Arkansas heads to Alabama and Mississippi State seeking to build momentum after a demanding stretch against four straight ranked opponents. The Razorbacks beat then-No. 12 Texas A&M during that run, but enter the weekend 1-6 in SEC play. Their next tests: Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Friday and a road match against Mississippi State on Sunday.

By the Numbers
  • Arkansas is 9-9 overall and 1-6 in SEC play.
  • Alabama is 9-8 overall and 1-7 in the SEC; Mississippi State is 13-5 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
  • Mississippi State leads the SEC with 15.52 digs per set, nearly 1.5 more than the conference’s No. 2 team.
  • Friday’s match starts at 6 p.m. CT; Sunday’s match starts at 2 p.m. CT. Both stream on SEC Network+.
Yes, But

Arkansas has a strong history against Alabama, including a 10-match winning streak before last season’s loss, but the Tide beat Georgia in five sets—Georgia previously beat the Razorbacks. Mississippi State is also a challenging road opponent: all three of its SEC wins came at home, where it is 5-0 this season, and Arkansas hasn’t won in Starkville since 2022.

State of Play
  • Arkansas faces Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Friday, then travels to Starkville for Sunday’s match.
  • The Razorbacks’ remaining schedule is somewhat less difficult, with five opponents in the bottom half of the SEC—but five of those matches are on the road.
  • Alabama stands out for its 1.91 aces per set, second-best in the SEC; Mississippi State brings the league’s top digs-per-set mark.
Bottom Line

The weekend offers Arkansas a chance to turn a hard-earned win over Texas A&M into conference momentum, but both matches come with a road test—and Mississippi State’s home form makes Sunday especially demanding.