Ahead of the Arkansas-Ole Miss game this week, it's hard for fans of both teams to forget the historic matchup between the programs on this day 14 years ago.
On Nov. 3, 2001, the Razorbacks and Rebels played a 7-overtime thriller, which lasted more than four hours and four minutes and is tied for the longest major college game in history.
The teams were tied at halftime and the end of the third quarter. After the Razorbacks went ahead 17-10, Ole Miss legend Eli Manning, who was in his first year as starting quarterback, found receiver Jason Armstead for the game-tying touchdown to send it into the first overtime. The duo connected later to send the game into a second overtime.After both teams failed to score during the period, Arkansas and Ole Miss traded scores for the reminder of the game but failed to convert any of the 2-point conversions during the third through fifth overtimes. There were no problems converting the 2-point attempts for either team in the sixth, but it was different story in the seventh.
Arkansas fullback Mark Pierce rushed for a 2-yard touchdown and quarterback Matt Jones connected with Decori Birmingham to extend an 8-point lead. Armstead and Manning answered and scored together for the third time in the game; the Rebels were on the edge of sending it to an eighth overtime.
However, Arkansas's Jermaine Petty stoped Doug Ziegler two yards short of the goal line to seal the 58-56 win.
The teams combined for 144 points with 80 of those coming in overtime. The game also set the record for most plays with more than 198 plays by both offenses. The Razorbacks and Rebels combined for 988 offensive yards and four players rushed for more than 100 yards.
It wouldn't be the last time the Razorbacks played in a game that lasted through the night. Arkansas faced Kentucky two years later and battled the Wildcats to yet another seven-overtime game. The Razorbacks also won this time 71-68.
For more statistics from the 2001 game, the full stats sheet can be found here.
