Mississippi State rallies past Arkansas for 38-35 win

STARKVILLE, Miss. – October 26, 2024 – Mississippi State secured its first Southeastern Conference victory of the season in breathtaking fashion on Saturday, as quarterback Blake Shapen connected with wide receiver Anthony Evans III on an 18-yard touchdown pass with just 18 seconds remaining, stunning Arkansas 38-35 at Davis Wade Stadium. The decisive fourth-down play completely flipped the scoreboard, igniting a raucous home crowd and sealing an improbable comeback for the Bulldogs.

The game-winning score came after Arkansas had taken a 35-31 lead with just over two minutes left, leaving Shapen and the Mississippi State offense with 75 yards to cover and minimal time on the clock. Facing a crucial 4th-and-8 from the Arkansas 18-yard line, Shapen eluded pressure in the pocket before firing a strike to Evans III, who made a contested catch in the end zone, sending the Bulldogs’ sideline and stands into pandemonium.

“We talked all week about resilience and believing until the very last whistle,” said Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett after the emotional win. “Blake made an incredible play, and Anthony delivered when we needed it most. This team showed an incredible amount of fight, and this win means the world to our program and our fans.”

The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening whistle. Mississippi State jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, but Arkansas, led by quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim Sanders, quickly responded. The Razorbacks chipped away, eventually taking their first lead late in the third quarter. Both teams traded blows throughout the fourth quarter, with neither able to establish a comfortable margin.

Shapen finished the day completing 28 of 42 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns, with Evans III being his primary target, hauling in six catches for 91 yards and two crucial scores. Running back Jo’Quavious Marks also had a strong performance for the Bulldogs, rushing for 85 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

For Arkansas, the loss was a gut-wrenching blow. Jefferson threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and Sanders added 110 yards on the ground with a score. The Razorbacks appeared to have the game in hand after a late touchdown drive put them ahead by four, but they couldn’t hold off Mississippi State’s final surge.

“This one stings, no doubt about it,” said Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman. “We played hard, but we made too many mistakes down the stretch. Credit to Mississippi State; they executed when they absolutely had to. We’ll learn from this and move forward.”

The victory improves Mississippi State’s record to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in SEC play, providing a much-needed shot of confidence as they look to make a push for bowl eligibility. Arkansas drops to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the conference, facing an uphill battle in the remainder of their schedule.

Mississippi State will look to carry this momentum into next Saturday when they host the UAB Blazers. Arkansas will return home to Fayetteville to face the Texas A&M Aggies in another critical SEC matchup.