Bobby Petrino nearly pulled off a stunner in his return to Fayetteville on Saturday, but a fourth-quarter rally by No. 10 Arkansas (3-0, 1-0 SEC) allowed the Razorbacks to stave off an upset and remain unbeaten with a 38-27 win over Missouri State.

The Bears scored the first 17 points of the game, and after Arkansas fought back to tie it in the third quarter, Missouri State answered with the next two scores to take a 27-17 lead with just over 12 minutes to play.

A 73-yard scamper by Raheim Sanders and 82-yard punt return touchdown by Bryce Stephens gave Arkansas its first lead of the game with just over nine minutes to play, and KJ Jefferson's touchdown run in the closing minutes capped a victory that head coach Sam Pittman was thankful to sneak out with.

"We're just so fortunate to win," said Arkansas coach Sam Pittman. "These games like this, if you're not playing well or the other team's playing well or whatever the situation is, you're trying to fight and claw to get out with a win. There was several different times in the game it looked like we weren't going to.

"Our kids just kept fighting and clawing, and to come out with an 11-point win says a lot about the culture of our program and our kids. I'm really proud that we won the game, and I'll leave it at that for right now."

Prior to each game we list Five Burning Questions and Keys to Victory for the Razorbacks. Here is how it all played out on Saturday against Missouri State:

PREGAME THOUGHTS: Does this necessarily have anything to do with the outcome of the game? Of course not, but let's be realistic here, the majority of the intrigue surrounding this weekend's contest is Bobby Petrino's return to Fayetteville to face his former team. How he will be received is certainly a burning question to be answered.

Has the combination of a decade of time and Sam Pittman's revival of Arkansas' program from doormat to darling served to heal the old wounds of Petrino's embarrassing transgressions that put an end to his time as Head Hog? What will he say in the buildup and aftermath? What type of embrace will he and Pittman share? Will he be booed? Cheered? Will there be neck braces in the Trough as rumored? And will the Razorbacks themselves block out the noise and stay focused on taking care of business?

Our own Danny West put up a simple Twitter poll over the weekend to gauge where the fanbase is at in regards to Petrino. Here are the results:

Y’all gonna boo Petrino next week or nah?

POSTGAME ANSWER: In truth, there wasn't much of a reaction at all when Petrino made his appearance on the field pregame, and the Bears were welcomed with similar boos to any other opponent who walks in Reynolds Razorback Stadium. There were a few neck braces scattered about the crowd here and there, but not the swaths that were rumored in the buildup.

Whether fans were feeling any lingering animosity or looking for an opportunity to lay it on the former coach quickly became irrelevant as Petrino's Bears proved to be every bit up for the challenge, leading the Razorbacks into the fourth quarter. Petrino flexed his coaching muscle early and often, dialing up timely plays and exploiting holes in the Arkansas defense and reminding fans of the exciting offenses he put on the field during his time in Fayetteville.

His team lost, but Petrino certainly feels a lot better leaving town this time compared to his last...

PREGAME THOUGHTS: Once again, the Arkansas secondary is facing life after Jalen Catalon due to an unfortunate and unfair injury that has cost the team captain the remainder of the season. From a team standpoint, it stings, and the Hogs will need to embrace the next man up mentality once again.

Arkansas has already done quite a bit of shuffling around, but if Pittman's comments this week are any indication, more might be on the horizon at some point with guys like Myles Slusher, Khari Johnson, Jayden Johnson, Keuan Parker, Malik Chavis and even Hudson Clark.

Beyond that, while it hasn't kept the Razorbacks from notching consecutive wins over solid competition, the defensive backfield stands out as the most glaring area of needed improvement for the team moving forward. Arkansas has allowed 696 passing yards through two games, which ranks last in the SEC and 129th out of 131 FBS programs. Yes, the sample size remains small, and some of last week's yards allowed were window dressing, but those figures are somewhat alarming.

