Checking in on the Week 10 temperatures in Fayetteville, Ark. … 

HOT

Arkansas’ offense. Bret Bielema expressed his desire this week to average 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing on offense, and the Razorbacks put forth its most balanced effort of the year in Saturday’s win over UAB. No. 1 Mississippi State will provide a tougher test, but the Bulldogs have some holes on the defensive side of the football. The Hogs will need to replicate last week’s output, but will also need a big day from Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins in order to pull the upset in Starkville.

WARM

On the flip side of the football, Arkansas was dominant against the Blazers. Again, though, Dak Prescott, Josh Robinson and company provide a much stiffer test. The Bulldogs racked up nearly 550 yards of total offense against Kentucky. It’s tough to find a weakness between the run game, and the weapons Prescott has to work with on the perimeter. Arkansas held UAB to just 195 yards of total offense; that was facing a backup quarterback, however. The Hogs will need to get off the field on third downs and force some turnovers.

COLD

Special teams. Adam McFain kicked the football well on Saturday, Bielema said Monday that the punt return job is being opened up for competition this week, meaning freshman D.J. Dean will have to earn it to keep his spot. Arkansas’ lone turnover came on a punt return Saturday, and the Hogs nearly lost another. Sam Irwin-Hill punted the football well, after struggling two weeks ago against Georgia, so it will be interesting to see if he keeps his duties.

FROZEN

Mental toughness. In two conference games against top 10 opponents, the Razorbacks held leads into the fourth quarter only to see those leads vanish due to penalties and turnovers. Arkansas looked good against Conference USA UAB, but how does Bielema’s team respond on the road against the nation’s top-ranked team?