2023-2024 cbhsports Arkansas College Football Preview: LSU, Texas A&M

Image Courtesy: Arkansas Razorbacks

September 23
at.LSU (TBA, TBA)
After winning the SEC West in year one under Brian Kelly, LSU is ready to take the next step and make the College Football Playoff in 2023. The Tigers return arguably the best in the SEC in QB Jayden Daniels, running back Noah Cain, and extremely talented upcoming sophomore Harold Perkins on the defensive line. Better yet, Kelly gets former five-star and former All-SEC defensive tackle Maason Smith back from a torn ACL he suffered against Florida State in the 2022 opener. So, the trip to Baton Rouge will be a bit more difficult for Sam Pittman’s team this upcoming season than it was in 2021 when Cam Little kicked the game-winning field goal to give the Razorbacks their first win in the Battle for the Golden Boot series since 2015, 13-10. If Arkansas wants to win this game, QB KJ Jefferson cannot turn the ball over and will have to rely on his great stable of running backs. The Razorback defense will have to deal with a great Tiger receiving core in addition to Singletary. In one of the toughest environments in college football, it will be tough for Arkansas to go into a raucous “Death Valley” and win this game.
Projected Score: LSU 35, Arkansas 17

September 30
Texas A&M (Arlington) (TBA, TBA)
Even after losing six consecutive games and only winning 5 games in 2022, Texas A&M beat Arkansas in Arlington for the tenth time in eleven seasons. With former Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino calling the offense now in College Station with talented true sophomore QB Connor Weigman, Arkansas’ defense will have to be ready for a Missouri State-like 2022 offensive performance by Petrino’s Bears’ team a season ago. The Razorback defense will have to deal with stellar Aggie receivers Evan Stewart and Ainias Smith. Arkansas will have to take advantage of a relatively young Texas A&M offensive line and freshman running back Rueben Owens if they want to beat the Aggies for the second time in twelve seasons. On the other side of the football, there are even more talented sophomores, including former five-star defensive tackle Walter Nolen plus juniors Fadil Diggs and Shemar Turner. A&M also returns all of their specialists so they should have all of the ingredients if head coach Jimbo Fisher gets out of the way of Petrino and lets him run the offense. Arkansas needs to get on the Aggie defense early and often if they want to win this game with all of their talent on that side of the ball.
Projected Score: Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 24