Month: July 2024

Image Courtesy: CBS Sports

Will SEC football ever join the Big 12 and Big Ten at nine conference games? Following the 2025-2026 season, the SEC will have to make that decision. Remaining with an eight game conference slate, the SEC set up the 2024 and 2025 football schedules with each conference member playing either new member, Oklahoma or Texas, home and away over the next two seasons. When the 2024 schedule was announced last December, SEC fans hoped to play conference opponents it had not played over the last few seasons in the fall of 2025. In March, the SEC announced that the 2025 football opponents for each member would be the same as they were in 2024, with the home games flipped to away games and the away games flipped with home games. With the SEC’s decision, we will see essentially the same exact conference schedule in 2024 and 2025. In 2026, the SEC and the Disney TV people have to agree on what the best for the future will be. With a nine game conference slate, every SEC team will play every other conference opponent home and away over each player’s four year college career. Coaches may not like this because it will take away important nonconference games (or games against FCS opponents). But, conference match ups need to become even more important than they already are with the NIL, the transfer portal, and realignment becoming more important by the second. So, it will be up to Disney and the SEC, but the SEC needs to move to a nine game conference schedule. Earlier in July, many SEC teams began cancelling multi-year out of conference series including Georgia-UCLA (2025 & 2026), California-Florida (2026 & 2027), and Auburn-UCLA (2027 & 2028). Those teams cancelling games allows the league will move to a nine game conference schedule in the fall of 2026 and beyond.

With Texas entering the SEC, their Thanksgiving weekend rivalry with Texas A&M will be renewed. The league also kept Oklahoma-Texas (“Red River Rivalry”) at its traditional second weekend of October slot in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl. But, without Oklahoma State in the SEC, the league needed to find a replacement for Oklahoma’s “Bedlam” game. Because Texas A&M will now face Texas annually the last weekend of the regular season annually, during the Sooners’ transitional years into the SEC, they will face LSU, who was left behind by the Aggies. But, if the league does not keep as the Sooners and the Tigers as an annual match up, things will have to be shifted. If the SEC goes to a nine game conference schedule like I discussed in the previous paragraph, LSU’s permanent foes in a nine game conference schedule will likely be Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M while Oklahoma’s three will likely be Missouri, Texas, and Texas A&M. So, the Arkansas-LSU (“The Battle For the Golden Boot”) and Missouri-Oklahoma match ups may be forced into Thanksgiving weekend the two years when the Sooners and Tigers are not scheduled to play during the four year period.

Image Courtesy: Burnt Orange Nation

Saturday, November 2
Ole Miss
12-1 PM ET, TBA
Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels have never won against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville at Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks. In 2020, the Razorback defense picked Rebel QB Matt Corral off six times on their way to a 33-21 win and Arkansas beat Ole Miss 42-27 behind a dominant ground attack. Now, the two guys at the forefront of those victories, quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Rocket Sanders, have transferred out and former Boise State signal caller Taylen Green and former Utah tailback Ja’Quinden Jackson are in. Receivers Andrew Armstrong, Tyrone Broden, Isaiah Sategna, and tight end Luke Hasz will have to be able to match Ole Miss’ terrific offensive production, led by returning QB Jaxson Dart. The Razorback defense has been able to deal with pretty well since taking over Kiffin’s offense. But, a new group of defensive starters for Travis Williams will have to deal with this challenge after he lost a big group to the portal. Returning senior receivers Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and former South Carolina receiver “Juice” Wells will be the group catching passses from Dart. What the Razorback defense needs to take advantage of is the new Ole Miss running back room. With former starter Quinshon Judkins at Ohio State now, seniors Ulysses Bentley and Jacory Croskey-Merritt will have to step up this season and against the Razorbacks. The Rebels defense is now stronger entering the 2024 season following the additions of defensive tackle Walter Nolen (Texas A&M) and senior linebacker Princely Umanmielen (Florida) under second year defensive coordinator Pete Golding, who came over from Alabama. A name on the Rebel defense Arkansas fans will be familiar with is junior linebacker Pooh Paul, who led the Razorbacks in tackles last season. Those are just three of the names Kiffin and Golding added on the defensive side, so Bobby Petrino’s offense will have its hands full. The chess match between the two coaching staffs will be fun to watch in this game. Only Lane Kiffin can be blamed if his Ole Miss Rebels are unable to finally get a win in Fayetteville on November 2. Projected Score: Ole Miss 45, Arkansas 24