FCS Missouri State doesn't have the talent or athletes of other opponents, but nobody is questioning the creative genius of Petrino as an offensive mind. The Bears are averaging 281.5 yards per game through the air, and quarterback Jason Shelley has completed nearly 70% of his passes with six touchdowns and no interceptions. For their level, Ty Scott, Jahod Booker and former Hog Jordan Jones make up a solid trio of wideouts. This would be a great game for Arkansas to lock down and build some confidence on the back end.

POSTGAME ANSWER: Arkansas still has a lot of work to do in the secondary, and Myles Slusher can't get back soon enough as some of the more glaring issues came at his predominant positions. When all was said and done, the Hogs stuffed the run again, but an FCS team came into Fayetteville and passed for 357 yards on the Razorbacks.

After all games are complete this week, the Hogs will have likely allowed the most passing yards in the country. Three games, 1,053 yards allowed through the air. Some of it was poor tackling — 268 of Missouri State's 357 passing yards came after the catch. Some of it was losing battles in coverage. Some of it was Petrino finding and exploiting holes and weak spots.

Arkansas did shift some things around. Malik Chavis started over Hudson Clark at corner. The two rotated for a while and wound up playing together at corner for stretches in the second half in place of Dwight McGlothern, who was seen pedaling an exercise bike on the sidelines. Clark had at least one rep at nickel on a key third down. Chances are, more tinkering is in store as the Hogs continue searching for full health and the right combinations.

PREGAME THOUGHTS: There is no reason why Arkansas couldn't line up and run right at Missouri State every play on Saturday with a high level of success, but the more versatile an offense proves to be, the more dangerous it is in the long run.

KJ Jefferson has been masterful when it comes to his accuracy (76.6% completions), keeping the ball out of harm's way and spreading it out to his new set of pass-catching targets. So far, though, the Hogs have taken limited shots downfield with most big passing plays coming via yards after catch.

Last season, Jefferson was averaging 133 yards passing through two games. In Week 3, he aired it out for 366 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia Southern. Could a similar result be in store this weekend against Missouri State? It's not necessary to secure a comfortable win, but a big day with big plays through the air could pay dividends when it comes to building added confidence and chemistry with the receivers.

POSTGAME ANSWER: KJ Jefferson set a career-high in Week 3 last season against Rice, and he broke it in Week 3 this year against Missouri State. The quarterback finished the game 19-of-31 passing for 385 yards, which is as many as threw for in the first two games combined. He connected on eight passes of more than 20 yards and showed off his touch on the deep ball often.

Matt Landers had a breakout performance with seven receptions for 123 yards. Jadon Haselwood caught five balls for 86 yards and a touchdown. Ketron Jackson had a 64-yard reception. There were some drops and stretches where Jefferson held on to the ball too long or had all the time in the world but no open receivers to throw to. For the most part, though, the passing game was a resounding positive for Arkansas on Saturday.

PREGAME THOUGHTS: We are only two games into the season, but seeing Arkansas listed at the top of the SEC in sacks (9.0) and way out in front in sack yardage (79) is a sight for sore eyes. Arkansas also leads the conference in tackles for loss (17.0). It's not like the Razorbacks have been feasting against inferior, cupcake competition, either.

What has been fun to watch with Arkansas is its ability to generate a pass rush and get in the backfield in a variety of ways. The Hogs have had success off the edge with defensive ends Jordan Domineck, Landon Jackson, Jashaud Stewart and Zach Williams all getting in on the fun, but have also gotten creative with transfer linebacker Drew Sanders — who leads the team with 3.0 sacks — and has been more aggressive bringing the heat from the secondary.

Missouri State quarterback Jason Shelley is good, and he has wheels, but there is no reason why Arkansas shouldn't be able to dominate the line of scrimmage and get to him with regularity. The more uncomfortable he is, the more likely he is to make mistakes, which is always a good thing for the opportunistic Hogs.

POSTGAME ANSWER: Anyone who had Arkansas allowing the most passing yards in the country but leading the nation in sacks after three games should prepare to come collect their winnings. Missouri State quarterback Jason Shelley had a big game through the air, but he is going to need some extra ice bags after taking eight sacks against Arkansas Saturday.

