If Saturday is anything like last year, SEC fans are going to be in for a treat.

Although Arkansas is still searching for its first win against a conference opponent, the Razorbacks will bring some recent success into Saturday night’s SEC West clash with Ole Miss, including a raucous win in Oxford a year ago.

However, this year’s matchup is different as the Rebels enter as clear-cut favorites after blowing out both Georgia and Memphis in its last two games.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Here is what the media is saying about the showdown between the Razorbacks and Ole Miss:

  1. Arkansas is in search of its third straight win over Ole Miss, explains Kurt Voigt of the Associated Press. After the two SEC West rivals gave fans one of the most entertaining games of 2015, this year’s rematch figures to be another must-see shootout. Although Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said he hopes Saturday’s rematch is a little less wild than the 53-52 overtime victory the Hogs earned last season, Voigt believes the Rebels and Razorbacks’ matchup may be another instant classic filled with points. If Arkansas is able to pull off an upset, it will mark the first time the Hogs have won three straight over Ole Miss since 2004-07.
  2. Ole Miss will look to pressure the Razorbacks, writes Antonio Morales in The Clarion-Ledger. Even though the Hogs saw running backs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams run for more than 1,000 yards in recent years, the offensive line has been anything but stellar this season. Arkansas will enter Saturday ranked 63rd in the nation in rushing offense (176.3 yards per game) and tied for 78th in sacks allowed with 14. Last week, quarterback Austin Allen dropped back to pass 61 times and he was pressured on 42 of them. Despite being sacked seven times, that didn’t stop the Razorbacks’ signal-caller from putting up big numbers, though the three interceptions he threw were a sign of what could happen if the Rebels apply pressure.
  3. Struggling Arkansas defense is still trying to find its identity, explains Jimmy Carter of Arkansas Online. Defensive coordinator Robb Smith knows his unit needs to be better. After finishing No. 10 in the nation in total defense in 2014, the Razorbacks slipped to No. 58 last season and they have fallen to No. 63 through the first six games of this year. Even worse is the way they’ve played against SEC opponents. Arkansas allowed Texas A&M to average 10 yards per play when it lit up the Hogs for 45 points. Last week, the Crimson Tide averaged 10.1 and recorded 49 points. It won’t get any easier on Saturday, when the Razorbacks face an Ole Miss offense which can score in bunches.
  4. The Rebels are prepared to stop Arkansas’ pro-style attack, says Cody Thomason of The Daily Mississippian. Bielema loves a power running game. When he left Wisconsin to become the coach of the Razorbacks, he brought a Big Ten-style offense with him. The Hogs showcase a run-first offense led by sophomore Rawleigh Williams III, and they hope the running game opens up the passing game for Allen and his talented crop of receivers. Ole Miss defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said that because of the way it plays, preparation for Arkansas differs than other SEC teams. “They live off of the running game, the boots and then taking some shots deep, and I think they do a nice job with their formations,” Wommack said. “They’re different than other people in the conference. It’s a different preparation, and it should help us having the extra week off to get ready for them.
  5. Last year’s loss still lingers on the minds of the Rebels, points out Davis Potter in The Oxford Eagle. It was madness. Arkansas’ former All-American tight end Hunter Henry managed to avoid a tackle just long enough to lateral the ball on a 4th-and-25 play that eventually sparked the Razorbacks’ wild win in Oxford a year ago. Even though both teams boast rosters full of new players this season, last year’s loss has served as a motivator for Ole Miss ahead of Saturday’s clash. “If I ever see the end of that game, of course it still makes me sick,” Rebels coach Hugh Freeze said.