FAYETTEVILLE — Expectations are high for Arkansas after a strong push in the final months of the 2021 season.
Three SEC Network analysts said Tuesday they are anticipating the Razorbacks to build on their 9-4 mark in Sam Pittman’s second season, which was punctuated with a 24-10 victory over Penn State in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. They believe Arkansas has the ability to match or exceed that win total.
“I think they’ll be this year’s Ole Miss, or what Ole Miss did last year,” former Alabama safety Roman Harper said on the SEC Network set at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. “Ten wins, they’ll get up there.”
The Razorbacks will play four of their first five games in Fayetteville, beginning with Cincinnati on Sept. 3 and South Carolina on Sept. 10. The final game in that opening stretch is a home game against defending national runner-up Alabama on Oct. 1.
Arkansas is scheduled to travel to Arlington, Texas, for the Southwest Classic game against Texas A&M on Sept. 24.
After the matchup with the Crimson Tide, the Razorbacks will play three road games in four weeks against Mississippi State, BYU and Auburn between Oct. 8 and Oct. 29. Three of their final four games are at home.
Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Florida, said Arkansas is set up for success because of its culture. He also complimented the program’s strength training.
“They’re a team that plays so hard,” Tebow said. “I also think they’re going to be a team that’s going to be in a lot of fourth quarters. If you can win a couple of games in the fourth quarter, I think you can see Arkansas have another similar record to last year.”
Tebow added that Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson keys an offense that is “hard to stop,” and linebacker Drew Sanders, a transfer from Alabama, is a player who will impact the defense right away. Jefferson was recently named to the preseason watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s best quarterback.
Tebow does have some reservations about the Razorbacks, particularly on the perimeter.
“You look at guys that could have left and they’re coming back for fifth and sixth years,” he said. “They’re like Kentucky. They need a receiver or two to step up. I think that’s a weakness on their team, but if they can get that I think they’re going to be a really good team.
“I think there’s a few questions at corner.”
Arkansas’ additions in those areas from the NCAA transfer portal include receivers Jadon Haselwood (Oklahoma) and Matt Landers (Georgia/Toledo), and defensive backs Dwight McGlothern (LSU) and Latavious Brini (Georgia).
Greg McElroy, the former Alabama quarterback, is high on the Razorbacks in Pittman’s third season. He labeled the Southwest Classic as a “hinge game” on the schedule.
“Arkansas is legit,” he said. “If they can knock off (Texas) A&M early that’s when I can see them getting rolling a little bit, gaining some confidence and starting to find out who they might be as the season goes along.”