FAYETTEVILLE -- The ability of Mississippi State's top ball handlers to run through arm tackles and carry on after contact has been one of the top traits for the nation's No. 1 team.
Tailback Josh Robinson seldom drops on first contact, and quarterback Dak Prescott is among the best open-field runners in college football.
Robinson rushed for a career-best 198 yards in last week's 45-31 victory at Kentucky.
"I think just last week alone they had 286 yards after contact," Arkansas end Trey Flowers said, referencing all of the Bulldogs' skill players. "So we're going into the game knowing we're going to have to tackle and tackle hard."
Don't play tight
Mississippi State's 45-31 victory at Kentucky last week was the Bulldogs' first game as the No. 1 team.
"I thought we played really well against Kentucky, but I think we played kind of tight, trying not to make mistakes and not with the energy and the juice that we've played with the rest of the year," Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen said. "That's kind of been our focus. Let's have fun doing it with the energy and juice we had earlier in the season."
Mullen said he hopes the Bulldogs don't play tight against Arkansas.
"It's hard to project how we'll act on game day, but I think the leadership within the team really understands that now," he said. "After playing a game, they can see how we reacted last week, and I think everyone will handle it a whole lot better."
Act like Dak
Receiver Damon Mitchell, a former quarterback, worked at scout-team quarterback this week.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said the Razorbacks also used other quarterbacks and running backs in an effort to imitate Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott.
"Those guys put a lot of great effort into watching film," Smith said. "You can't get where you want to go unless it's a team effort, and those guys work really hard this week."
Blowout or bust
Arkansas' four victories, all in nonconference games, have come by an average margin of 38.3 points per game.
The Razorbacks' four losses, all to top 10 SEC opponents, have been by an average of 11.3 point per game, including an overtime loss to then-No. 6 Texas A&M and a 14-13 loss to then-No. 7 Alabama.
More defenders
Arkansas should have middle linebacker Brooks Ellis and cornerback Henre Toliver ready for Saturday's game, defensive coordinator Robb Smith said Thursday.
"They looked good again today," he said. "A couple more bullets in the gun is always good."
Ellis (knee) missed the past two games while Toliver (back) missed last week's game.
Dak attack
Mississippi State presents a full-page comparison of quarterback Dak Prescott's seven-game statistics compared to recent SEC Heisman Trophy winners Johnny Manziel (2012), Cam Newton (2010) and Tim Tebow (2007) in its game notes.
Prescott's 2,358 yards in total offense trails only Manziel's 2,659 yards, and this year's Bulldogs have faced a tougher schedule with three top-10 opponents to Texas A&M's one through seven games.
Prescott's 26 total touchdowns responsible for is also second in the group, behind Tebow (27), and ahead of Newton (25) and Manziel (24).
34 or more
Mississippi State's lowest score was a 34-29 victory at then-No. 8 LSU, a game in which the Bulldogs led 34-10 early in the fourth quarter.
Mississippi State's scoring average of 42.3 points per game ranks second in the SEC and ninth nationally. Arkansas scores 39.1 points per game to rank fourth in the SEC and 15th in the country.
SEC pub
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema was asked about Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini's remark last week regarding the ties between the SEC and ESPN.
"I don't think that kind of relationship is good for college football," Pelini said.
"I love Bo. Bo's a good friend," Bielema said. "When I was up in that other league, I used to probably think the same thing. ... It's just because the SEC gets so much pub, you know?
"It's just amazing how deep this league is, especially on the West, and some really good teams in the East as well. So I don't know what Bo meant, but I totally get where those guys are coming from."
Remember Houston
Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings was an assistant coach on the staff at Houston that defeated Mississippi State 28-16 in Starkville, Miss., on Oct. 22, 2005, for the Bulldogs' homecoming.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith, an assistant at Maine, had been part of a Black Bears team that won 9-7 at Mississippi State the year before.
"The great thing about teams in the SEC is every time you go to somebody's home stadium, there's so much pride in the team and the program," Jennings said. "Fans are going to show up. The one thing they have now, they have a little extra incentive because they've got a good team.
"I love the atmosphere. It's not Fayetteville, but it's a good place."
Food for Sebastian
Mary Tretola, the mother of offensive guard Sebastian Tretola, said she was planning to treat her son to his favorite meal when she comes to Fayetteville for the Razorbacks' home game against LSU.
"On Friday night I'm going to cook him -- I'm going to go to his apartment while he's at the hotel -- I'm going to make him his favorite enchiladas and tacos and leave it for him," she said. "So when he comes home from the game Saturday, he'll have his favorites to eat.
"It'll make him happy. He can't eat them until after the game, because he won't be moving in the game if he does."
Sack talk
Fourteen Mississippi State players have been involved in a sack, and the Bulldogs lead the SEC and are tied for fifth nationally with 28 sacks.
The Razorbacks have had eight players involved in their 13 sacks, which are tied for 91st.
Sports on 10/31/2014