Game Preview: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas

OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss will end a three-game homestand this Saturday when they host the Arkansas Razorbacks. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field.

The Rebels (2-5, 0-4 SEC) are coming off a wild finish against Alabama in which they posted 420 yards of total offense in a 27-24 loss. Likewise, the Razorbacks (3-3, 0-3 SEC) are fresh off a game against Auburn in which they took a 7-6 lead with 1:34 remaining before the Tigers kicked the game-winning field in the final seconds for a 9-7 win.

“We are still competing,” said Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron. “We want to win a big football game against Arkansas, against an SEC opponent. We have come so close. We just need to keep battling to be able to win that game. We have these guys at home. We need to take advantage of that.”

Both teams come into this week’s matchup with high-powered offensive attacks, although each has a different style. Arkansas boasts the nation’s third-ranked rushing attack, averaging 293.2 yards per game, while Ole Miss comes in with a passing attack that is producing 243.3 yards per game, fourth-best in the SEC.

The Razorback offense is highlighted by the SEC’s top rushing tandem in Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. McFadden is averaging 137.0 yards per game, while Jones is averaging 112.2 yards per game. Arkansas QB Casey Dick has 847 yards on 72-of-140 pass attempts and eight touchdowns

Quarterback Seth Adams directs the Rebels with 1,641 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. The Rebel receivers have been on fire of late, with sophomore Shay Hodge hauling in 29 catches for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Mike Wallace is second on the team in receptions with 26, but tops Ole Miss with 597 receiving yards and five TDs.

The Rebel ground game has been led by senior BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who enters Saturday’s encounter averaging 100.1 yards per game. The New Orleans, La., native had a 57-yard rush against the Crimson Tide last Saturday, the longest of his career, and has reached the end zone twice this season.

Defensively, the Rebels have the reigning SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in Greg Hardy, who leads the conference in sacks with eight, tackles for loss with 15.5, and forced fumbles with three. Linebacker Ashlee Palmer is the SEC’s second-leading tackler in with 67 total tops with 40 solos stops.

The Razorbacks defense is lead by safety Matt Hewitt. The senior has 51 total tackles this season, including 35 solo stops.

This will be the 54th all-time meeting between the two teams. Arkansas holds a 28-24-1 advantage over the Rebels, including a 9-6 mark in the SEC. Ole Miss enjoys a 5-2 advantage in games played in Oxford.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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