In a Nutshell: Instant Reaction from Ole Miss’ 42-27 loss to Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Here is the story in a nutshell of Arkansas’ 42-27 win over Ole Miss Saturday.
THE POSITIVE
Ole Miss did not roll over after being rolled early. The Rebels scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to make the score more respectable.
Also, Quinshon Judkins became the all-time leading rusher in a season for Ole Miss. The freshman ran for 214 yards against the Razorbacks. He now has 1,385 yards this year, breaking the record of 1,312 set by Kayo Dottley in 1949.
Quinshon Judkins for the score, breaking the single-season rushing record held by Kayo Dottley with 1352 yards and 16 TDs!! pic.twitter.com/aVzbP70Zps
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) November 20, 2022
THE NEGATIVE
The mindset and the turnovers. Perhaps it was the residue after the Alabama loss. Maybe the cold weather affected the players. Or, the team could have been looking forward to the Egg Bowl Thursday.
But, whatever it was, Ole Miss made a variety of mistakes. Two penalties nullified touchdowns. An interception in the last minute of the first half led to an Arkansas touchdown with five seconds left and gave the Hogs a 35-6 lead.
Ole Miss finished the game minus three in turnovers, something Coach Kiffin discussed after the game.
Coach Kiffin: "…Critical penalties took 14 points off the board. I told them there are recipes to not win and that's -3 in the turnover margin."
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) November 20, 2022
Even Jonathan Cruz missed a field goal for the first time this season.
THE BEST UNIT
The running backs. Not only did Judkins run for the record-setting performance, but Zach Evans got back into the lineup and appeared to be full strength as he rushed for 207.
Zach Evans up the middle for 48 yards and a TOUCHDOWN! The 2-point pass is good to Mingo, it’s now 42-20! pic.twitter.com/FQTwnkJe8i
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) November 20, 2022
Yes, Ole Miss had two running backs run for over 200 yards.
THE MOMENTUM CHANGE
It was early.
Facing a fourth-and-19, trailing by a touchdown in the first quarter, Jaxson Dart hit Dayton Wade with a touchdown pass. But a holding call brought the play back and Ole Miss had to give up possession.
Arkansas took the ball and scored a touchdown, so instead of being tied 7-7, the Razorbacks had a 14-0 lead and the momentum.
There were some questionable non-calls as well…including this one.
At what level of football is this not pass interference? C’mon Man! pic.twitter.com/dL4QQLdn47
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) November 20, 2022
Ole Miss never got back into the game, though they fought hard in the fourth quarter.
WHERE OLE MISS GOES FROM HERE
Ole Miss could not avoid a hangover after the loss to Alabama, but now must avoid The Hangover II as Mississippi State comes to Oxford for the Egg Bowl Thursday night.
The Bulldogs easily handled East Tennessee State Saturday, 56-7. State is now 7-4 on the year and 3-4 in the conference.
Steve Barnes
Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.
He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.
A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.
Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.
He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.
Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.
