In the always dangerous Southeastern Conference — where seemingly easier, unranked matchups on paper become 60-minute battles on the field — coach Lane Kiffin and No. 19 Ole Miss understand what can happen one state to the west.
Ole Miss (6-2, 2-2) will face one of those situations Saturday afternoon when it meets Arkansas (5-3, 3-2) in Fayetteville, Ark.
Both teams are part of a glut of two-loss SEC teams, as the Rebels and Razorbacks join No. 14 Alabama and No. 25 Missouri as programs that cannot afford a third defeat if the College Football Playoffs remain the end goal.
Like Arkansas, Vanderbilt (5-3, 2-2), one of the season’s best stories, and Florida (4-3, 2-2) have two SEC setbacks. Their third losses overall — non-conference ones — are practically an eliminator when it comes to at-large CFP consideration, however.
Favored Ole Miss should be wary of the Razorbacks on Saturday, and Kiffin need look no further than the plight of one of the schools he coached, Tennessee.
Ranked No. 4, the Vols cruised down to Fayetteville and lost 19-14 on Oct. 5, destroying their top-five position nearly as soon as they achieved it.
Kiffin and Arkansas’ Sam Pittman have been in wild games against each other, including a 52-51 Ole Miss home win in 2021, when the Razorbacks missed a potential game-winning, two-point conversion on the final play.
The home coach has won all four meetings between Kiffin and Pittman.
“We’ve had a lot of really tough matchups over time with them since we’ve been here,” the Rebels’ coach said Monday.
Arkansas has eclipsed last season’s four-win total by winning every other week since opening conference play with a 24-14 win at Auburn in Week 4.
In its 58-25 blowout of host Mississippi State last Saturday, Arkansas was dazzling behind quarterback Taylen Green, who passed for five scores, ran for one TD and led an offense that gained 675 yards.
Green has 2,451 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns — 11 passing, five rushing — and has ignited the offense following the departure of three-year starter KJ Jefferson to UCF.
The Razorbacks rank seventh nationally in total offense — with an average of 482.5 yards per game — while Ole Miss grids second (538.1).
Pittman said these Rebels are different from the past: The defense might be better than the offense. Former Razorbacks linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. has a team-high 58 tackles.
“I just thought he was physical and played so hard,” Kiffin said of why he added Paul in the offseason. “He got hurt in our game against them a year ago. It was just different when he was in there, a difference-maker. He’s been great for us.”
The difference in Ole Miss’ defense is noticeable.
“They’ve always played well on defense, but you’re looking at the No. 1 rush defense in the country and No. 1 in points allowed,” Pittman said. “Their front is deep, and they’re very good at every defensive position. (Paul) is their leading tackler. He’s playing extremely well. They’re just really good defensively.
“You think about Ole Miss, you (usually) think about offense.”
Pittman said top running back Ja’Quinden Jackson and defensive back Jaylon Braxton are doubtful for Saturday’s game because of injuries, while running back Rodney Hill is probable.
