A day after snapping a three-game SEC losing streak becoming bowl-eligible by usual metrics for the first time since 2016, Arkansas and its faithful had to imagine a ranking was coming.
Nope.
Arkansas is the de facto No. 26 team in the nation, a designation that doesn’t actually exist, in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. But the Razorbacks picked up the most points in voting for any team outside the Top 25. Arkansas’ 116 points were still a sight lower than the No. 25 team, Louisiana.
Arkansas beat Mississippi State, 31-28, in the final minute at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday. Mississippi State was not ranked in either poll entering the game, but the Bulldogs were the No. 17 team in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday. Mississippi State didn’t receive any votes.
The Razorbacks were the practical No. 29 team last week. What harms Arkansas’ slotting is the down nature of the SEC. Coach Sam Pittman’s team only owns one win over a team that is currently ranked, even though Texas was No. 15 at the time and Mississippi State was placed where it was in the CFP rankings last week.
This week won’t help that cause. Arkansas travels to Baton Rouge to play LSU, a team the Hogs have beaten in Death Valley just three times since joining the SEC. LSU didn’t receive any votes, either.