FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When Arkansas interim coach Bobby Petrino and Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby meet for the first time Saturday, it will be a matchup between two offensive strategists who have earned reputations for productive systems and balanced attacks.
“I don’t know him at all,” Petrino said Monday. “I don’t think I’ve ever met him.”
Lebby said he has no relationship with Petrino either but acknowledged his long track record of developing quarterbacks and leading efficient offenses.
“He has great quarterbacks and has coached them in a great way to give the offense a chance to have great balance,” Lebby said. “He makes people play 11 on 11, which makes it really, really tough defensively.”
Petrino, 64, said he has followed Lebby’s career and recognizes the influences that shaped his system. Lebby played at Oklahoma before coaching under Art Briles at Baylor, Josh Heupel at Central Florida and Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, then returned to Oklahoma in 2022 before becoming Mississippi State’s head coach in 2024.
“I obviously know of him and know where he’s been and where he’s coached and the schemes that he grew up in,” Petrino said. “A lot of times you feel like you know guys because you know who they are and what they do.”
The Razorbacks enter the game ranked seventh nationally in total offense with 490.9 yards per game, 26th in scoring at 35.5 points, 19th in passing at 285.9 yards and 22nd in rushing at 205.0. They are fourth in the country in third-down conversions at 54 percent.
Arkansas and Mississippi State share two common opponents so far — Tennessee and Texas A&M — but that number will rise to five by the end of the year. Both teams are 0-2 against the Volunteers and Aggies. Arkansas lost both games by three points each, while Mississippi State dropped a 41-34 overtime decision to Tennessee and a 31-9 contest to Texas A&M.
Mississippi State is coming off a 45-38 overtime loss to Texas, while the Razorbacks will visit the Longhorns on Nov. 22. Arkansas also lost 41-35 at Ole Miss, and the Bulldogs will host the Rebels on Nov. 28. Both still have Missouri remaining on their schedules.
Last year’s meeting in Starkville was dominated by Arkansas in a 58-25 victory. The teams combined for just one punt — a 53-yarder by Arkansas’ Devin Bale — and the Razorbacks scored on 10 of their 13 possessions. The Bulldogs committed five turnovers and converted two of four fourth-down attempts.
This year’s game could hinge on turnovers again. Arkansas leads the SEC with 15 giveaways, three more than any other team, and ranks last in turnover margin at minus-1.0 per game. Mississippi State is tied with Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas for first in the league with 14 takeaways. The Bulldogs’ 11 interceptions are the most in the SEC, and their turnover margin of plus-0.63 ranks fourth.
Petrino called last week’s 33-24 loss to Auburn “disturbing” after the Razorbacks posted a season-low 331 yards of offense. He said he wants his players to move on quickly and shared a story from his early coaching career at Weber State to make the point.
“One of our older assistant coaches told me, ‘Don’t worry about it. It always stays longer with you than it does with the players,’” Petrino said. “They have a short-term memory. That’s a good thing.”
Petrino also praised running back Braylen Russell for his development in the weight room since last season, recalling a team tradition from his first stint as Arkansas coach.
“When you got your all-time best, you’d run over and ring a bell so everyone knew it,” Petrino said. “It’s contagious.”
Away from football, Arkansas players are also thinking about their futures. Cornerback Kani Walker said he wants to work in men’s mental health and provide affordable housing for families in need. Tight end Rohan Jones said he hopes to open a sports mentorship facility for underprivileged youth.
Arkansas leads the all-time series 19-15-1, including a 10-5-1 record in games played in the state. Mississippi State has won nine of the last 13 meetings and five of the last six in Arkansas.
Saturday’s game will kick off at 3 p.m. on SEC Network, with Joe Tessitor handling play-by-play, Jordan Rodgers providing analysis and Katie George reporting from the sidelines.
