Two-Minute Drill: Arkansas 42, Mississippi State 21

ARKANSAS 42, MISSISSIPPI STATE 21

WHY ARKANSAS WON

Ryan Mallett threw for five touchdown passes for the third time this season and second game in a row to spark the Razorback offense. Freshman receiver Cobi Hamilton, who has patiently waited his turn while the "big three" of Greg Childs, Jarius Wright and Joe Adams have starred all season, had two huge scores in the passing game: one on a 58-yard bomb from Mallett in the second quarter and on a 64-yard catch and run on a "jailbreak" screen pass against an all-out Mississippi State blitz in the third quarter. Arkansas' defense started the second half on its heels and allowed the Bulldogs to run all over them for two scores to close the gap to seven, 28-21, then regrouped and shut down the MSU running game the rest of the way.

Wright, Childs and Adams each had a touchdown reception on the day as well.

Mississippi State can say it may have won the line of scimmage, outrushing Arkansas 327 yards to 83, but while the Bulldogs tried a variety of blitzes all day the Hogs' protection for Mallett was good enough, allowing him to complete 18 of 34 passes for 313 yards. Mallett didn't have his most accurate passing day, and some of his throws were dropped.

GAME CHANGER

Mississippi State had two offensive possessions down one score in the second half. On the first, having scored on the previous two possessions, the Bulldogs faced a fourth-and-2 at the Arkansas 42-yard line and MSU coach Dan Mullen chose to punt the ball away. It looked like a good decision when the punt was downed at Arkansas' 2, and the Razorbacks got just one first down before having to kick the ball back.

On the next possession, though, Bulldogs running back star Anthony Dixon was hit on an off-tackle play by Tenarius Wright and UA defensive tackle Zach Stadther stuck his helmet in and knocked the ball loose. Arkansas safety Elton Ford recovered the fumble at midfield, and the Hogs took that short-field possession in for another two-score lead. Mississippi State never managed another decent offensive march again.

BREAKOUT DAY