Steep incline ahead

Bielema steps into role of Hogs' humbler

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema talks on his headset during the first quarter of the game against Northern Illinois at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014.

FAYETTEVILLE -- It sounds inconceivable, but the same Arkansas team that ended the program's longest losing streak 16 days ago might now need help keeping its egos in check.

That wasn't exactly the point Coach Bret Bielema was making the past two Saturdays, but he did speak about being ready to exercise his role as voice of reason in the wake of three consecutive visually-impressive blowouts.

Hammering Hogs

• Arkansas’ 125-point combined margin of victory over its past three opponents — Nicholls State (67), Texas Tech (21) and Northern Illinois (38) — is tied for the second-largest combined victory margin for Arkansas since it won three consecutive games by 135 points in 1970. Chart doesn’t include three-game stretches in 1909, 1911, 1916 and 1928 when Hogs won by 105, 154, 200 and 205 points.

YEAR;OPPONENTS;PTS.

1970;Baylor, Wichita St., Texas A&M;135

2014;Nicholls St., @Texas Tech, N. Illinois;125

1970; Wichita St., Texas A&M, Rice;125

2006;SE Mo., Ole Miss, La-Monroe;125

1999;Middle Tenn., S. Carolina, Auburn;110

Source Arkansas media guide Research Tom Murphy

The Razorbacks (3-1) have been involved in a fast-paced game of catchup from a confidence standpoint and head into Saturday's game against No. 6 Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, aiming for a return to respectability as the only unranked team in the SEC West.

"My role as a humbler has got to be increased this week because ... you guys and everybody, all the girls and moms and dads will tell them how good they are," Bielema said after Saturday's 52-14 victory over Northern Illinois.

He makes a strong point. The Razorbacks' last three wins -- 73-7 over FCS-level Nicholls State, 49-28 at previously unbeaten Texas Tech and the 38-point blowout of the highly regarded Huskies -- have a historic slant.

The 125-point combined victory margin is tied for the second-highest three-game victory margin since the 1970 team smoked Baylor (41-7), Wichita State (62-0) and Texas A&M (45-6) in succession for a combined 135-point margin of victory.

The 2006 Razorbacks combined to beat Southeast Missouri State, Ole Miss and Louisiana-Monroe in consecutive games by 125 points.

The Hogs also rank third nationally with an average of 48.8 points per game, are sixth with 324.5 rushing yards per game and first with 17 rushing touchdowns, impressive numbers Bielema would like to keep the Hogs from gloating over.

Arkansas has far exceeded the expectations of Las Vegas oddsmakers, who rated the Hogs as a 1-point under at Lubbock, Texas, and a 14-point favorite against Northern Illinois.

The Huskies brought a 17-game road winning streak into Reynolds Razorback Stadium, but beating a team from the Mid-America Conference, even a very good one, should be considered commonplace in Bielema's view.

"Saturday after the game I gave credit where credit was due, but when you take a look at the film, there's some things we definitely needed to correct and move forward," Bielema said. "I truly do appreciate and hope that somebody beating Northern Illinois isn't really a big deal.

"It was a big deal because we haven't won at home. But it's a team that we should expect to have success on."

Linebacker Martrell Spaight said the roll of blowouts has been fun.

"It's a great feeling after the rough season we had last year," Spaight said. "We're going out there with a big chip on our shoulder every week. That's the main focal point, whatever the score is, we want to make sure we keep getting better and better."

Improvement is mandatory if Arkansas wants to keep having fun.

The Razorbacks' next three games are against SEC teams currently ranked in the top 12 of this week's Associated Press top 25 -- No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 3 Alabama and No. 12 Georgia. The Razorbacks have lost 13 games in a row against SEC teams.

Arkansas coaches want their players in a positive mind-set after ending the program's 10-game losing streak on Sept. 6, but they also want the Razorbacks to remember the work it took to win three games in a row.

"Arrogance can always -- sometimes -- get in the way of production," offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. "So you've got to be careful of that. I think our kids feel confident in what they're doing."

Said Bielema, "I think, without a doubt, our guys have a lot more confidence than they maybe had a year ago, but until you've done it on a big stage and against a quality opponent like we're going to see Saturday, it's really just talk."

Arkansas' confidence has been building since being shut out 24-0 in the second half of a 45-21 loss at then-No. 6 Auburn in the season opener.

"But we can't keep looking back at these last three wins," tailback Jonathan Williams said. "It's on to SEC play and we have a good opponent ahead of us."

Quarterback Brandon Allen said the Razorbacks' belief has not wavered.

"I think we go into every game expecting to put it on some people," Allen said.

"It feels great when you can score like we have been. Our defense has been doing a great job of holding opponents. It's been good for us, and we're going to just keep rolling with it."

Sports on 09/23/2014