LIVE BLOG: Razorbacks lose big on road in Starkville

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson won’t be starting against Mississippi State on Saturday.

He may be coming off the bench later, but that could be just something interesting to remember.

Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman danced all over the topic after Jefferson was injured against Alabama last week, but just before kickoff he announced Cade Fortin would be the starter.

We are under way in Starkville and you can follow all the action here.

First Quarter

1Q 11:15: This doesn’t start particularly well as Will Rogers moves the Bulldogs downfield with some balance including a 20-yard pass to the 4. A penalty on Terry Hampton got it to first down on the 2. From there, Dillon Johnson just powers his way into the end zone and this is not the hot start the Hogs needed. Bulldogs 7, Hogs 0

1Q 4:10: Will Rogers is simply carving up the Hogs’ defense. Offense, Fortin has one drive and he got a first down on a run by Raheim Sanders, but was sacked and MSU put together a 12-play, 55-yard drive, converting a fourth down, then Rogers scrambled and found Jaden Walley in the back of the end zone, who made the catch after Malik Chavis couldn’t knock it down or catch it.. Bulldogs have 98 yards in total offense, Hogs 5. Bulldogs 14, Hogs 0

Malik Hornsby comes in and gets the Hogs to the Mississippi State 8 but goes out after a play where targeting was called on Mississippi State because both defenders missed on the play. Maybe an over-abundance of caution? Fortin back in the game, but the drive stalls and Sanders can’t get a yard into the middle of the line on fourth down to turn the ball over.

End First: Bulldogs go 57 yards in five plays as Rogers passes Aaron Murray for all-time SEC pass completions and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Hogs having too many penalties and the quarterback issues are as real as a lot of fans feared, although did appear to move better with Hornsby in the game.

2Q 9:03: Bulldogs making this look way too easy. Rogers leads a nine-play, 40-yard drive and scrambles, then somehow threads a pass that Austin Williams catches just before diving out of bounds. Bulldogs 21, Hogs 0

2Q 5:56: Razorbacks finally get on board as Cam Little salvages something from a nine-play, 42-yard drive with a 51-yard field. Hogs running ball some on Bulldogs, but then start trying to pass (only 29 yards total so far). Bulldogs 21, Hogs 3

2Q 1:11: After Rogers couldn’t get a first down, missing on a short pass, Hornsby broke free and found Jadon Haselwood alone on the right sideline for a 68-yard completion that set up a 3-yard run by Sanders and the Hogs have managed to show proof of life before halftime. Bulldogs 21, Hogs 10

Mississippi State’s Ben Raybon hooks a 40-yard field wide right (he’s left-footed) and the Hogs might be a little lucky to just be trailing by 11 headed into halftime.

End Half: Bulldogs 21, Hogs 10

Third Quarter

3Q 11:16: Hogs take second half kickoff at the 1 after AJ Green fumbled it and was lucky to get out of the end zone. Bulldogs stop offense on three plays, then go 58 yards in six plays with Rogers finding Caleb Ducking wide open behind the Hogs’ secondary for a 33-yard score that was really easy. Not the way anybody wanted to start the third quarter. Bulldogs 27, Hogs 10

3Q 3:33: Hornsby settling into offense and makes a 54-yard pass to Bryce Stephens, who makes a leaping catch at the one for the score. After getting just a handful of plays scattered around, there will be questions about whether Hornsby should have seen some consistent time with some good plays. Bulldogs 27, Hogs 17

3Q :54: Mississippi State answers the score as the Hogs’ defensive problems starting to become glaring as Johnson breaks free for a 30-yard scoring run to cap a seven-plan, 75-yard drive after the big scoring pass. This is turning into a shootout. Bulldogs 34, Hogs 17

Fourth Quarter

4Q 10:28: It almost seems the Bulldogs are getting stronger as the Hogs get weaker in this game. After Jo’quavious Marks powers his way in from the 2 after a six-play, 70-yard drive, Mississippi State takes a 23-point lead. And then bounce the extra point off the left upright to continue the kicking woes, but this time Arkansas may not be able to get close enough for it to really matter. Bulldogs 40, Hogs 17