Arkansas Vs. Ole Miss: Razorbacks Avoid Houston Nutt Surprise

Here’s Andy Hutchins with an important dispatch from Oxford.

Houston Nutt’s Mississippi team lost a 17-0 lead in falling toArkansas 29-24 on Saturday. Logically, that means that Nutt would goafter a columnist who wrote that his team would get beaten 49-10: DUH,THAT GUY WAS WRONG.

The Rebels jumped out to an improbable 17-0 lead with 6:20 remaining in the second quarter, and they did it without forcing any interceptions or fumbles. The SEC-watching world was baffled, but they wouldn’t take that lead into halftime. Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson ripped off a 52-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 17-7 at halftime, giving his team a bit of momentum going into the locker room. They would go on to score 29 unanswered points.

Ole Miss would produce some late drama, though, scoring a touchdown with 1:23 remaining, then recovering the ensuing onside kick. Despite all of their struggles this season and their collapse in the third quarter of this game, they had the ball with a chance to drive for a winning touchdown.

Dennis Johnson, Arkansas RB: You ever really thought about how much you owe your father? I mean, everyone always says nice things about their mother, but really, we don’t give father enough props, ya know? Dad just sacrifices, wears cheap ties for twenty years just to put you and your siblings in new shoes every fall, and gets what reward? You ever thought about all that, man? The quiet man just holding your tiny hands, walking for you until you could take your own steps?

Serderius Bryant: STOP MAKING ME ALL EMOTIONAL MAN I’M NOT FAR ENOUGH ALONG IN MY EMOTIONAL GROWTH AS A PERSON TO ACCEPT EVERYTHING YOU’RE MAKING ME FEEL, DENNIS JOHNSON AAAAHHH HEADBUTT--

It’s not quite time to turn off the upset alert for the Razorbacks, but the game has suddenly become much more promising for Arkansas fans and much more depressing for those who follow the already-beleaguered Rebels. The Hogs have taken a lead at 24-17 late in the third quarter, and apparently have the momentum on their side, which anybody who plays NCAA Football on XBox or Playstation can tell you is a huge deal.

For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit Arkansas blog Arkansas Expats and Ole Miss blog Red Cup Rebellion. For more on all the Week 8 action, visit our comprehensive StoryStream for college football scores, news, and highlights

↵Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit Arkansas blog Arkansas Expats and Ole Miss blog Red Cup Rebellion. For more on all the Week 8 action, visit our comprehensive StoryStream for college football scores, news, and highlights.

Beyond a shaky defense, however, the Rebels have to deal with constant rumors that head coach Houston Nutt, the former leader of the Razorbacks, may not be Ole Miss’ head coach much longer.

Still, Nutt is 2-1 in three meetings with his former team while coaching Ole Miss, so there is hope. Just not much. Arkansas Expats summed up the meeting beautifully in poetry.

Series record: Arkansas leads, 30-26

Last year’s result: Arkansas won, 38-24