FAYETTEVILLE — Bret Bielema isn't one to reflect on what his team has accomplished during the course of a season.
The Arkansas coach will have plenty to look back on following this season, particularly when he remembers the wild swings that have so far defined the Razorbacks as they prepare to host Mississippi State (7-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) on Saturday night.
Following a 31-14 dismantling of No. 17 LSU, Arkansas (6-4, 4-2) has won four straight games — its longest streak since a seven-game run in 2011.
The Razorbacks have undergone two coaching changes and endured a school-worst 17-game SEC losing streak since then, but they entered this season ranked and seemingly on the path back to national relevancy. A shocking Sept. 12 loss to Toledo started a three-game losing skid that left a weary fan base wondering if yet another coaching change was coming.
Behind Bielema's leadership and the surprising emergence of several playmakers on offense, the injury-riddled Razorbacks have recovered from their early stumbles to finish 3-1 on the road in the SEC, earning bowl eligibility for a second straight year along the way.
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"Arkansas is one of the hottest teams in the SEC and one of the hotter teams in the nation right now," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said.
The road wins match Arkansas' most in conference play since 2010, and they include a pair over ranked opponents, LSU and No. 25 Mississippi, as well as a 24-20 victory at Tennessee.
"From where we were my first year to where we are now," Bielema said, trailing off. "Where our program is going, that big one (against LSU) right there and to be 3-1, and to beat the teams on the road that we've beat and the record they had in their individual environments, I think speaks a lot about us."
The Razorbacks have rebounded from their early struggles thanks to the second-most prolific offense in the SEC, one that's averaged 523.3 yards per game during the winning streak.
It's an offense that's played the entire season without its top running back, Jonathan Williams, though junior Alex Collins had responded with a career-high 1,209 yards rushing — his third straight 1,000-yard season in as many years.
Also, wide receiver Dominique Reed has stepped in following injuries to three of Arkansas' top wideouts to become one of quarterback Brandon Allen's top play-making options. The junior has scored a touchdown in six straight games, and he has a combined 10 catches for 188 yards in the last two wins at Ole Miss and LSU.
The breakout performances were anything but expected by many following an overtime loss to Texas A&M that sent Arkansas to 1-3 on Sept. 26.
But they were made possible thanks to the leadership in difficult times by Bielema and the commitment of the players, said first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos.
"I think our football team has gotten better in a lot of areas," Enos said. "Certainly haven't played perfect in any of these games, and there's still room to grow going into this game, but certainly our team is focused."