Tag: Arkansas football schedule

Several coaches at SEC Media Days in Atlanta over the week were asked about their thoughts on scheduling should the SEC go to a three-team permanent schedule with five rotating league games.

Arkansas was a popular team among them.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin called the game between the Rebels and Razorbacks a rivalry. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, whose team plays the Hogs for the Southwest Classic trophy every year already, also mentioned the Hogs as a potential permanent rival when he was the last to take the dais at the gathering.

“You want Texas. When Texas comes into the league, when that schedule comes in, definitely because of that rivalry,” Fisher said. “I think LSU is a great rivalry.  But that’s probably our two biggest. Then Arkansas goes into that, too. But I don’t know if that was one of our three that they equated to us in what we did.”

That type of schedule hasn’t seriously been discussed yet, or at least, it hasn’t been reported as such yet, anyway. But when Texas and Oklahoma join the league in the next few years, the 16-team conference will be so massive, the new scheduling system has been unofficially bandied about.

Arkansas getting Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma every single season would be difficult given the year-in, year-out quality those three finish with. But which would be booted for a Missouri or a Mississippi State or an Ole Miss?

It’s a fun question to consider and one that might be legitimately coming sooner rather than later based on the questions coaches fielded at media days.

The SEC isn’t just filled with the best teams in college football. It has the biggest and loudest stadiums, too.

While the Big Ten has the three biggest in the sport, the SEC, including future member Texas, have the next six largest. Florida, Auburn and Oklahoma are just outside the Top 10 at 11th, 12th and 13th.

Arkansas’ Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is 21st. Not shabby at all, but ranked just ninth in the 14-team SEC. That doesn’t mean, however, it isn’t a daunting place to play.

Brad Crawford at 247Sports ranked the nine most intimidating places to play college football in 2022 earlier this week and Razorback Stadium checked onto the list.

Makes sense, given Razorbacks’ fans excitement about the program in the Sam Pittman era.

Here are all nine.

Arkansas football had the toughest strength-of-schedule in FBS this season, according to ESPN. From the looks of things, the Hogs will be up against it again next season, too.

Losses to graduation, the NFL draft, transfers and every other thing could drastically the alter the look of every team in the sport. But given usual goings-on in those regards, Arkansas might be facing its toughest schedule in years, if not ever, in 2022.

The Razorbacks finished 2021 with a record of 9-4 in coach Sam Pittman’s second year at the helm. They’ll return likely All-SEC quarterback KJ Jefferson, at least three of their top four running backs, four of their five offensive linemen, four key contributors on the defensive line and perhaps their entire secondary, including, definitely All-American safety Jalen Catalon. Plus, wide receiver Jadon Haselwood transfers in from Oklahoma in hopes of becoming the next No. 1 wide receiver to replace Treylon Burks.

The future is bright in Fayetteville and the Razorbacks can continue their upward climb against the grain next year.

Coming off an 8-4 season, possibly 9 wins if Arkansas wins its bowl game, the coaching staff is probably already looking toward 2022.

There’s a pretty good chance the Razorbacks will be ranked in the preseason top 25, which will be the first time that will have occurred since 2015, when the team started No. 18 before losing to Toledo in the second game of the season and falling out of the poll.

As usual, the schedule does no favors to Arkansas, who has played one of, if not the toughest schedules in the country back-to-back years.

Here is a rundown of the 2022 schedule and our meter of likely win, lean win, toss-up, lean loss and likely loss.