Last call.
Missouri football will close its 2024 regular season against Arkansas on Saturday in Columbia, moving away from its traditional Black Friday time slot for just the second time since Mizzou joined the Southeastern Conference.
With a win against the Hogs and a bowl game victory, the Tigers (8-3, 4-3 SEC) can clinch a consecutive double-digit win seasons for the third time in program history.
This matchup will be the final game together on Faurot Field for Missouri quarterback Brady Cook, who will run out of eligibility, and wide receiver Luther Burden III, who is widely expected to declare for the NFL Draft.
Missouri will hold its senior day ceremony before the game, with 27 players expected to walk and get their rocks.
Arkansas (6-5, 3-4) secured bowl eligibility with a win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday, and the Razorbacks have wins at Auburn and Mississippi State and against a then-top-five Tennessee team in Fayetteville.
Here is everything you need to know about Arkansas ahead of Saturday’s game in Columbia:
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Taylen Green is set to start at quarterback for Arkansas, which sets up another dual-threat for the Tigers to deal with in a season that’s been full of them.
Green, a redshirt junior, has attempted more passes and thrown for more touchdowns in 2024 than in any season of his college career, which included two years as the starter at Boise State.
His rushing yards, however, have dwindled against better caliber defenses. In games against Tennessee, Texas, Ole Miss, LSU and Texas A&M, the QB has not eclipsed 16 yards on the ground.
That doesn’t mean he can’t hang an explosive play on his own two feet — he has multiple this season, including seven rushing touchdowns.
But he’s a much more adept pocket passer than preseason expectations gave him credit for. Green is averaging 234.9 passing yards per game — 100.1 yards more than his previous career best average — and has tossed 13 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
The QB has frequently been under pressure as the Razorbacks have given up 2.91 sacks per game, which is where teams like Texas A&M and LSU managed to halt the Arkansas offense.
Sam Pittman looks like he’ll stay on as Arkansas’ head coach beyond the 2024 season, despite being many prognosticators’ preseason pick as a coach on the hot seat. The Razorbacks coach cannot finish the season with a career record below .500, which is significant as it raises the total of his overall buyout, detailed in a report by the Southwest Times Record.
Bobby Petrino is in his first season as the Razorbacks’ offensive coordinator, which, you’ll likely remember, is his second stint in Fayetteville. He was the Arkansas head coach from 2008-11. The Hogs are the nation’s No. 9 offense, putting up 457.9 yards of offense per game this season.
Travis Williams is in his second season as Arkansas’ defensive coordinator. The Razorbacks rank No. 66 in the nation in the FBS in total defense, allowing 366.5 yards per game.
Landon Jackson, who Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz called “one of the best defensive ends in the conference,” has been a menace up front for the Hogs. This season, he has 6.5 sacks as part of 9.5 total tackles for loss through 11 games. He was a first-team All-SEC selection last year, and he’s on his way to an all-conference nod this season, too.
On offense, Ja’Quinden Jackson has been a trusty tailback for UA this season, picking up 78.1 rushing yards per game and finding the end zone 12 times. At 6-foot-2, 233 pounds, he’s more of a downhill running back, which Mizzou has some unfavorable recent history with.
“They got a big back. A couple weeks ago we played (South Carolina’s) Raheim Sanders. (Ja’Quinden Jackson), he’s a big back. Pretty good back, too,” MU defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. said. “And the quarterback (is) like 6-5, 6-6, pretty athletic, long strider. So, there are challenges everywhere. We’ve just gotta go out there and play football.”
The Razorbacks have a sturdy core group of receivers, too, as tight end Luke Hasz and wideout Isaac TeSlaa have combined for seven touchdowns, and Isaiah Sategna is close to the 500-yard mark on the year. But the dominant presence in AU’s passing game is wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, who just eclipsed 1,000 yards on the season and is averaging 101.2 receiving yards per contest.
How do you contain him?
“‘Contain’ is the wrong word,” Drinkwitz said. “I think you gotta limit yards after the catch. I think he is an explosive route runner. Obviously, he’s got great length and can get over the top. So, gotta do a great job of being on top of the routes and then need to do a good job of tackling.”
Missouri 35, Arkansas 31: This one seems destined to be another mad dash to the finish line.
Both offenses have elite playmakers who can provide at any given moment. Both defenses have shown cracks. Even if the forecast is right and it does snow Saturday on Faurot Field, we should expect some points.
And if the game is anything like most of the rest of the season — like most of Cook and Burden’s time together in Columbia — it’s going to come down to the wire and require the QB-receiver duo to make a play for the game.
What more could you ask for in their final outing together on their home field?
