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Now the hunted, Arkansas returns to SEC play vs. Ole Miss

Oct 17, 2006 - 7:45 PM Ole Miss (2-5) at No. 15 Arkansas (5-1), 12:30 pm EDT

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (Ticker) - October 7 was the day everything changed for Arkansas. Now it is time to see if the Razorbacks can live up to their newfound status.

The 15th-ranked Razorbacks are in control of their own destiny in the Southeastern Conference West Division race. They return to conference play Saturday when they host Mississippi.

Arkansas (5-1, 3-0 SEC West) is coming off a 63-7 victory over Division I-AA Southeast Missouri State. But it was a 27-10 triumph over then-No. 2 Auburn two weeks ago that thrust the Razorbacks into the driver's seat in the division.

Off to its first 3-0 start in conference play since 1998 - coach Houston Nutt's first season in Fayetteville - Arkansas is paced by a punishing ground attack led by Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

The Razorbacks rank fifth in the country and first in the SEC in rushing at 235.17 yards per game. McFadden is the conference's top rusher at 104.17 yards per game and Jones is adding another 78 yards a contest.

With games against Tennessee and Louisiana State still on the schedule, Arkansas cannot afford to look past any opponent, not even struggling Ole Miss.

The Rebels (2-5, 1-3 West) are coming off a 26-23 overtime loss at Alabama and have dropped five of their last six games.

Indiana transfer BenJarvis Green-Ellis has rushed for 627 yards and five touchdowns this season for the Rebels. But quarterback Brent Schaeffer, who started his college career at Tennessee, has thrown eight interceptions and only five TDs in seven games.

Arkansas leads the series, 28-23-1, winning the last two meetings and four of the last five.