10 Things to Know - Ole Miss

Off to its fourth 2-0 start of the Sam Pittman era, Arkansas heads to Oxford to open SEC play against nationally ranked Ole Miss. Kickoff from inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, where the Hogs have not won since 2017, is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, on ESPN.

1 – Arkansas has an all-time record of 59-48-3 in conference openers since joining the Southwest Conference in 1915. The Hogs enter the matchup seeking victories in consecutive years to open conference play for the second time under head coach Sam Pittman, who is 3-2 in SEC Openers.

2 – QB Taylen Green has inserted himself into early Heisman Trophy conversations through the season’s first two games. The Hogs’ dual-threat quarterback has completed 41-for-57 (71.9%) passes for 561 yards and nation-leading 10 touchdowns while also rushing for 192 yards and a touchdown. Green’s full arsenal was on display in Arkansas’ blowout win against Arkansas State, racking up 390 yards of total offense (239 pass, 151 rush) and five total touchdowns (4 pass, 1 rush). His 151 rushing yards mark the fourth most in a game by a quarterback in program history.

3 – LB Xavian Sorey Jr. stuffed the stat sheet in Arkansas’ commanding win against Arkansas State, racking up a team-high 15 total tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss, with a half-sack, a forced fumble and an interception. The Razorback linebacker became the first Arkansas defender since at least 1997 to finish a game with at least 15 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a half-sack, a forced fumble and an interception.

4 – Arkansas went over 300 yards rushing and passing in a single game for just the fourth time in program history during last weekend’s win over Arkansas State, courtesy of 323 yards rushing and 309 yards passing. The Hogs’ previously accomplished the feat against Ole Miss (350 rush, 326 pass) in 2021 and Mississippi State twice (2024: 359 rush, 314 pass. 2016: 357 rush, 304 pass).

5 – WR O’Mega Blake caught a team-high five passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in Arkansas’ lopsided win against Arkansas State. Through two games this season, the Charlotte transfer has emerged as the Razorbacks’ top pass-catching option, leading the team in nearly every major receiving category: receptions (12), receiving yards (185), receiving touchdowns (2) and receiving yards per game (92.5).

6 – Saturday’s matchup will be the 72nd meeting between the programs. The Razorbacks hold a 38-30-1 all-time series lead over the Rebels. Ole Miss holds a slim 9-6 all-time series lead in games played in Oxford. Two results are not recognized in the all-time series history due to vacated Ole Miss wins in 2012 and 2013.

7 – Through the first two games this season, QB Taylen Green has thrown for 10 touchdowns, the most by an Arkansas passer over a two-game span since QB Ryan Mallett threw for 10 touchdowns over two games in 2009.

8 – The Razorbacks’ 194 consecutive extra-points made streak, which began on Dec. 5, 2020, is the second-longest such streak nationally based on date, behind Northwestern (Oct. 24, 2020).

9 – Under the guidance of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, Arkansas ranks fourth nationally in scrimmage plays of 10+ yards with 45. The Razorbacks lead all FBS programs in 10+ yard plays that have played two or fewer games. The Hogs also rank among the national leaders in 20+ yard plays (T-3, 17) and 30+ yard plays (T-6, 8).

10 – Through two games this season, Arkansas has had a program record seven different players catch a TD pass. From 1950-1997, Arkansas only had 7+ players catch a TD pass throughout the entirety of a season on four separate occasions: 1981 (7), 1979 (7), 1977 (7), and 1970 (8). The Razorbacks are tied for the national lead in passing touchdowns (11) with Western Kentucky, and their seven players to catch a touchdown pass are the most in the FBS alongside Western Kentucky, Temple, Pitt, and Alabama.