Ole Miss vs Arkansas recap: 3 things we learned
Here’s what we learned from the No. 22 Arkansas Razorbacks’ 34-30 upset of the No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels on Friday night in Fayetteville.
One year after playing one of the most thrilling games in recent memory, the No. 22 Arkansas Razorbacks hosted the No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels in one of three ranked matchups in college football Week 7. The Razorbacks made it three in a row over Ole Miss with an exciting 34-30 upset to pick up their first win of the year in conference play and knock the Rebels out of the conference race.
Arkansas running back Rawleigh Williams III racked up 180 yards on the ground as the Razorbacks held the ball for over 40 minutes. While the Razorbacks could move the ball effectively on the ground, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly kept his team in it with over 300 total yards and three touchdowns.
The Rebels took their first lead of the game with nine minutes left on Kelly’s 17-yard run. Austin Allen then led the Razorbacks on a game-winning drive with two key completions to Keon Hatcher before wide receiver Jared Cornelius punched it in from six yards out with 2:20 to go.
It wasn’t a great day for either defense, but the Razorbacks held Kelly on Ole Miss’ final drive to seal the 34-30 win. Here’s what we learned from yet another thrilling game between the Razorbacks and Rebels.
Arkansas’ offensive line isn’t dead yet
After a 4-0 start, the Razorbacks were blown out twice in a row by Texas A&M and Alabama to begin SEC play. While there isn’t any shame in losing to a pair of top six teams, a number of holes emerged in the Razorbacks’ roster as they looked outclassed by both teams.
Most importantly, Arkansas’ massive offensive line – often thought of as the strength of the team under Bret Bielema – was dominated in the two losses. Of course, the Crimson Tide’s front seven is on a different level than everybody else, but Allen took a staggering 46 hits between the two games.
The unit looked much better on Saturday night against an Ole Miss defense that gives up a lot of yards yet still features a ton of athleticism and pass rushing ability. Both Williams and Devwah Whaley had plenty of running room, while Allen was kept mostly clean against the Land Shark defense.
Without Allen getting pummeled on every play, the Arkansas offense looked both explosive and efficient. The Razorbacks racked up 429 yards of offense split nearly evenly between passing and rushing.
Chad Kelly remains the best quarterback in the SEC…but Austin Allen isn’t far behind
Kelly and Allen should see their respective NFL draft stocks rising following a terrific outing for both on Saturday night.
With all due respect to Jalen Hurts, Kelly once again proved himself as the best quarterback in the SEC. Kelly didn’t get much help from his defense or running backs and single-handily kept the Rebels in the game, particularly with his rushing ability. Based on Saturday night’s game, Ole Miss’ offense could be in real trouble next year when Kelly and star tight end Evan Engram graduate.
On the other side, Allen continues to impress after taking over the starting quarterback job from his brother Brandon. Allen finished 19/32 for 229 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and calmly led the game-winning drive with time ticking down.
Despite getting pummeled by opposing pass rushers, Allen now has at least two touchdown passes in seven straight games and owns a 400-yard outing against the fearsome Crimson Tide. Watch for Allen’s name to pop up more and more in 2018 NFL mock drafts.
Bret Bielema’s style can win games, but he can also adapt
The destruction at the hands of the Aggies and Crimson Tide raised a lot of questions about how Bielema runs his team. Arkansas thrives on getting the best out of lesser-recruited players while controlling the game behind a massive offensive line, but looked far out of its element in the first two SEC games.
Any doubts about Bielema’s style should be gone after Saturday night, as the Razorbacks were able to take down a far more talented Rebels team. Arkansas slowly wore the Rebels down with a heavy dose of Williams on the ground, and Ole Miss’ defense was clearly worn down on the final drive of the game.
The Rebels’ tempo clearly bothered the Arkansas’ defense in the first half. Still, that caused problems for Ole Miss’ defense later on, as Arkansas held the ball for over 40 minutes.
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Although Arkansas’ followed its own blueprint perfectly, Bielema showed he can be flexible with the gameplan. The Razorbacks dialed up a sweep to wide reciever Jared Cornelius, one of the best playmakers in the nation, for the game winning six-yard touchdown with 2:20 to go.