The Arkansas Razorbacks gave the Mississippi State Bulldogs all they could handle as they nearly pulled off the upset of the No. 1 team in the nation but fell one play short of the stunning victory
Dak Prescott and the No. 1 Bulldogs didn’t play their best game of the year, but they made one more play than Arkansas to improve to 8-0 on the season after they escaped with a 17-10 win over the Razorbacks who fell to 4-5 overall and 0-5 in the SEC.
More from College Football
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- Jim Harbaugh facing 4-game suspension over NCAA violations
- College football neutral site games in 2023: Full list
- College GameDay announces surprise Week 1 destination
- College football analyst warns Oklahoma that Texas is doing better prep for SEC
Arkansas started the scoring from Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS on the night with the hopes of picking up their first SEC win since the 2012 season when they got a 36 yard field goal from Adam McFain on the opening possession to cap a 11-play, 60 yard drive that took 5:10 off the clock.
The Bulldogs were stymied the entire first quarter as Dak Prescott threw an interception to Alan Turner on the third play from scrimmage for Mississippi State, but the Hogs were unable to capitalize on the turnover from the Heisman hopeful. The two SEC west teams traded punts to close out the first quarter and it was how Arkansas would get their first touchdown.
Following a punt from Sam Irwin-Hill after a Mississippi State stop, true freshman returner Jamoral Graham muffed the punt, his fourth muff of the year, and Kody Walker recovered it for Arkansas to give them the ball and momentum.
Maroon and White Nation
Six plays later Alex Collins punched the ball in the end zone from one yard out to cap a six-play, 25-yard drive to give the Hogs a 10-0 lead over the No. 1 team in the nation.
However, that would be the last time Arkansas would be in command of the game as the home team responded on the ensuing possession with Prescott completing two passes for 40 yards and running for 23 yards before letting Josh Robinson do the damage at the goal line with a four-yard touchdown run to make it a 10-7 ball game.
Mississippi State had a chance to tie or take the lead at the end of the first half but Arkansas forced Prescott into his second interception of the half with the Bulldogs at the ARK 37 with 34 seconds left in the half as the No. 1 team in the nation trailed 10-7 at the break.
South Bound & Down
The Bulldogs opened the second half with the ball and looking to make a statement so Dan Mullen rolled the dice and went for it on fourth-and-1 from the ARK 22 but the Razorback defense stuffed Prescott for no gain on the option keeper.
Once again, Arkansas failed to capitalize on the turnover as the Hogs were forced to punt and Mississippi State tied the game after a 23-yard pass from Prescott to Nick Griffin got the Bulldogs in position for an Evan Sobiesk field goal from 37 yards out to tie it at 10 with 3:35 left in the third quarter.
Arkansas tried to answer with a field goal of their own to retake the lead by McFain’s try from 42 yards sailed wide right and Mississippi State capitalized three plays later as Prescott rolled from the right hash to the left hash with two Arkansas defenders in pursuit and heaved a pass in mid-air to a wide-open Fred Ross for the go-ahead 60-yard touchdown to take a 17-10 lead.
The following possession from Arkansas saw them march down the field in a methodical fashion as they ran 17 plays to cover 72 yards in 8:16, but Alex Collins was stuffed on fourth down from the three as the Hogs turned the ball over on downs.
Credit Arkansas who never gave up against the No. 1 team in the nation as Allen led the Hogs down the field for the potential game-tying score, picking up 36 yards on a pass to Hunter Henry on fourth down and 24 more on a third down to Henry as the Hogs entered the red zone.
With Arkansas at the MSU 16 yard line, Allen threw into the end zone where Will Redmond picked off the pass to preserve the win and give Mississippi State their 11th straight win dating back to last year.
For more college football coverage this weekend stay on FanSided.com to stay on top of the latest updates around the world of college football, including the latest scores, news, injury updates, videos and gif’s, so be sure to follow @FanSidedGIF on twitter so you don’t miss any of the jaw-dropping plays.
More from FanSided
- Caesars + BetMGM Promos: Four Chances to Win Betting on the Women’s World Cup
- MLB trade grades: Angels-White Sox deal takes Shohei Ohtani off the table
- Justin Jefferson taking on new role with Vikings offense
- Astros, Rangers benches clear after Adolis Garcia grand slam
- Jonathan Taylor’s agent shades Jim Irsay after Colts owner comments on RBs