Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers became the SEC all-time leader in pass completions and the No. 23 Bulldogs rolled Arkansas, 40-17, on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

Rogers completed a 12-yard pass to Austin Williams on the last play of the 1st quarter to break the record set by Georgia’s Aaron Murray, who completed 921 passes over 52 games. Rogers smashed the record in just his 28th game.

The Bulldogs broke a 2-game losing streak to Arkansas, winning for the 8th time in the past 11 meetings between the teams and are now 9-6 all-time against the Hogs at Starkville. The victory lifts Mississippi State to 5-1 (2-1 in the SEC.

Arkansas (3-3, 1-3), facing its 4th ranked opponent in the first 6 games for the 2nd consecutive season, struggled on offense without its leader, quarterback KJ Jefferson, who missed the game with an injury. But Malik Hornsby took over and did enough to keep the Razorbacks in the game. Undeterred by a goal-line stand that denied a possible Razorbacks’ score early in the 3rd quarter, Hornsby delivered a 54-yard dart to Bryce Stephens to bring the Hogs to within 27-17 late in the 3rd quarter.

But this was the Bulldogs’ day. They answered with Rogers driving them 75 yards in 7 plays to extend the margin to 34-17 heading into the 4th quarter. A 20-yard pass from Rogers to Rufus Harvey, preceded a 30-yard TD dash by Dillon Johnson. It was 40-17 early in the 4th quarter when Jo’quavious Marks completed a 6-play, 70-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. They missed the PAT kick attempt for the second time in the game.

The Bulldogs waddled into the end zone on their first possession of the second half to extend their lead to 27-10. Rogers completed a 6-play, 58-yard drive with a 33-yard TD pass to Caleb Ducking and the patented celebration ensued. Rogers finished with 3 TD passes, increasing his SEC lead to 22.

They scored on their opening possession of the game as well. The Bulldogs went 65 yards in 9 plays to take a 7-0 lead. They have now scored in 5 of 6 opening drives so far this season. But the damage was done on the ground. Six of the 9-play drive were running plays, taking advantage of Arkansas’ 3-man front. Dillon Johnson carried all 6 times, for 30 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run.

Mississippi State ran for a season-high 158 yards — topping 140 for the 2nd consecutive game.

The Bulldogs committed to running the ball against Arkansas’ 5 in the box. They converted a 4th-and-3 at the Hogs’ 11-yard line with a 4-yard run by Marks. It set up a 5-yard TD pass from Rogers to Jaden Walley and a 14-0 lead for a Mississippi State team that came into the came 2nd nationally in red zone passing touchdown percentage (64.71).

Converting another 4th-and-3 play with a 4-yard run by Marks, Rogers took advantage with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Williams, who made a diving catch in the end zone, and the Bulldogs led 21-0.

The Hogs answered with the final 10 points of the 1st half, including a 51-yard field goal from Cam Little and a 3-yard touchdown run by Rocket Sanders. Hornsby’s 68-yard completion to Jadon Haselwood set up Sanders’ score.