STARKVILLE — If Mississippi State does not force a turnover, it’s been a virtual certainty that its opponent will score at least a field goal.

In each of their last three games, all losses to top-15 opponents, the Bulldogs (1-6, 0-4 Southeastern Conference) have taken the ball away twice. But MSU forced Texas, Georgia and Texas A&M to punt a combined five times. So if the Bulldogs opponents aren’t scoring, it’s usually because of a mistake on their part.

“(It’s about) finding ways inside the game where there are these very small situations that you can only see when you get back to the tape,” MSU head coach Jeff Lebby said Monday. “Understanding one missed block, one missed leverage block, it truly has the chance to be the difference in the game. It’s just a fine line when you play great football teams.”

Under first-year coordinator Coleman Hutzler, the Bulldogs talked all offseason about a “ball-out” mentality, even introducing a “turnover cowbell” prop on the sideline that players shake and sign when they force a fumble or intercept a pass.

Freshman cornerback Elijah Cannon became the first player to hold the bell after a late pick-six against Eastern Kentucky. But MSU did not force a turnover the following week in a loss at Arizona State, and the Bulldogs’ only takeaway against Toledo came on a fumble through the end zone in the fourth quarter with MSU trailing by four touchdowns.

The Bulldogs have forced seven turnovers through four SEC games, but have scored just 17 points off of those takeaways. Georgia’s Carson Beck and Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman — two quarterbacks that have taken good care of the ball for most of the season — each threw two picks against MSU, but Beck’s first interception came on a tipped ball, and Weigman’s first pick was simply a bad throw and not the result of pressure or good coverage.

Still, there are signs of progress. Cornerback DeAgo Brumfield, in his MSU debut, stepped in front of Georgia tight end Luckie Lawson for an end zone interception. And sophomore linebacker Zakari Tillman, who made one big play after another in his first career start against Texas, read Weigman’s eyes perfectly to start the fourth quarter with an interception last Saturday against the Aggies.

“(Tillman) has continued to have really good growth and understanding of what’s being asked of him,” Lebby said. “This is a young guy who hasn’t played a ton of defensive snaps, and his best ball is ahead of him. He’s a twitchy guy who loves to play the game. He’s got a great future here with us, and I’m excited about his growth and his potential.”

With that progress, though, came some missed opportunities. Linebacker Nic Mitchell and safety Corey Ellington each dropped a potential interception early in the second half against Texas A&M, and both had plenty of open field ahead of them and could have taken the picks back for touchdowns.

“The first pick, we get great field position (and) we’re not able to get points. That has to happen for us,” Lebby said. “We take advantage of it in the second half, but we had opportunities to make a couple of huge plays on that first drive of the second half that had the chance to change momentum and swing the game. (We) have to play with great eyes and great discipline to give us a chance.”

Scouting Arkansas

The Razorbacks (4-3, 2-2) have been something of a mystery this fall. Arkansas put up 648 yards of offense in a double-overtime Week 2 loss at Oklahoma State, and earned a signature win earlier this month with a 19-14 victory over then-No. 4 Tennessee.

But head coach Sam Pittman’s team has also put up some more lackluster performances. The Razorbacks never fully put away a 1-6 Alabama-Birmingham team until late, and they are coming off a 34-10 home loss to No. 8 LSU in which they turned the ball over three times without taking it away once.

“(Pittman) has done an unbelievable job of getting those guys to find a way to win close games,” Lebby said. “That’s what they’re doing right now. Last week for them didn’t go the same as it had in weeks before, but finding a way to beat Tennessee at home, finding a way to beat Auburn in a really close game, that’s where they have made really big strides.”

Quarterback Taylen Green has been emblematic of Arkansas’ mixed results. He has struggled to take care of the ball with as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes, but he is a true dual threat, with 316 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and has 10 touchdowns through seven games, but he is questionable to play Saturday with a right ankle injury.

Andrew Armstrong is second in the SEC in receptions (45) and third in receiving yards (646), while Isaiah Sategna is the Razorbacks’ second-leading receiver as well as a dynamic punt and kick returner. Arkansas also has some dynamic playmakers on defense, with Xavian Sorey and Landon Jackson leading the way in the front six and TJ Metcalf tied for second in the conference with three interceptions.

“You see a physical football team that plays with a ton of effort,” Lebby said. “It is all over the tape and it’s in all three phases. It’s another really good SEC opponent.”