Ole Miss vs. Arkansas (November 2, 2024) Pregame

No. 19 Ole Miss (6-2, 2-2 SEC) at Arkansas (5-3, 3-2), Saturday, 11 a.m. ET (ESPN)

College football odds: Ole Miss at 9 1/2

Series record: Arkansas leads 38-30-1.

What is at stake?

No. 19 Ole Miss needs to beat Arkansas to ensure next week’s game against No. 2 Georgia gets plenty of national attention. A win over the Razorbacks this week also keeps the Rebels in the conversation for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Arkansas can secure bowl eligibility with a win. This is a big deal for coach Sam Pittman, who was on the hot seat after an 8-4 loss last year. First-year offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino helped. The Razorbacks have moved from 100th in total offense in the FBS last season to 7th this year.

Key match

Arkansas tight end Luke Hasz against Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul. Hasz caught four passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns last week. Paul, who transferred from Arkansas in the offseason, may not be his direct man-to-man partner but should receive occasional assignments. He leads the Rebels with 60 tackles.

Players to watch

Old lady: Tre Harris missed last week’s game against Oklahoma with a leg injury and still leads the team in receptions with 59 catches, 987 yards and six touchdowns. Rebels coach Lane Kiffin called him “probably the best receiver in the country.” He is expected to be healthy for this game.

Arkansas: As an Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green gets rolling, and so do the Razorbacks. Just Vanderbilts Diego Pavia has more yards rushing from the position in the SEC. However, he is prone to interceptions. Before last week’s five-point performance against Mississippi State, he had a 1-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Facts & Figures

Ole Miss and Arkansas have split their last 14 meetings and each have seven wins. Two of Ole Miss’ victories in the series have since been voided after the NCAA found multiple violations under then-coach Hugh Freeze. … Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart is currently on pace to set the school record for passing yards in a single season. … Paul was the Razorbacks’ second-leading tackler in 2023. … Ole Miss has won just once in Fayetteville since 2008, when former Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt coached the Rebels and Petrino led the Arkansas program.

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