Editor's note: This article is part of the Clarion Ledger’s summer series addressing questions surrounding the Mississippi State and Ole Miss football programs. Today, we take a look at the most important game on the Rebels' schedule. Here's our answer from the Ole Miss perspective.

What are the most anticipated games on the Ole Miss football schedule in 2019?

Well those answers are the same as they are every year. The first game of the season, the Alabama gameand the Egg Bowl are always the most visible, most anticipated games.

But are those the most important games for how Ole Miss' season will shake out in 2019? Probably not.

There's one game in particular that might have lower name recognition but loftier stakes.

Ole Miss' season opener against Memphis on Aug. 31 will give the Rebels a chance to set the tone for what sort of football team they'll be. But it's hard for any non-conference game to be the biggest game of the year. Which is why what comes one week later just might be.

On Sept. 7, Ole Miss will host Arkansas in its home opener and SEC debut at 6:30 p.m. on the SEC Network. From a micro-perspective, fans can expect an exciting game just because of the two teams playing. The last four games between Arkansas and Ole Miss were decided by 10 combined points, and seven of the last 11 contests were decided by one score.

But then there's the bigger picture perspective. Both Ole Miss and Arkansas come into 2019 with new expectations after disappointing seasons.

The Rebels have new offensive and defensive coordinators and eight starters to replace on offense after a 5-7 season in which they finished last in the SEC in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.

Heading into year two of the Chad Morris era in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks are trying to erase the memories of a 2-10 year in which the Razorbacks went winless in SEC play, finished last in the SEC in scoring and turned the ball over 26 times in 12 games.

Both teams are trying to reinvent themselves. Arkansas will likely turn the offense over to graduate transfer quarterback Ben Hicks, who thrived in Morris' offense as a sophomore at SMU in 2017, throwing for 3,569 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Ole Miss' offense will undergo some changes of its own, with redshirt freshman Matt Corral taking the reins in offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez' new, more physical and run-first re-imagining of the Rebels' offense.

Still, the stakes of this game are obvious.

Last season, Ole Miss and Arkansas combined to go 0-14 in SEC games that weren't against Ole Miss or Arkansas. Playing this game in September is a tone-setter. Whichever team wins will be able to pitch itself as improved, while the loser will find itself in the unenviable position of having to climb out of the basement in the always stacked SEC West.

Someone has to finish last in the SEC West. In each of the last three seasons, that team has been either Ole Miss or Arkansas. On Sept. 7, these teams will have their first chance to try to reverse this trend.

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Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.