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The Arkansas Razorbacks fell to rival Mississippi State in SEC football action on Saturday. Officiating played a large role in the loss.
The Hogs were called for 18 penalties to the Bulldogs’ four, setting an all-time program record. Head coach Bobby Petrino got frustrated as the discrepancy grew.
It was a game the Razorbacks let slip away. Arkansas led 35-21 with less than 15 minutes to play. Mississippi State stormed back with 17 unanswered points to win.
The final blow was an 18-yard touchdown pass from Blake Shapen. That score came on a fourth-down with 48 seconds left to play, putting the Bulldogs up for good.
THE FIGHT IN THE DAWGS 👊@HailStateFB x 📺 @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/CcYRpFmGDv
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) November 1, 2025
Arkansas was not happy with how the football game was officiated.
In all, the Razorbacks were tagged for 193 yards on 18 flags. Mississippi State, meanwhile, was docked 30 yards on 4 four penalties.
One of those infractions was against head coach Bobby Petrino, who grew angry with how the game was being called.
I do love a fired up BMFP 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2GJmQ2p5G4
— Koles Krew. He’s El Presidente of Softball 🥎 (@RespectDaGoat) November 1, 2025
Petrino was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It only added to his team’s record-setting night.
While his frustrations were evident based on this on-field interaction, he was unable to comment on the referees after the fact.
“You trying to get me fined?” he said when asked about officiating in his postgame press conference. “I do want to say something, but I can’t. That’s how they handcuff you. I’ll just say, ‘Watch the video.'”
“I’ll just say, watch the video.”
Bobby Petrino was asked about #Arkansas being called for a program-record 18 penalties against Mississippi State. pic.twitter.com/geETjRuIYv
— WholeHogSports.com (@wholehogsports) November 2, 2025
Bobby Petrino could not criticize the refs, but his daughter could!
And she did after the game. Kelsey Petrino Scott took to social media to vent about what she believed was a poorly officiated game.
“Ref could have walked away,” she responded after seeing her father penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. “He WANTED to throw a flag. And from this point on, it was nothing but flags.
“My dad can’t say anything, but I can… Total horses—-.”
The SEC has a policy in place that shields officials from public criticism. Bobby Petrino did not want to be fined.
His daughter is not subject to the potential $25,000 penalty. She made sure to voice the opinion of all Arkansas football supporters after the loss.