By DON KAUSLER JR.

 Arkansas is coming off two consecutive home games against Top 10 teams. The Razorbacks (4-3, 2-2 in the Southeastern Conference) did well to win 1. They defeated then-No. 4 Tennessee 19-14 and lost to then-No. 8 LSU 34-10.

Now comes a game at Mississippi State, a team with a 1-6 record. Under first-year Coach Jeff Lebby, formerly the Oklahoma offensive coordinator, the Bulldogs have lost six games since a season-opening 56-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky. They are 0-4 in the SEC and are tied with Auburn for last place.

They have started true freshman Michael Van Buren at quarterback since Baylor transfer Blake Sharpen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to visiting Florida on Sept. 21.

Arkansas is favored by 6½ points in an SEC Network game that will kick off at 11:45 a.m. CDT Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss.  

It should be a breather for the Razorbacks. Right?

Not according to fifth-year Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman.

“They’ve got a great football team,” Pittman said Monday. “Everybody looks at somebody’s record. Who did they play, too? It’s his first year in there and all that. He’s playing everybody. …

“They’re a scary team now to go in there and play. The cowbells going off and all that.”

Yes, the cowbells. We need more cowbells.

Pittman cited Mississippi State’s strength of schedule. The Bulldogs are coming off consecutive losses to 3 SEC championship contenders: then-No. 1 Texas (35-13), then-No. 5 Georgia (41-31) and then-No. 14 Texas A&M (34-24). Texas was a 37.5-point favorite against the Bulldogs; Georgia was a 34½-point favorite; Texas A&M was a 21½-point favorite.

FIRST DOWN

LSU review: The 24-point loss was deceiving. Arkansas, a 2½-point underdog, trailed 16-10 in the third quarter.

The Razorbacks lost to the Tigers for the 8th time in the past 9 meetings, and LSU has won 5 consecutive games in Fayetteville, dating to 2016.

Arkansas had 0 turnovers in its victory over Tennessee but had 3 against LSU. The Razorbacks lost 2 fumbles, and 1 of Taylen Green’s passes was intercepted.   

The pivotal play was a deflection and interception by LSU linebacker Whit Weeks late in the third quarter inside Arkansas’ 5. Caden Durham ran 2 yards for a touchdown on the next play, and LSU extended its lead to 24-10.

On consecutive plays late in the first half, officials could have called targeting and pass interference on LSU but called neither.

SECOND DOWN

Feed the horse: Arkansas wants to gallop against a Mississippi State team ranked No. 115 in the nation and last in the SEC in rushing defense (192.4 yards per game).

But the Razorbacks’ starting running back, Ja'Quinden Jackson, injured an ankle against LSU and is unlikely to play against Mississippi State. The redshirt senior transfer from Utah ranks fourth in the SEC with 592 yards on 104 carries with 10 touchdowns. He has caught 11 passes for 125 yards.

Backup Rodney Hill is expected to miss his third consecutive game with a knee injury.

"Rodney is a guy that we need back," Pittman said Monday. "He brings that toughness, that tough running to us. It's hurt us not to have him, to be honest with you."

That means 6-foot-1, 253-pound freshman Braylen Russell (Craven Whitlow photo, above) from Benton could have a breakout game. Junior Rashod Dubinion also could contribute.

"I trust all of them, but I think let’s saddle up Braylen Russell," Pittman said Monday. "Let’s go. I think he’s ready to go. Have already met with him this morning. Called him in and said, ‘Hey, man, you want it? Go take it.’ And I think he’s a really good player, I think he needs some confidence. We need to get him rolling, to me, early in the game. But I believe wholeheartedly in him."

Russell (27-127 rushing, 2 TDs) ran 8 times for 62 yards against Tennessee, including runs for 24 yards and 11 yards on consecutive plays to set up the winning touchdown.

“Young doesn’t mean he can’t be good,” Pittman said. “We’re going to turn around and let the horse eat a little bit.”

THIRD DOWN

Position battle: Redshirt junior Keyshawn Blackstock and junior Patrick Kutas are fighting for the starting left guard position. They have split first-team reps evenly this week at practice.

"There's still a battle there," Pittman said. "We probably won't know exactly who we're going to start there. I think they'll both play. But it's been a good competition this week. Both of them have played well. But it is a competition. We're going to have to run 1 of them out there with the 1s. We'll figure that out. ... Both of them have had good weeks."

Kutas was projected as a starter in the preseason, but he missed the first 6 games with a back injury. He could have played against LSU but was held out.

"Obviously, we’re trying to redshirt him if we can, which means we’re going to get 4 games out of him,” Pittman said. “… I believe that he’s fully healthy and ready to go."

Center Addison Nichols verifies this.

"You’d think someone would have to come back and knock the rust off,” Nichols said. “He hasn’t had to do that. He’s come back, and he’s had great effort. He’s got fresh legs, so it’s been great to see him go out there and run fast, physical.

"He’s done an amazing job. We are really excited for him to get back. We know he wanted to get back, and to be able to finally see him get back and get some snaps ... get out there and practice and play football, it’s been really exciting for us. I know it has been great for him."

Blackstock switched with redshirt sophomore E'Marion Harris from right tackle to left guard for the LSU game.

“They've done fantastic jobs transitioning to the new positions,” Nichols said. “… They've just hit it in the mouth and kept the ball rolling through the season, no setbacks."

FOURTH DOWN

Bowl eligibility: Arkansas has 5 regular-season games remaining and needs to win 2 to get to 6 victories and become bowl-eligible.

Arkansas will be an underdog in home games against Ole Miss and Texas. The regular-season finale at Missouri could be a tossup. The Razorbacks will be favored in a home nonconference game against Louisiana Tech (3-4).

That makes this a must-win game at Mississippi State.

Of course, if Arkansas can defeat Tennessee, it can defeat No. 18 Ole Miss (5-2) and/or No. 5 Texas (6-1). The Razorbacks lost early at Oklahoma State (3-4), which has lost its past 4 games, so they could lose at Mississippi State.

Mississippi State won 7-3 a year ago in Fayetteville and defeated Arkansas 40-17 two years ago in Starkville.

A loss Saturday to the Bulldogs probably would put Pittman back on the hot seat. Would a 6-6 record and a bid to a second-rate bowl save his job?

It might depend on a victory in the bowl game.