A 3-8 record hasn�t cooled junior linebacker Eric Beisel�s excitement for Missouri�s 1:30 p.m. Friday game against Arkansas (7-4) on Faurot Field.

The Razorbacks have been designated by the Southeastern Conference as Missouri�s interdivision rival, and Friday will mark the third annual installment of the Battle Line Rivalry.

Beisel, a Fenton native, certainly seems to consider Arkansas a legit rivalry.

During a seven-minute interview with reporters after Monday�s practice, Beisel referred to Arkansas as �Ar-Kansas� four times, only once using the correct pronunciation of the state.

Of course, Missouri�s archrival used to be Kansas before the Tigers left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012.

�I expect Ar-Kansas to prepare this week,� Beisel said. �Whether they decide to get on a plane and show up at our stadium on Friday, that�s their call. I�ll tell you what, if they do decide to come, it�s going to be hectic. Our fans are going to bring it, and we�re going to bring it. It�d be a mistake, showing up in Columbia, Missouri.�

�We�re going to take some aggression out on Ar-Kansas this Friday, this Black Friday," Beisel added. "It�s going to be a black-out game. They�re not going to see what�s coming. If they do decide to show up, like I said, it�ll be a huge mistake.�

Beisel has a lot of Show-Me State pride and carries the state flag as he leads his teammates onto the field coming out of the tunnel during pregame.

Beisel said it was down to Missouri or Arkansas during his recruitment, but he added that he never seriously considered heading across the border for college.

�They recruited me pretty hard. It came down to Mizzou and Arkansas at the end,� Beisel said. "The week before I committed here, they stripped 38 off someone�s jersey and promised me the number. The next day, Mizzou called me, and Kentrell� Brothers �gave up No. 38 for me. That was all just a hoax for me. I was going to go to Mizzou either way.�

Missouri leads the all-time series with Arkansas 4-3, with the teams splitting the matchups since Missouri joined the SEC. The Tigers won 21-14 in 2014 in Columbia, and Arkansas won 28-3 last year in Fayetteville.

Beisel tipped his cap to Arkansas� offense, which thrived in a 58-42 win over Mississippi State on Saturday.

�You�ve got two really good running backs, a really good fullback, huge O-line. We look forward to playing Ar-Kansas, and we look forward to winning,� Beisel said.

Beisel ranks 10th on Missouri with 36 tackles. He's started four games at middle linebacker since�Michael Scherer�suffered a season-ending injury and had a team-high 10 tackles in MU's 63-37 loss to Tennessee on Saturday.

The 63 points were the most Missouri allowed in any game since a 66-0 loss to Kansas State in the 1999 season finale.

"A lot of that falls on me as the middle linebacker," Beisel said. "I take a lot of accountability for them getting those yards and for them scoring. Obviously we�re going to make some changes and progress, and when we step out there against Ar-Kansas, we�re going to dominate.