Arkansas is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016 thanks to a late 31-28 win at Mississippi State.

The Razorbacks entered the season with 7 wins in their last 3 seasons, winning twice in each of Chad Morris’ years at the helm in 2018 and 2019 (but 0 times in the SEC) and thrice in 2020 during the COVID-abbreviated season as Sam Pittman took the reins. They’re now sitting at 6-3 with 3 games to go, with their next victory matching their 7-win season of 2016. They also have a strong chance to pick up an 8-win season for the first time since 2015.

This one wasn’t without drama as the 2 teams combined for 29 points during a wild 4th quarter. After Dominique Johnson ran one in for a touchdown and tacked on a 2-point conversion with 21 seconds left, Will Rogers and the Bulldogs quickly found themselves in field goal range. But true freshman Nolan McCord missed a potential game-tying 40-yard field goal, Mississippi State’s 3rd miss of the day, to seal the win for the Razorbacks.

Here’s what Sam Pittman had to say after the game: