No. 23 Missouri heads to Fayetteville on Saturday, Oct. 31, to face Arkansas in a matchup between a ranked team looking to steady itself and a Razorbacks squad trying to find consistency in SEC play. Kickoff at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is set for 7:45 p.m. ET, with the game airing on SEC Network. Missouri enters at 5-2 after a 31-3 loss at Ole Miss, while Arkansas sits at 3-4 following a 31-21 win at Vanderbilt. For the Tigers, this is a chance to answer questions about their offense away from home.
For Arkansas, it is an opportunity to pick up a signature win against a ranked opponent.
Missouri Vs Arkansas Preview: Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
- Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
- Venue: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
- TV: SEC Network
- Weather: 65 degrees, 51% chance of precipitation
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Missouri 31.1, Arkansas 21.0
- Total yards per game: Missouri 429.6, Arkansas 343.0
- Passing yards per game: Missouri 268.3, Arkansas 231.4
- Rushing yards per game: Missouri 161.3, Arkansas 111.6
- Yards per rush attempt: Missouri 4.4, Arkansas 3.3
- Third-down conversion rate: Missouri 41.00%, Arkansas 42.42%
- Takeaways-giveaways: Missouri 6-4 (plus-2), Arkansas 8-8 (even)
- Sacks allowed per game: Missouri 1.1, Arkansas 2.3
- Defensive sacks: Missouri 18, Arkansas 10
Missouri Tigers Outlook
Missouri’s offense has been one of the SEC’s most productive, averaging 429.6 total yards and 31.1 points per game through seven contests. Quarterback Austin Simmons has completed 132 of 209 passes for 1,773 yards with 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions this season, giving the Tigers a passing attack that averages 8.3 yards per attempt. Running back Jamal Roberts has carried the load on the ground with 867 yards and eight touchdowns on 167 carries.
The loss at Ole Miss, a 31-3 defeat, was the low point of Missouri’s season and snapped momentum built by wins over Florida (45-17) and Texas A&M (27-6). The Tigers’ defense has generated 18 sacks and forced a turnover margin of plus-2 on the year, numbers that will matter against an Arkansas offense that has turned the ball over eight times. Simmons is expected to start under center, with Roberts projected as the lead back after his workload the past two months.
Arkansas Razorbacks Outlook
Arkansas comes in at 3-4 and is coming off a 31-21 road win over Vanderbilt that snapped a two-game slide. Quarterback KJ Jackson has thrown for 1,444 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions, completing 61% of his passes. The Razorbacks’ ground game has been inconsistent, with Braylen Russell leading the team at just 205 yards on 58 carries, a 3.5-yard average that lags well behind Missouri’s rushing production.
Arkansas has allowed 2.3 sacks per game, more than double Missouri’s defensive sack rate, and the offensive line will need to hold up against a Tigers front that has racked up 33 tackles for loss this season. Jackson is projected to start, with Chris Marshall, who has 43 receptions for 633 yards, as his top target. The Razorbacks’ defense has forced eight takeaways on the year, the same number it has given away.
Key Matchup
Missouri’s rushing attack against Arkansas’ run defense is the matchup that could decide this game. The Tigers average 161.3 rushing yards per game at 4.4 yards per carry, led by Roberts, while Arkansas’ defense has struggled to keep teams out of the end zone, allowing 2.4 total touchdowns per game. If Missouri’s offensive line, which has surrendered just 1.1 sacks per game, continues to protect Simmons and open lanes for Roberts, the Tigers can control the clock and limit possessions for an Arkansas offense that has managed only 21.0 points per game. Arkansas’ best path is forcing the issue on third down, where it converts at 42.42% compared to Missouri’s 41.00%, and capitalizing on any Tigers giveaways, though Missouri has protected the ball well with a plus-2 turnover margin.
Players To Watch
Austin Simmons, QB, Missouri
Simmons has thrown 14 touchdowns against two interceptions this season and carries an 8.3 yards-per-attempt average into a road environment that has been difficult for Tigers’ offenses in years past.
Jamal Roberts, RB, Missouri
Roberts has rushed for 867 yards and eight touchdowns on 167 carries, and his workload could dictate how much Missouri leans on the ground game against an Arkansas defense allowing 111.6 rushing yards per game.
KJ Jackson, QB, Arkansas
Jackson has thrown four interceptions this season and will need to limit mistakes against a Missouri defense that has forced six takeaways in seven games.
What To Watch
Missouri arrives ranked at No. 23 and looking to show its loss at Ole Miss was an aberration rather than a trend, with road wins over ranked SEC competition carrying weight for postseason positioning. Arkansas, at 3-4, is fighting to build bowl eligibility momentum after alternating wins and losses over its last five games. The Tigers have outscored opponents by wide margins in their wins this season, including the 45-17 result over Florida and the 27-6 win over Texas A&M, but have also shown vulnerability in losses to Mississippi State and Ole Miss. How Missouri’s offense performs away from home against a Razorbacks defense that has forced eight takeaways will be a central storyline.
Missouri’s next matchup following this trip to Fayetteville was not listed in the available schedule data. For more on the Tigers’ recent form, see the Missouri vs. Ole Miss preview and the recap of their 45-17 win over Florida. Their win over the Aggies is detailed in the Missouri-Texas A&M recap.
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