FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas defensive lineman Isaiah Nichols is well aware of both the challenge and opportunity that lies ahead of the Razorbacks this weekend.
Coming off a disappointing 21-19 loss to then-No. 23 Liberty last weekend, Arkansas next welcomes into Reynolds Razorback Stadium rival LSU for an 11 a.m. kickoff. The Tigers are riding high following a thrilling overtime win over Alabama in Baton Rouge.
LSU, under first-year coach Brian Kelly, came in at No. 7 in Tuesday’s updated College Football Playoff rankings as a result of seven wins in its last eight games. Nichols and the Razorbacks hope to slow that roll and get back on track themselves.
To do so, leadership and energy must come to the forefront.
“I just think my leadership role I have on the D-line and on the defense and the team as a whole is to make sure I’m bringing energy myself,” Nichols said Tuesday. “I can’t really ask anybody else on the team for something that I’m not bringing. That just starts with me when I get up in the morning.
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“I have to make sure my mind is set, my mind is made up on what I’m going to do today. That’s a daily conscious effort because some days are harder than others. There are a lot of days where you don’t want to bring any energy.
“But when your motivation fails, your discipline and your consistency has to kick in.”
Arkansas, again this week, has plenty to play for. The Razorbacks are one win shy of becoming bowl eligible for the second consecutive season.
In 2015, the Razorbacks became bowl eligible by defeating the Tigers 31-14 on the road.
LSU, in the eyes of many, is one of the program’s top rivals, and there is a trophy on the line. Under third-year coach Sam Pittman, coaches and players alike have been vocal about the importance of securing wins in trophy games.
“I think it’ll mean a lot,” Nichols said. “I just think that this right here is a win we have to get because we’re trying to finish this season off strong. When things don’t go the way you want them to go and haven’t been going the way you want it to go, you have to dig deep and find why you’re playing.
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“It’s about pride. I think this would be a really good win.”
Nichols added that after a lackluster team effort against Liberty, this Saturday provides the Razorbacks a chance to prove to a national audience what the team is made of and that last weekend will not define it.
“The last month or so, we haven’t really put on full display who we really are,” he said. “I think going out there and just letting loose and everybody being out there and giving everything they got, I think it’s a good way for us to show everybody what Arkansas football is.”
At his weekly news conference on Monday, Pittman told reporters he did not feel as if the energy and mood on the sideline against the Flames was what it needed to be.
Team veterans Trey Knox and Simeon Blair agreed with Pittman. Knox, who leads the Razorbacks with five touchdown catches this season, said players need to bring their own juice rather than wait on someone to do something impactful on the field to change the team’s vibe.
“We’ve got to be juice boxes ourselves on the sideline or before the game of getting pumped up or getting in that zone,” Knox said. “I think that we struggle with that at times. Just trying to correct that, getting happy in practice and, you know, letting the leaders lead.
“I think that’s a big thing that we’ve been focusing on, letting the leaders talk, letting the leaders bring along other teammates and bring juice and energy to the whole team.”
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Blair added that everyone in the team facility is eager to put the Liberty loss behind them. Bouncing back with what would be perhaps the signature win of the Pittman era would get the Razorbacks back on the right path.
LSU in its last three games is averaging 40.7 points against Florida and ranked opponents Ole Miss and Alabama. Star quarterback Jayden Daniels is fifth in the SEC in passing yards (1,994) and has 14 touchdown passes against 1 interception.
He is also first in the league in rushing among quarterbacks (619 yards) and second overall in rushing touchdowns with 10.
Defensively, the Tigers are allowing 22.2 points per game, including 19.4 in their seven wins.
“It’s a lot on the line for this game,” Blair said. “I think that’s what is driving us. This is a big game, and it would be a huge win for us this year.
“We're really anxious for Saturday to come because we want to erase the Liberty game out of our head."