FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A night that started with promise for Arkansas ended in frustration and disbelief.
The Razorbacks built a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold it, allowing Mississippi State to rally for a 38-35 win Saturday at Razorback Stadium.
Arkansas (2-7, 0-5 SEC) appeared on its way to snapping a seven-game losing streak and earning its first conference win under interim coach Bobby Petrino.
Instead, the Hogs broke the wrong kind of record — 18 penalties for 193 yards, the most in school history — and gave up three late touchdowns as Mississippi State stormed back.
Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Evans III with 18 seconds left to cap a comeback that stunned the Fayetteville crowd and sent the Bulldogs (5-4, 1-4 SEC) home with their first SEC victory since 2023.
“Offensively, we moved the ball the way we wanted to,” Petrino said. “But when you put yourself behind the sticks with that many penalties, it’s impossible to sustain.”
Hogs look sharp early
Arkansas controlled much of the night.
Quarterback Taylen Green, still recovering from a leg bruise suffered two weeks earlier, was efficient through the air and dangerous on the ground.
Green threw two touchdowns and ran for another, giving the Razorbacks a 28-14 lead late in the third quarter.
Running back Mike Washington Jr. scored on a 20-yard burst, and wide receiver Rohan Jones hauled in a 9-yard touchdown to energize the 70,000-plus fans in attendance.
The Razorbacks rolled up 453 yards of total offense and converted six of their first nine third downs.
But momentum vanished as mistakes piled up. False starts and holding calls stalled drives, and defensive penalties extended Mississippi State possessions.
Ten flags came in the second half alone, including a roughing-the-passer call that wiped out an interception and led to a Bulldogs touchdown.
“You know I can’t say anything,” Petrino said when asked about officiating. “That’s how they handcuff you. I’d just say watch the video.”
Mississippi State finds a way
The Bulldogs took advantage every time Arkansas stumbled.
Shapen finished with 242 passing yards and two scores, while Evans caught five passes for 111 yards.
Backup quarterback Kamario Taylor also provided a spark, leading two key scoring drives after Shapen briefly left the game following a hit.
“We knew we had the right matchups,” Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby said. “Blake made the throw we needed when it mattered most.”
Mississippi State trailed 35-21 with 13:43 left before scoring on three consecutive drives of 75, 43, and 69 yards.
The game-winner came after a punt that pinned Arkansas deep and set up a short field when the Razorbacks failed to flip field position.
The victory snapped a 15-game SEC losing streak for the Bulldogs — their last win also came against Arkansas in 2023.
It was Lebby’s first conference victory as head coach.
Breakdown on both sides of the ball
For Arkansas, the collapse was familiar. It was the second time this season the Razorbacks lost after leading by double digits in the second half.
The defense allowed 203 yards in the fourth quarter and struggled to contain Shapen once he found rhythm.
Big plays were wiped away by penalties. One 40-yard touchdown grab was erased by a holding call, and another long gain on a screen pass was nullified by a block in the back.
“Eighteen flags — that’s completely unacceptable,” Petrino said. “You can’t win football games playing behind the chains like that. We’ll get that fixed.”
What’s next for Arkansas
The loss guaranteed more questions about the team’s discipline and consistency.
Since taking over as interim head coach, Petrino has kept the offense competitive, but the Hogs have now allowed 30-plus points in four straight SEC games.
Arkansas travels to LSU on Nov. 15 before closing the regular season at home against Missouri. The Razorbacks must win both to avoid their first two-win season in six years.
“We’ve still got games left to play,” Petrino said. “There’s no quit in that locker room.”
Mississippi State, now 5-4 overall, will host No. 4 Georgia next week with a chance to reach bowl eligibility and build on the breakthrough win.
Three takeaways
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Penalties sink the Hogs: Arkansas set school records with 18 penalties and 193 yards, derailing drives and extending Mississippi State possessions.
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Déjà vu in Fayetteville: For the second time this season, Arkansas blew a double-digit second-half lead at home.
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Discipline the top priority: Petrino said cutting down on mental mistakes is essential as Arkansas tries to salvage the season’s final stretch.
