FAYETTEVILLE — Mississippi Coach Ed Orgeron understands the struggles Arkansas has endured this season as well as anybody.

Mississippi, like Arkansas, has shown an inability to win games in the fourth quarter. And like Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt, Orgeron is fully experiencing the frustration of a winless record in the SEC.

Orgeron said he is hopeful Arkansas (3-3, 0-3 ) could provide Ole Miss an opportunity to do what the Rebels couldn’t do against other SEC opponents.

“We’re not there yet,” Orgeron said of the Rebels (2-5, 0-4 ). “We’ve had opportunities against Florida, Georgia, Alabama to make the winning drive, the winning stop. Until we do that, I’m not going to say we’re there.

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“ We’re still competing and still battling. We want to win a big ballgame against a team like Arkansas. We have them at home, and we want to take advantage of that.”

Ole Miss had a shot at victory last week against Alabama until a controversial call reversed its fortunes.

Replay official Doyle Jackson (Conway ) overturned a fourth-down catch by Ole Miss receiver Shay Hodge with seven seconds remaining and the Rebels trailing 27-24. Hodge pulled the ball away from an Alabama defender at the Crimson Tide 4 but was ruled to have gone out of bounds before making the catch.

Orgeron was still upset Monday over the call, one that typifies Mississippi’s season. Instead of getting an opportunity to go for the end zone and victory, or tie the game with a field goal, the Rebels turned the ball over on downs.

“It should have never been overturned,” Orgeron said.

There were other issues for the Rebels, especially on defense, which allowed 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter after the Rebels had taken a 24-17 lead.

The Rebels came into Saturday’s game allowing 33 points per game but had undergone a transformation after a 45-17 loss to Georgia one week earlier.

Adjustments were made in the secondary and an increased emphasis was put on tackling by Orgeron and defensive coordinator John Thompson, a former Arkansas assistant. Those changes appeared to have Ole Miss’ defense headed in the right direction until Alabama’s comeback.

“We weren’t very good on defense at the first of the year,” Orgeron said. “No doubt we gave up too many yards and points. Since the Georgia game, we’ve made improvements. The last couple of weeks, we’ve tackled a lot better, filled gaps.... This will be by far our biggest challenge against the run.”

Linebacker Ashlee Palmer and defensive lineman Greg Hardy give the Rebels two formidable players up front. Palmer ranks second in the SEC with 67 tackles, and Hardy is sixth with 55 and first in sacks with 8. But Ole Miss ranks 12 th of 12 SEC teams in total defense (436. 6 ) and 11 th in scoring defense (27. 4 ).

On the other side of the ball, Mississippi ranks fourth among SEC teams in pass offense at 243. 3 yards per game, despite having a first-year starter Seth Adams at quarterback and an inexperience receiving corps.

Even Orgeron said he was surprised at how well the Rebels have moved the football through the air. Adams, a senior, has thrown for 1, 641 yards and 12 touchdowns, completing 58. 4 percent with 10 interceptions.

Top receivers Shay Hodge and Mike Wallace give Adams reliable targets and are complemented by tailback Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis, who ranks fourth in the SEC in rushing (100. 1 yards per game ). Wallace averages 23. 0 yards per reception and has five touchdowns. Hodge has 29 catches for 334 yards and 5 touchdowns.

“Seth is a guy who can make good decisions,” Orgeron said. “We protect well. It shocks me a little bit the progress they’re making.”

Turning that progress into victory is the key for Ole Miss. Orgeron said he is hopeful Saturday’s game with Arkansas won’t be another near-miss.