On what was a stunning night to be inside Razorback Stadium, Arkansas welcomed in Missouri State and former head coach Bobby Petrino. The bittersweet memories of big bowl wins, double-digit-win seasons were brought up this week. It was a time of excitement that fans are starting to feel again with the success of Sam Pittman.

Arkansas came away with an ugly 38-27 victory on Saturday, and it wasn’t always easy. In fact it was never easy. So I’ll break it down in a what I liked and didn’t like against Missouri State.

Three things I liked:

Scoring quickly

Going vertical. KJ Jefferson placed two balls on the money, one to Matt Landers for 47 yards and then another to Jadon Haselwood for 38 yards and a touchdown. The quick strikes got the Hogs to within 17-14 at halftime.

Then, trailing 27-17 in the third quarter, they scored on a 2-play, 26-second drive. This time, Rocket Sanders took a shovel screen 73 yards for a touchdown.

Bryce Stephens returned a punt 80 yards for Arkansas to finally take the lead and the momentum, 31-27. It was the team’s first punt return for a TD since since Nathan Parodi did so last season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Getting pressure to the QB

Arkansas finished the game with 8 sacks. The Razorbacks came into the game against Missouri State 3rd third nationally in sacks this season.

Finding themselves in the 4th quarter

Before the game, the thought that Arkansas would be down 10 points the first quarter was not really considered. What’s weird about this game up to the 4th quarter was the lack of motivation from the Razorbacks.

Were the Hogs players going through the motions? Was Petrino calling the game of his life?

After the game, Pittman said he was out-coached by his adversary.

“I just think Missouri State outplayed us to be honest. Coach was better than me today and I gotta get that fixed,” said Pittman.

There were plenty of questions being asked on social media, too. The bad vibes of the Chad Morris era were creeping back in.

Speaking of negative energy, here is what I disliked in the struggle win:

Caught looking ahead?

From the jump, Missouri State possessed the ball for 10 of the first 12 minutes of the 1st quarter. The Bears were attacking the intermediate and deep parts of the Razorback defense.

Petrino has a history of pinpointing the weakness in an opponents’ defense. The Bears simply pierced the side of the Razorbacks again and again.

Offensively, it wasn’t much better since the Hogs spent the first 18 minutes posting two 3-and-outs and two fumbles. The lack of motivation, effort or whatever was is alarming going back into Southeastern Conference play next Saturday.

Back to the defensive side of things there were multiple missed tackles by standout linebacker Bumper Pool. As uncharacteristic as those were, it figures to get corrected. He hasn’t surged up the Razorbacks’ list of all-time leading tacklers by not knowing how to do it. It’s fair to just call it a bad game.

Ball security

In what has been a very solid first 2 weeks of the season the Razorbacks have protected the football for the most part. Mostly by not forcing things that aren’t there and holding onto the ball even when absorbing tough blows.

Arkansas lost 2 fumbles in the first quarter by two of their best offensive players in Jefferson and Sanders. Again, that will be addressed. If it becomes an issue moving forward it could derail a promising season.

Mistake-filled game

Missed tackles, shoddy pass coverage, penalties, fumbles and dropped passes were a very big surprise early on.

But a run on 4th-and-9? It could stand as the poor call of the year.

Arkansas rebounded for the win. It’s not entirely clear how they survived, but the culture Pittman has instilled in the locker room has to have contributed. Just 4 seasons ago the Hogs would not have not pulled it out.

This is an improved program from the editions that lost to the likes of North Texas, Colorado State, San Jose State and Western Kentucky in a 2-year span. Arkansas is wired differently now. When they figured out it was time to turn it on, the Hogs somehow got it done.

Now they’ll take a 3-0 record to Jerry’s World in Arlington, Texas, for their SEC West match-up against Texas A&M.