Game sketch: Ole Miss 27, Arkansas 20

Why Ole Miss won

The Rebels wore the Razorbacks down a bit with their rushing attack. Ole Miss ran for 196 yards on 45 carries, led by Ulysses Bentley, who had 94 yards and a score. The Rebels did not turn the ball over and they showcased far more balance than Arkansas. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart threw for 153 yards and 1 touchdown. The Rebels’ run defense was also a difference maker.

Why Arkansas lost

The Razorbacks were one dimensional on offense and did their defense no favors. KJ Jefferson threw for 252 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and Arkansas had 288 yards of total offense. Arkansas rushed for 36 yards, its lowest total in Sam Pittman’s four seasons as head coach.

Play of the game

Jefferson was intercepted with 1:42 left in the game by Ole Miss’ John Saunders as Arkansas trailed 27-20. Jefferson attempted to thread the needle to wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa on the play, but wound up with his second interception of the game. 

Offensive player of the game

Razorbacks tight end Ty Washington stepped up in the absence of Luke Hasz, who suffered a broken clavicle last weekend against Texas A&M. The redshirt freshman caught 7 passes for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns in the loss. He did not have a reception in the first five games of the season.

Defensive player of the game

Ole Miss’ Ashanti Cistrunk led an impressive defensive showing for the Rebels, who had allowed an average of 489 yards in the last three weeks against Georgia Tech, Alabama and LSU. He finished with 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, one-half sack and 1 interception. The pick was his first since November 2021 against Texas A&M.

By the numbers

78 — Arkansas’ combined rushing yards in losses to Texas A&M and Ole Miss in the last two weeks.

10 — The Razorbacks’ penalty total, which cost them 70 yards. It is the 12th time under Pittman that Arkansas finished a game with at least 10 penalties.

8 — Consecutive field goal makes for kicker Cam Little. He made a career-long 56-yard kick in the game and has made three straight field goals of 50-plus yards.

6 — KJ Jefferson’s interception total in the last four games. He threw nine picks in his first two full seasons as the team’s starting quarterback in 2021 and 2022.

5 — Tyrus Washington catches for 56 yards on Arkansas’ first drive of the game. He had played four offensive snaps this season entering the weekend.

4 — Consecutive losses for the Razorbacks, matching their longest losing streak under Pittman. Arkansas lost four straight games to close his first season as head coach in 2020.

1.2 — Arkansas’ yard-per-carry average on 29 touches against the Rebels.