Hogs Will Have to Slow Down Jaxson Dart or Stop Ole Miss

Is it even possible for struggling Razorbacks to do either one against hot Ole Miss?

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Oct 2, 2023 3:11 PM EDT
Original:
Oct 1, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has been in this position against Ole Miss before. Several times with a lot of mixed results, depending on absolutely nothing in common except Razorback fans and media often have this problem accepting sometimes the Rebels just have better players.

Now with five games in the books for both teams, we have analytics to show the one overwhelming thing Ole Miss can do is move the ball and put up points. Through five games for each team, Ole Miss has over 800 yards more total offense than the Hogs. You can argue about the quality of comparing those opponents all you want.

You can find analytics all you want about the Hogs' defense playing well this year. The record is still 2-3. The defense is playing better, but that was a low bar to clear and analyzing analytics can always be reported about three or four ways. The bottom line is the number. You are what your record says you are.

Claiming anything else is making an excuse for failure and Hogs coach Sam Pittman doesn't need me making up reasons for anything. He probably agrees with the bottom line because that's one number that can't be analyzed in multiple ways.

The Hogs, sitting at 2-3 right now, need a win desperately. Some folks are already smelling blood in the water around the coach and the players, and there are still seven games left on the schedule. Let's see how it all plays out, but Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is playing better than the Hogs' KJ Jefferson right now and that reason is a better offensive line and group of receivers.

This isn't a question of effort because nobody appears to have thrown in the towel. But players are developed about as far as that's going to happen this year. Don't point out exceptions that prove the statement.

Plus, Ole Miss has a pretty good running game on offense. Quinshon Judkins is probably the best running back in the SEC and he's starting to look like it. Again, he's starting to hit his stride, putting up 177 yards on his own against LSU last week.

Now the Hogs just have to find a way to get a win against Ole Miss and spoil things again. We will hear numerous times this week about the seven overtime win and the "Henry Heave" miracle in 2015 that knocked the Rebels out of their first appearance in the SEC Championship game. All of that means exactly nothing now.

Nobody can look ahead with this team. That light some fans and media see in the tunnel might be an oncoming train. If nothing else, last weekend in the SEC should have taught everyone nothing can be taken for granted.