Not banking on ranking

FAYETTEVILLE -- It's time to see if the Arkansas Razorbacks are as good as so many people seem to think.

Arkansas opens its third season under Coach Bret Bielema -- after a strong finish in 2014 -- as a 33-point favorite against Texas-El Paso at 2:30 p.m. today at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The last thing much of the nation saw from Arkansas was quarterback Brandon Allen kneeling down at the goal line as the Razorbacks capped a 31-7 victory over Texas in the Texas Bowl.

As good as that felt, Bielema admitted last week that he's had to fight ramped-up expectations, including a No. 18 preseason ranking in The Associated Press poll, after the Razorbacks went 3-1 over the final four games to finish 7-6 last season.

"A lot of media this summer, a lot of people are saying nice things about us, which is really good," Bielema said during the summer. "I think it's very embarrassing because we really haven't accomplished much, in my opinion. We won seven games, which equals the worst record I ever had at my previous institution.

"I think this is a really hungry group that isn't satisfied with seven wins."

Media aren't the only ones hyping the Hogs.

"We're not as physical as Arkansas, and we're not near as talented as Arkansas," UTEP Coach Sean Kugler said. "Man for man, there are going to be a lot of mismatches."

Kugler noted the Razorbacks' strong finish, which included outscoring LSU, Ole Miss and Texas by a combined 78-7 with the only loss among their final four games coming against SEC East champion Missouri (21-14).

"If you really look at their body of work over the last four or five games, I don't think there was a hotter team in the country, maybe with the exception of Ohio State," Kugler said. "They dismantled LSU, Ole Miss, and then in the bowl game they held Texas to 59 total yards of offense."

Arkansas will match up today against Conference USA's version of the Razorbacks. UTEP, much like Arkansas, prefers a physical style of play.

"I think a lot of our preparation about good on good was beneficial because it carried into UTEP so well," Bielema said. "Not surprising, knowing Coach Kugler's background, an offensive line coach in the NFL and everything, you can tell where they want to go."

Arkansas tailback Jonathan Williams, who rushed for 1,190 yards last season, suffered a torn ligament in his foot early in camp, but the Razorbacks believe they can mix Alex Collins, Kody Walker and Rawleigh Williams and come up with a combination to match last year's run game success behind one of the nation's most publicized offensive lines.

"I think we've got a good ball club," said Sam Pittman, Arkansas' assistant head coach and offensive line coach. "I thought we had a good ball club at the end of last year. I think we feel like we can play with whoever's on our schedule."

Three solid recruiting classes have helped beef up Arkansas' roster to what looks like a peak under Bielema. Fifth-year senior quarterback Brandon Allen has proven weapons like Collins, receiver Keon Hatcher and tight end Hunter Henry to blend in with promising new skill players like receivers Dominique Reed and Jojo Robinson.

The Razorbacks remain a dark horse choice to contend in the SEC West after being picked fourth in the division in preseason media polling. Four SEC West teams -- No. 3 Alabama, No. 6 Auburn, No. 14 LSU and No. 17 Ole Miss -- are ranked ahead of Arkansas in The Associated Press poll.

Allen said it's fine if people underestimate the Razorbacks.

"We've been underestimated before," he said. "We know we have a great team. We're going to turn a lot of heads this year."

Making a run at the top of the division coming off consecutive last-place finishes in the SEC West would do that. Even with the way Arkansas finished last season, the Razorbacks are still 2-14 in SEC West play over the past two seasons under Bielema.

"They're on an upward trajectory," SI.com's Andy Staples said. "But, I mean, are they going to be Alabama ... competing for the national title all the time? No. That's not realistic.

"But can they compete for the SEC West every once in a while? Let's be honest. If you win the SEC West, you can win the national title. Can they do that? They can compete for the SEC West every once in a while, no question."

The big question is whether the Razorbacks do it this year.

"Of course," said Collins, who rushed for 1,100 yards last season. "We play ... in the best conference and we compete with those guys. So definitely I think we can compete with anybody in the country."

Arkansas' defense lacks star names, but the Razorbacks believe their schemes will remain productive after finishing 10th nationally under first-year coordinator Robb Smith last season.

"I think it's a defense that's built on a system, not a name," Bielema said. "That goes back to Robb and my upbringing and the program that we learned. It's the sum of 11 parts.

"I think we've got enough good players to make that happen."

Arkansas guard Sebastian Tretola said the Razorbacks will play with swagger and confidence.

"You don't want to lose the chip on your shoulder," he said. "We're keeping our heads on straight, keeping our shoulders forward. ... We're a grind-first team. Before everything, we grind."

Bielema didn't have much to say about Arkansas' preseason No. 18 ranking other than it's a good starting point.

"I think in the greater, bigger world of college football, to get in the dance you've got to be mentioned early on," Bielema said, reflecting on his first season at Wisconsin when the Badgers were unranked to begin the year but completed a 12-1 season with a victory over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl and a No. 5 ranking in the coaches poll. "If that was a playoff year, maybe we would have been that fifth team, on the outside looking in.

"And it was only because we started off so far back."

That's one thing the Razorbacks don't have to worry about this season.

Sports on 09/05/2015