FAYETTEVILLE — The entire Arkansas football program was baffled in the immediate aftermath of last year’s 63-31 home loss to Ole Miss.
A defense that entered the 2024 edition of the rivalry allowing 21.8 points per game got torched for 562 yards passing in the most embarrassing performance of the season. Jaxson Dart gashed the Hogs as Ole Miss set or tied school records in individual passing yards and touchdowns, individual receiving yards and points in an SEC game. It was Ole Miss’ biggest win over Arkansas in series history.
The struggles were so ghastly, Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman and some of his defensive players wondered in their postgame press conferences if they were tipping plays.
“Are we showing our hand? What are we doing here? Because obviously Lane (Kiffin) and them had something today. I don’t know if it was the alignment of the D-linemen, but he didn’t play a whole lot of fastball,” Pittman said after last year’s loss.
“(Kiffin) and T-Will were having a check-to-check (battle), and obviously they won.”
One year later, the tipping plays theory from last year hasn’t disappeared. Here’s what Pittman said about his conjecture on Monday, Sept. 8 at his weekly press conference previewing the Hogs’ matchup with the Rebels?
Was Arkansas football’s defense tipping plays against Ole Miss?
As he mentioned last year, the biggest reason Pittman thought Arkansas might be tipping plays was the Rebels’ pace of play. Kiffin and Ole Miss are notorious for their no-huddle offense, but the Rebels didn’t rush to the line of scrimmage against the Hogs, instead opting to see the defensive alignment before calling in a check.
The Razorbacks coach still can’t know for sure if Arkansas was tipping its plays, but his staff did an internal review during the ensuing open week. He said the Razorbacks found things that they needed to correct, but he didn’t disclose any specifics.
Roughly 10 months later, it’s still a conversation topic entering another showdown with Kiffin.
“All offseason with that. We certainly had a conversation again last night about that,” Pittman said.
“Unless they have some tendency on us, we’re the only one that should know what we’re running whether we’re playing Ole Miss or whoever.”
Pittman pointed out after the loss last year the tips could have come from the alignment of certain position groups. It was the second straight week Arkansas’ defense gave up too many explosive plays, with Mississippi State racking up 471 yards in a 58-25 Hogs win.
Is Sam Pittman saying Ole Miss might be cheating?
Flatly, no.
Sign-stealing has become part of the college football discourse in recent years thanks to the Connor Stallions situation at Michigan. The NCAA handed out a lengthy list of punishments and fines to the Wolverines following their sign-stealing scandal that surfaced during their 2023 national championship season.
Pittman is not accusing Kiffin and the Rebels of any nefarious activity.
“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong. If someone’s telling me what they’re doing offensively every play and I know it, then I’m probably going to use it,” Pittman said. “I’m not saying they did or anything like that, I’m just saying that we’re the only ones that should know what we’re running.”
What to watch from the Arkansas defense against Ole Miss in Week 3
This is the Hogs’ first big challenge of 2025. After easy wins against Alabama A&M and Arkansas State, the Razorbacks’ next four opponents combined for 53 wins last year. Two of those teams — Notre Dame and Tennessee — reached the College Football Playoff.
Ole Miss will be a stout first measuring stick. The Rebels are 2-0 and already have an SEC win, beating Kentucky in Week 2. Sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons has thrown for 576 yards in two games, but he has four interceptions.
Can the Arkansas cornerbacks hold up with potent Ole Miss weapons like wide receivers Harrison Wallace and Deuce Alexander? Will the pass rush give Simmons an extra layer of concern in the pocket? Those are the two biggest questions for Arkansas entering Week 3.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jf*****@*****tt.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas football wary of tipping plays theory in 2024 loss to Ole Miss
