INSTANT REACTION: Hogs Look for First Win in Columbia

Razorbacks already bowl eligible, Tigers trying to get there
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Arkansas has never won a football game in Missouri ... and they have managed to lose in some pretty interesting ways.

Now they get another shot.

The Razorbacks (6-5 on the season) are qualified for a bowl, but there's no idea where the SEC office will slot them while the Tigers (5-6) are just looking to get qualified for a bowl game.

After appearing to get everybody back healthy on offense, now the defense may be short. Earlier this week, Hogs coach Sam Pittman and linebackers Drew Sanders and Chris Paul didn't sound like they expected senior Bumper Pool to be there.

"He's pretty beat up," Pittman said at his press conference Monday.

There are other questions, based on some social media gossip and guessing about another defensive starter, but no sense in speculating now ... we'll know pretty quickly

Keep up with all the action on the live blog here with photos when they become available and Zoom coverage after the game.

Sam Pittman-Missouri
Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman watches team warm ups up against the Missouri Tigers prior to a game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. (Denny Medley / USA TODAY Sports)

First Quarter

The weather is expected to remain sunny with temperatures in the mid to low 50's with no significant winds. No excuses about weather in either direction things go.

• Razorbacks get the opening kickoff and go backwards three net yards and have to give it up to Missouri. Left tackle Luke Jones gives up a huge sack on third down and with that the Hogs scored just one opening drive that scored points all season.

1Q 9:34: Tigers get on the board first taking the punt and quarterback Brady Cook making the big plays  against the Hogs' defense before the drive stalled. Harris Mevis kicks a 40-yard field goal to give Missouri the lead. Tigers 3, Hogs 0

1Q 5:26: Razorbacks answer Mizzou's score with solid drive, going 75 yards in nine plays. The biggest play was a pass from KJ Jefferson to Matt Landers, who added some nifty footwork for a 37-yard gain. Jefferson ran un-touched up the middle for the final three yards and the lead. Hogs 7, Tigers 3

KJ Jefferson-Missouri
Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) warms up against the Missouri Tigers prior to a game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. (Denny Medley / USA TODAY Sports)

1Q 2:56: This might turn into a track meet. Mizzou with Cook completing two passes (to Mookie Cooper and Dominec Lovett) totaling 52 yards. The Tigers go 75 yards in just seven plays to take lead back If Hogs don't find a way to get defensive stops, hope you took the over. Tigers 10, Hogs 7

As the first quarter comes to an end, Cook still has the hot hand and has Missouri on the Hogs' 9-yard line.

Second Quarter

2Q 14:56: Okay, this is not shaping up like anyone predicted. The Hogs' defense hasn't stopped Cook and the Missouri offense yet while the Hogs' offense just doesn't appear to be running like a well-oiled machine, either. Cook runs up the middle for a nine-yard scoring run. Missouri has 200 yards total offense while the Hogs have just 81. I told you there were warning signs of this against Ole MissTigers 17, Hogs 7

2Q 9:26: Wide receiver Matt Landers does it again for the Hogs, hauling in a 27-yard 50-50 shot from Jefferson down the left sideline at the end zone. Tigers 17, Hogs 14

2Q 5:26: Hogs struggling to figure out a way to stop Brady Cook, who has 56 more yards rushing than Arkansas does total. This time, though, linebacker Chris Paul gets a big third-down stop and the Tigers have to settle for a field goal. Tigers 20, Hogs 14

2Q 1:35: Offense finally seems straightened out as Jefferson directs nice 11-play, 75-yard drive and gets the final eight to Raheim Sanders on a little wheel route Mizzou didn't appear interested in stopping. Hogs 21, Tigers 20

Half ends with Missouri appearing to go conservative and be content down by a single point.

3Q 10:09: Missouri starts chasing point early in the second half and the Hogs make them pay as Hudson Clark picks off Cook in the end zone on a two-point pass and nearly broke it for two points the other way. The Tigers took the second-half kickoff and methodically drove 75 yards in 10 plays, converting a fourth down to score on a 23-yard pass from Cook to Luther Burden down the left sideline ... which grabs back lead. Tigers 26, Hogs 20

3Q 5:32: KJ Jefferson throws his fourth interception of the year to Daylen Carnell, then the Tigers have a touchdown wiped off on a holding penalty, but settle for a 29-yard field goal from Mevis. Tigers 29, Hogs 21

3Q 1:43: Hogs answer with a 46-yard field goal from Cam Little after a 10-play drive that stalled. Tigers 29, Hogs 24

Fourth Quarter

4Q 12:40: Razorbacks get first-and-10 inside the 10 and end up having to settle for another Little field goal, this time from 20 yards out to make it yet another Hogs-Tigers game coming down to the fourth quarter. Tigers 29, Hogs 27

Neither offense could get much accomplished after that field goal and when the Hogs had one more chance late they went three-and-out.

The Razorbacks and Tigers both finish the season 6-6 and the Hogs still have never won in Columbia, Mo.

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HOGS FEED:

ANDY HODGES' PREGAME FINAL LOOK BEFORE HOGS' GAME WITH MISSOURI

PORTAL ACTIVITY WILL SAY A LOT ABOUT PITTMAN'S APPROACH TO BOWLS

WATCH-LISTEN: HOGS LOOKING TO KEEP MIZZOU OUT OF BOWL GAME

LET THE ERIC MUSSELMAN APOLOGY TOUR START

TOUGH WIN IN MAUI WILL PAY BIG IN MARCH

LIVE REACTION TO HOGS' OVERTIME WIN OVER SAN DIEGO STATE IN MAUI

AZTECS THE MATCH-UP ARKANSAS NEEDED AFTER TOUGH LOSS

MUSSELMAN SQUARES OFF AGAINST FORMER RIVAL

SEC ROUND-UP: LANE KIFFIN STAKES HEAT UP, GATORS PULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR RACIAL SLURS

HOGS MOTIVATION AGAINST MISSOURI IS MORE PRACTICE TIME; TIGERS JUST QUALIFYING FOR A BOWL

CREIGHTON DELIVERS CLINIC TO HOGS ON VALUE OF TEAMWORK

LOTS OF POSITIVES FOR HOGS IN LOSING CLOSE ONE TO NO. 10 CREIGHTON

SEC ROLL CALL TROLLS VANDERBILT FOR SECOND WEEK IN A ROW

SEC SHORTS HAS TENNESSEE, OLE MISS MEETS WITH THE PLAYOFFS

AUBURN POTENTIALLY STUCK IN A TEEN ROM-COM

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS FROM RAZORBACKS BLOWING OUT LOUISVILLE IN MAUI

TRANSFER PORTAL NEWS PROBABLY WON'T WAIT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING

OLE MISS COACH LANE KIFFIN MAY HAVE GIVEN A CLUE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH AUBURN

DID PITTMAN LAY GROUNDWORK TO SHOP AGGIES BLACK FRIDAY SALE?

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Published
Andy Hodges
ANDY HODGES

Sports columnist, writer, former radio host and television host who has been expressing an opinion on sports in the media for over four decades. He has been at numerous media stops in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi.