside,” he said. ”That's certainly not his fault that we lost the game. He certainly feels terrible about it, but I want to talk to him about it because he's made a lot of good plays for us in our first three games. We've got to hold on to that ball. He understands that but there's a ton of stuff in that game we could have done better. We would have won the game, and I'm sure they feel the same way over there as well.”

Ole Miss finished the game by converting a third and short and was able to run out the clock from there. Kiffin said his team’s ability to finish strong ultimately proved to be the difference.

I thought that our guys finished the game really well,” he said. “Wasn't perfect. Wasn't pretty. A lot of times defensively, but, you know, on the 72nd defensive play, we made the first turnover and great play by TJ to get it out. At the end of the day, (I) just kept kind of saying on the headset, ‘Bend don't break. Bend don't break.”

“We got to make a turnover, and our guys did. So, huge there and then you’ve got to make a first down there, too. So you got to end the game. I don't care where you play — especially the SEC. Man, you got to not give it back to them.”

Pittman said he was proud of how his team came back from down two scores in the second half and gave themselves a chance at the end. 

“They executed down 10,” he said.  “I don't like this so I'm so sorry I didn't get any of that. Just happy with the way they executed the end of the game down 10. I mean we were gonna win, and like I said. I don't think there's anybody in here that didn't think we were going to win you. It just happened. 

“I was trying to take as much time as I possibly could.  We're at the 26. We had to score but I'm trying to take as much time as I possibly can. That's why we didn't go run another play before the two-minute warning. We're just trying to give it to them. We'll try to score and give it to them late. We were really on a good track…Unfortunately we had the turnover, but I was really proud of the way they executed.”

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