Once again, Drew Sanders led the way with 2.5 sacks, while Jordan Domineck and Zach Williams came away with two a piece. Landon Jackson and Jayden Johnson also got in on the fun. The eight sacks for Arkansas was the most for the program since recording the same number against Auburn during the 2012 season.

PREGAME THOUGHTS: One of the downsides of playing a CFP opponent and SEC game in the first two weeks of the season is the opportunities to get more guys involved are few and far between. In a perfect world, Arkansas handles its business and has things well under control in the second half on Saturday, which could lend itself to getting some new, or less frequently used, faces extended snaps to see what they bring to the table.

Names that stand out immediately in this category are guys like Ty'Kieast Crawford, Christopher Paul Jr., Rashod Dubinion and Malik Hornsby. Who wouldn't be excited about seeing the young receiver trio of Quincey McAdoo, Isaiah Sategna and Sam Mbake get some targets? Jordan Crook and Ty Washington sure look the part for true freshmen. There are several big bodies of intrigue in the trenches. The list goes on...

POSTGAME ANSWER: Well, Arkansas was tied or behind for 51 of the game's 60 minutes on Saturday, so the hopeful opportunity to get some guys further down the depth chart valuable reps never really presented itself on either side of the ball.

One player of note, however, was freshman wideout Sam Mbake, who was given the assist on Bryce Stephens' key punt return for a touchdown thanks to his key block on Missouri State's gunner.

PREGAME: Arkansas went backwards in the penalty department from Week 1 to Week 2. The Razorbacks were flagged 10 times against South Carolina, costing them 122 yards and more than one explosive play. The Hogs currently rank dead last in the SEC with 92.5 yards per game coming via penalties. It is an area Sam Pittman has obviously emphasized heavily in practice this week as self-inflicted wounds are the type of things that can make this game more interesting than it needs to be.

Missouri State has not been much better itself. Bobby Petrino's squad is averaging eight flags costing them 91 yards per game on average. Last weekend against UT-Martin, the Bears were penalized eight times for 100 yards.

ARKANSAS WON: Statistically, Missouri State finished the game with eight penalties for 65 yards, while Arkansas was flagged six times for 58 yards. Both teams were sloppy early on special teams as the Bears were flagged for a personal foul on the opening kickoff return and the Hogs had their first two punt returns wiped off due to holding.

Arkansas was flagged twice for pass interference that led to Missouri State field goals, but capitalized in the third quarter when the Bears had a third-down conversion negated by an offensive pass interference and followed with a false start that pushed them out of field goal range.

The Hogs later got extra life when Missouri State was flagged for a horse collar on Jefferson, which led to the game-tying field goal. After a big pass play into Arkansas territory in the fourth quarter, the Bears were immediately hit with a false start that put them behind the chains and helped turn a potential go-ahead opportunity into another punt.

PREGAME: Turnovers are a permanent mainstay in our Keys to Victory for a reason, but they loom particularly large in games like this weekend's against Missouri State. If both teams play a clean game, Arkansas wins handily. For the Bears to make a game of it, winning the turnover battle is an absolute must.

It will be easier said than done against a Razorback team that places a premium on ball security. Arkansas lost one fumble in the season opener against Cincinnati but has otherwise gone without a blemish as KJ Jefferson has thrown 47 passes through two games without an interception. On the flip side, the Hogs have been +4 in turnover margin with a pair of McGlothern interceptions and three fumble recoveries so far.

Missouri State has gone interception free on offense so far, but has lost two fumbles. The defense for the Bears has come away with two interceptions through two games.

MISSOURI STATE WON: For quite some time on Saturday, Arkansas couldn't get out of its own way, and self-inflicted wounds nearly cost the Hogs the game. Missouri State played mistake-free in the turnover department and turned two of Arkansas' three miscues into 10 points.

KJ Jefferson lost a fumble on Arkansas' second offensive possession, which led to Missouri State's first touchdown. Rocket Sanders fumbled at the goal line, and the Bears turned it into a field goal early in the second quarter. With a chance to take the lead right after halftime, Jefferson threw his first interception of the season on a pass that hit his target, Trey Knox, but bounced into the hands of a Missouri State defender.

