Missouri Tigers at Arkansas Razorbacks

Missouri runs for 322 yards in win over Arkansas

Hardy, who entered the game third in FBS in yards rushing, gave the Tigers (8-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) the lead, 20-17, on a 57-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Missouri added a field goal and a 67-yard punt-return touchdown from Kevin Coleman Jr. in the fourth quarter to go ahead by two scores.

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz, an Arkansas native, had previously been bandied as a potential candidate for the Razorbacks’ open head-coaching job. He signed an extension to stay at Missouri earlier in the week and beat Arkansas in a rivalry game for the fourth straight season.

“I think the SEC is better when Arkansas is good. As a guy who is from Arkansas, I hope they can find the right coach and get this thing going again,” he said.

Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula threw for just 25 yards on 4-of-7 passing, but gained 78 yards on 16 carries, picking up Missouri’s second-quarter touchdown that tied the game at 14.

Arkansas (2-10, 0-8) had taken the lead on the previous possession after the ball slipped from Pribula’s hands as he cocked his arm to pass. Linebacker Bradley Shaw grabbed the fumble and returned it 32 yards to give Arkansas a 14-7 lead.

The Razorbacks managed just two drives that went for more than 26 yards. They finished with 246 yards of total offense, despite entering the game averaging 474 per game, good for 10th in FBS. Interim head coach Bobby Petrino started redshirt freshman KJ Jackson at quarterback and let him run the first two drives of each half before replacing Jackson with usual starter Taylen Green in each half.

Jackson went 11-of-17 passing for 126 yards with a first-quarter touchdown pass to O’Mega Blake. Green completed 6 of 13 passes for 59 yards.

Missouri’s 322 yards rushing marked the second-highest total for the Tigers this season and the most in an SEC game.

Petrino served as the Razorbacks' head coach from 2008-2011. He declined to comment on his job status after the game.

“I’m not going to get into any of that tonight,” he said. “I’m just going to get this press conference over and get out of here.”

Winless again The takeaway Arkansas has been without a head coach since firing Sam Pittman on Sept. 28. Petrino did not win a game in his trial thereafter and no names have been strongly attached to the Razorbacks’ job.

Missouri has firmly established themselves in the second tier of the SEC under Drinkwitz. Missouri’s eight regular-season wins provided the third winning season in a row, marking the first time that’s happened for the team since 2009-11.

Up next Arkansas’ season is finished.

Missouri waits on its bowl destination.

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