FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football is picked to finish sixth in the SEC West in 2021.
The SEC released a media poll Friday that had the Razorbacks ahead of Mississippi State but well behind fifth-place Auburn. Arkansas received 241 voting points in the poll, 24 more than the Bulldogs.
Voting points are based on where a team is projected to finish, with more points awarded to teams that are placed higher on ballots.
Arkansas enters this fall coming off of a 3-7 season under first-year coach Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks defeated Mississippi State 21-14 on the road to snap a 20-game SEC losing streak, and Ole Miss and Tennessee at home behind impressive defensive performances.
Alabama is an overwhelming favorite to win the SEC West, garnering 130 first-place votes. Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss and Arkansas each received one first-place vote.
The Aggies are predicted to finish second, followed by LSU, Ole Miss and Auburn.
Georgia received 124 first-place votes to win the SEC East, followed by Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Reigning SEC champion Alabama received 84 votes to win the league title this season. Georgia received 45 votes to win the conference championship, and Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina received one.
Five Razorbacks were named to preseason All-SEC teams, and wide receiver Treylon Burks was the lone first-team selection. Center Ricky Stromberg, linebacker Grant Morgan and defensive back Jalen Catalon were named to the second team, and offensive lineman Myron Cunningham received third-team recognition.
SEC PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
First-place votes in parentheses
EASTERN DIVISION
Georgia 923 (124)
Florida 784 (7)
Kentucky 624 (2)
Missouri 555
Tennessee 362
South Carolina 355
Vanderbilt 149
WESTERN DIVISION
Alabama 932 (130)
Texas A&M 760 (1)
LSU 633 (1)
Ole Miss 529 (1)
Auburn 440
Arkansas 241 (1)
Mississippi State 217
SEC CHAMPION
Alabama 84
Georgia 45
Ole Miss 1
Texas A&M 1
Florida 1
Kentucky 1
South Carolina 1