PREGAME: Arkansas is solid at kicker with Cam Little likely eager for another opportunity after narrowly missing a 50-yard attempt last weekend. Kickoff man Jake Bates currently ranks fourth in the SEC in touchback percentage at 76.9. Max Fletcher was a little better from Week 1 to Week 2 at punter, but there's certainly room for improvement on a 37.56 yard average.

The Razorbacks have not mustered much so far in the return department, but opportunities for AJ Green and Rashod Dubinion could present themselves against Missouri State, which has only logged one touchback in 12 kickoffs.

Missouri State does have a return threat to be aware of in Montrae Braswell, who has a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown under his belt. Field goal kicker Jose Pizano is 2-of-3 so far this season with a long of 37 yards.

ARKANSAS WON: For a majority of the night, Missouri State was probably winning the special teams battle as Arkansas had multiple penalties in the return game and another uneven punting performance. Both field goal kickers converted on their short attempts.

The trajectory of this particular area, as well as the entire game, shifted though when Bryce Stephens broke free for an 82-yard punt return for the go-ahead touchdown for Arkansas in the fourth quarter. The play shifted momentum in favor of the Hogs and the pressure to the Bears for the first time all night.

PREGAME: Arkansas received bad news last week when it lost star safety Jalen Catalon for the season, but could received a boost in the secondary if starting nickel Myles Slusher is able to go after missing last week's game. Pittman listed Slusher's status as "still up in the air" but appeared to be more optimistic about the prospects of tight end Trey Knox and safety Latavious Brini, who both sustained ankle injuries against South Carolina. Monday, Pittman mentioned LaDarrius Bishop as banged up, but no update has been provided since.

The wildcard is running back Dominique Johnson, who has missed the first two games as he wraps up his recovery from offseason knee surgery. The powerful rusher is medically cleared and has been back at practice without his brace. Now, it's just a matter of when he feels comfortable and ready to give it a go.

Missouri State hopes to return starting wide receiver and former Razorback Jordan Jones from concussion protocol after missing last week's win over UT-Martin. Liberty transfer tight end Stetson Moore is also nearing a return, but Petrino has him questionable for this weekend at Arkansas.

MISSOURI STATE WON: For starters, Myles Slusher was unable to go, and it is becoming increasingly clear how much he is missed in the secondary. Dominique Johnson was dressed but did not participate. The Hogs were also without starting defensive end Jashaud Stewart, defensive back LaDarrius Bishop and wide receiver Isaiah Sategna. Pittman seemed optimistic Slusher, Stewart and Johnson will be ready to roll for Texas A&M next weekend, but time will tell.

PREGAME: With the level of weird already surrounding this game thanks to the Petrino-factor, it would be wise for Arkansas to avoid any funny business and take control of the game right out of the gates. Build a cushion and coast...

The last thing a team in Arkansas' position wants to do is give an inferior opponent hope or a reason to believe it can pull off a stunner as the game progresses. Confidence can snowball on one end while the pressure of avoiding an upset can lead to tight play on the other. We've seen it play out in the past.

Arkansas has undoubtedly turned a corner under Sam Pittman, but games are never truly decided before they are played. Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Nebraska probably didn't expect the outcomes they received last weekend, but they're officially in the record books nonetheless.

Will the Razorbacks set the tone from the jump and win going away as expected, or will the Bears hang around long enough to make things a little too close for comfort? At least in the buildup, Arkansas appears to be locked in and carrying on business as usual.

MISSOURI STATE WON: Arkansas did not have control of the game Saturday until about the final 90 seconds of the fourth quarter. In fact, it was the Bears who appeared to be coasting out of the gates as they took advantage of a sloppy Razorback bunch and built up a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. 

Arkansas rallied and ultimately won the game thanks to 21 unanswered points in the final 12 minutes, but all the ingredients were there for Bobby Petrino's squad to pull off an upset. A win is a win, and certainly better than the outcomes some other programs have had to deal with early in the season, but Pittman was not wrong when he said the Hogs were fortunate to get a victory on Saturday.

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