Arkansas definitely put up one of its most complete games of the season when facing Mississippi State.

The Razorbacks put up a strong effort in an attempt to pull off the upset of the No. 16 Bulldogs. Mississippi State had four early fumbles, two of which were lost, that helped Arkansas jump out to a 14-0 lead. A scoring run by David Williams and a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Briston Guidry gave the Hogs momentum and a serious shot at the upset.

It would take the Bulldogs a while to settle in, but they were able to do so and respond in the second quarter. Their first points of the game would come with 5:17 left before halftime following a big fourth-down conversion. QB Nick Fitzgerald scored the touchdown from 18 yards out to put the Bulldogs on the board.

Mississippi State would force a stop and punt attempt on the ensuing possession. It was a great series for the defense that turned out even better on fourth down. A botched snap forced Razorbacks punter Blake Johnson to scramble for his life, and he was tackled on his own 17-yard line. The Bulldogs did not waste the great field position as Aeris Williams capped the three-play drive off with an eight-yard touchdown.

The two teams headed to halftime all tied up. Both teams had miscues that they would like to forget, and both teams had to feel fortunate that they were not facing a deficit at the break.

The third quarter looked like it was headed for a stalemate before Arkansas got an incredible break. The Razorbacks fumbled the ball and it appeared that the Bulldogs would recover. Somehow, the ball wound up down the field with Arkansas recovering at MSU’s one-yard line. Arkansas would punch it in for a 21-14 lead that it would carry into the fourth quarter.

The two teams traded punts to open the fourth quarter and set up an incredible finish. Arkansas’ defense was a factor all afternoon long as it was able to limit Fitzgerald in the passing game early on. Still, the Hogs were looking for yet another stop to take control of the game late.

Unfortunately for Arkansas, the defense could not hold. Fitzgerald and Williams ran the ball effectively to put the Bulldogs in position, and Fitzgerald threw a 37-yard strike to Reginald Todd to tie the game at 21 all with 3:57 remaining in regulation.

The Razorbacks would start off the next drive on their own 36-yard line with a chance to drive and take the lead. QB Austin Allen put up a gutsy performance on the afternoon and was clearly limping after a twisted ankle in the game, but he could not lead the offense to a first down. The Hogs turned the ball over on downs and set up the Bulldogs with a chance to pull out a win in the closing moments of the game.

In the end, Fitzgerald came up big once again for the Bulldogs. He led a tough drive that ended when he hooked up with Deddrick Thomas for a six-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left to put MSU on top 28-21.

The Bulldogs improved to 8-3 on the year under Dan Mullen while Bret Bielema and the Razorbacks fall to 4-7.