Despite Mississippi State being on a six-game losing streak, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman emphasized that he will not underestimate the Bulldogs ahead of their Southeastern Conference matchup this Saturday afternoon in Starkville, Miss.
After suffering a 34-10 defeat at home last week against No. 8 LSU—where the game was 16-10 midway through the third quarter—Arkansas (4-3, 2-2) is set to face Mississippi State (1-6, 0-4). Pittman stated on Monday that his team should not focus on the Bulldogs’ poor record but rather pay close attention to their freshman quarterback, Michael Van Buren Jr.
Van Buren, who stepped in for Blake Shapen after he sustained a season-ending shoulder injury against Florida on September 21, has shown impressive performances in his three starts. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 200 pounds, he has successfully completed 61 out of 114 passes for 792 yards, with six touchdowns and two interceptions, despite being sacked 11 times by his offensive line.
“They’re very dynamic with Van Buren,” Pittman noted about Mississippi State’s offense. “If you pressure them, they’ll go deep. He can throw long passes and make plays with his legs, which gives them chances.”
However, the Razorbacks may be without a significant offensive asset, as Pittman indicated that his leading running back, Ja’Quinden Jackson (592 yards, 10 TDs), is “very questionable” for the game.
Pittman acknowledged that Jackson has been dealing with injuries throughout SEC play.
Historically, the Bulldogs hold a 15-18-1 record against Arkansas but have triumphed in their last two encounters, including a 7-3 win last season in Fayetteville, which was the lowest-scoring game in their series.
First-year Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby is still seeking his first victory against an FBS opponent, having only won against FCS team Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in Week 1. Mississippi State currently shares the bottom of the SEC rankings with Auburn at 0-4.
In their recent 34-24 loss to No. 14 Texas A&M, the Bulldogs allowed at least 30 points for the sixth consecutive game, placing their defense among the worst in the Power 4, allowing an average of 33.3 points per game.
“Our regular down defense was the best we’ve been all year on first and second downs,” Lebby reflected on Monday. “We forced 16 third downs, but our inability to stop them there made the difference in showing strong defensive play.”
