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The Battle Line Rivalry will take place for the 15th time on Nov. 30 when Arkansas travels to Columbia.
The game will be played the Saturday after Thanksgiving this season rather than the usual Friday.
Missouri leads the series 10-4 all-time and has won seven of the last eight including a 48-14 drubbing last season.
This year’s game could mean a little more as the Tigers could have their eyes on the postseason and the Razorbacks could be the last team standing in their way, so who will be behind Arkansas’ attempt to shock the Tigers?
Head Coach: Sam Pittman
Pittman has a long coaching career that started in 1984 at his alma mater Pittsburg State.
Pittman also coached high school football in Missouri and even had a one-year stop in 2000 as Missouri’s offensive line coach under head coach Larry Smith.
Coach Pittman has a 21-25 record at Arkansas including a nine-win 2021 season that saw the Razorbacks win the Outback Bowl and finish no. 21 overall in the AP poll.
Offense
Bobby Petrino (and hopefully not his motorcycle) is riding back into Fayetteville to take over as offensive coordinator of the Razorbacks.
Petrino’s career includes stops in the NFL and college football. Last season he was the offensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and before that was Missouri State’s head coach for three seasons.
In 2007, Petrino was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons but after Mike Vick’s injury before the season, the Falcons started the season 3-10. After the torrid start, Petrino resigned to become the head coach at Arkansas, leaving his players a four-sentence laminated note at each of their lockers.
In 2011, Petrino’s last season as Arkansas head coach, he led the Razorbacks to an 11-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory.
Petrino’s offense will look to get back to basics, and that is running the ball.
Look for Rashod Dubion to step up in the offensive backfield. He had 82 carries for 260 yards and a touchdown last season. Ja’Quinden Jackson could be the star running back. The senior transfer from Utah had 742 yards on 153 attempts and four touchdowns last season.
The Hogs gave up the most sacks and tackles for loss in the SEC last season and that has to change. The offensive line will be expected to protect Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green.
Green is a dynamic QB who threw for 1,752 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 436 yards and nine touchdowns at Boise State last year. If the Razorbacks are successful they will need Green to show the flashes that he did at the end of last season. In the Mountain West title game, Green threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns, on top of that he added 90 yards and two scores on the ground.
Defense
The defense was inconsistent last season, giving up at least 30 points in six games, but also giving up 20 or less in four games.
The defensive line is a strong point, especially with preseason All-American Landon Jackson. Jackson had a career-high 44 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season.
Linebackers Jaheim Thomas (Wisconsin) and Chris Paul (Ole Miss) were both lost to the transfer portal. Georgia transfer, Xavian Sorey, will play an important role in the linebacker corps. Sorey had 15 tackles and a sack last season for the Bulldogs.
Prediction
This game could have major stakes for the Tigers and a little over-performing by the Razorbacks could see them become bowl-eligible with a win. On top of this, it is a rivalry game that has had some bad blood in the past.
I think Arkansas will do a good job in the first half of running the ball and keeping Missouri off of the field. However, the Tigers pull away at the end and win 27-14.
