Sam Pittman knows the Arkansas offense needs to strike a balance to be effective, and he said that the Razorbacks have improved that this season.

“We’re running the ball more than we did last year and we’re doing it because we’ve had more success,” Pittman said on the SEC coaches media teleconference. “We’re fairly close to 50-50, but we’re just trying to do whatever we can to score points. … We’re a little higher on run this year.”

That running game will be put to the test this week against Mississippi State, which is tied for second in the SEC in run defense with Alabama and behind Georgia. State allows 89.63 yards per game on the ground. Arkansas, meanwhile, is second in the SEC in rushing offense as the Razorbacks are averaging 249 yards per game.

“Something’s gotta give,” Pittman said. “We’re proud of what we do rushing the football and they haven’t allowed people to run against them. They have a lot of talent over there, love their schematics … very aggressive on third down. … They get you behind the sticks early. We have to do a good job on first down.”