On Interstate 540 headed north into Fayetteville, the leaves are starting to turn.

By the next home game, Oct. 25, the Boston Mountains should be a gigantic rainbow.

No one had to wait long, though, for the change of Arkansas’ football season that began Saturday with a victory over Auburn on the road.

Not just the fans’ hopes that soared after the 25-22 victory when they went from wondering if the Arkansas Razorbacks would win another game to thinking Memphis and the Liberty Bowl or Shreveport and Independence Bowl.

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Not just a much-needed shot of confidence the players earned.

Not just a sigh of relief and realization that two of Arkansas ’ losses were to the current No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country.

Monday was also UA’s basketball media day, and before the victory over Auburn, it would have been a feeding frenzy.

Yes, there was still great interest in hoops, and if you think this was a rebuilding season for the football team — and it still is — this basketball team is going to be the youngest in a long time, maybe ever.

There will be times this season that John Pelphrey will have five true freshmen on the floor.

There’s just no way around it.

However, the good feeling was that with six games left, the Hogs football team has turned the tide with its first SEC victory, first against a quality opponent, and it scored in the first quarter.

No one can write or say enough about what Michael Smith did Saturday.

He had 35 carries for 176 yards, including the winning touchdown, and caught 2 passes for 46 yards and handled 5 punts flawlessly.

Smith had more touches than a house dog.

For all he did, it was still a team victory.

Everyone came to play for perhaps the first time this season. For sure, it was the Razorbacks’ best effort on both sides of the ball.

Saturday, Bobby Petrino, who has simplified and adjusted his offense to match the personnel, saw the Razorbacks produce drives of 71 yards that took seven minutes (ended in a field goal ), 67 yards for 4: 57, 80 yards in 5: 23 (touchdown ), 62 yards for 5: 29 (touchdown ) and 80 yards for 1: 54 (touchdown ).

Auburn managed drives of 50, 48 and 76 yards.

That’s ball control and something the Razorbacks had not had in the previous three games.

Which is not the first thing that comes to mind when someone says Spread offense.

Casey Dick shook off two first-half interceptions to have a good game — after the defense refused to give up touchdowns after the mistakes — and against one of the better defenses in the country, he finally played an entire game without being sacked.

Give the offensive line much of the credit, but Dick is learning to get rid of the ball quicker, and that not only keeps him off his back, but keeps the receivers on their feet.

Eight people caught at least one pass against Auburn, including Dick, who got a touchdown throw from freshman Joe Adams, who is proving to be as tough as he is quick.

Just because Petrino has simplified the attack doesn’t mean he’s going to abandon all trickery.

Against the Tigers, true freshman Greg Childs proved to be a deep threat and a possession receiver.

Defensively, it looked as if Willy Robinson has also streamlined, and the players reacted with better tackling and by swarming to the ball more.

Now they face another SEC opponent on the road, and Kentucky is likely to be fired up after losing to South Carolina.

While the Razorbacks can’t afford not to continue to improve, they should find a little extra motivation in the fact that Kentucky chose the Razorbacks as its homecoming opponent.

Yes, Saturday is homecoming in Lexington, and instead of playing a directional school, the Wildcats chose the Hogs for its festivity game.

If the Hogs improve off Saturday’s performance, this homecoming won’t be a celebration in Lexington.