Saturday, November 16
Texas
12 PM ET, ABC/ESPN
Hatred fills the Arkansas-Texas rivalry. Gone permanently since the Razorbacks left the Longhorns and the SWC for the SEC in the early 1990s, the two teams reignited their rivalry in 2021 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in primetime. The Razorbacks dominated the Longhorns 40-21. Since that loss to Arkansas in just the second week of his tenure, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian proved his time under Nick Saban as Alabama’s offensive coordinator was worth it, turning the Longhorns into a College Football Playoff team this past season. The momentum created from making a College Football Playoff will gave Texas the ability to attract many top transfers in the portal and future recruits down the road. But, the challenges the Texas will face as a full SEC member will be different than the ones they faced in the Big 12 over the last two and a half decades or so. Junior QB Quinn Ewers matured last season as the starter after an inconsistent first campaign in Austin after transferring from Ohio State. Of course, with sophomore Arch Manning waiting in the wings, Ewers must play quality football again this fall if he wants to keep his starting job. After losing many offensive weapons to the NFL (receivers Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Jordan Whittington, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, and tailback Jonathan Brooks) Sarkisian went into the transfer portal to add former Alabama receiver Isaiah Bond, former Alabama tight end Amari Niblack, former Houston receiver Matthew Golden, and former Oregon State receiver Silas Bolden next to returning running backs Jaydon Blue, CJ Baxter, and returning receiver DeAndre Moore. Arkansas may end up facing the two toughest offenses it will face all year back to back games when it plays Ole Miss, takes November 9th off for its bye, before playing Texas. Defensively, Texas was phenomenal in 2023, losing three important front seven pieces to the NFL Draft. With Outland Award winner T’Vondre Sweat, Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Byron Murphy, and All-Big 12 linebacker Jaylan Ford out the door, former Arizona defensive tackleTiaoalii Savea looks to help the returners up front stop Arkansas’ offensive attack. Fantastic kicker Bert Auburn returns so if special teams determines this game, I would favor the Longhorns over Razorback kicker Matthew Shipley. The Longhorns should come into this game, focused on winning this game after being dominated three seasons ago, just two weeks before the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry returns. Projected Score: Texas 38, Arkansas 28

Saturday, November 30
@ Missouri
3:30-4:30 PM ET, TBA
After most of their fanbase wanted Eliah Drinkwitz fired entering the season, Missouri won 11 games in 2023. The Tigers put a punctuation mark on their season with a 14-3 win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl last New Year’s. Losing defensive coordinator Blake Baker to LSU will hurt (Corey Batoon takes over for Baker), but the offensive weapons returning for the Tigers gives me confidence that they can be just as good as they were last season. Since the two programs became permanent Thanksgiving weekend rivals, Arkansas has gone 2-8 against the Tigers. This season, Arkansas and Missouri will square off on a Saturday for just the second time as SEC members (COVID 2020 season was the only other time) after the conference decided to not flex the game to Black Friday with new conference members Oklahoma and Texas in the league. Instead, the Georgia-Georgia Tech “Old Fashioned Hate” and Mississippi State-Ole Miss “Egg Bowl” rivalries were flexed to Black Friday. Terrific receivers Luther Burden and Theo Wease Jr. are awesome targets for Brady Cook, who could become one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this season. Drinkwitz was able to add former Notre Dame and Arizona State QB Drew Pyne to back up Cook, in the off-season. Incoming senior transfers Marcus Carrol (Georgia State) and Nate Noel (Appalachian State) will have to attempt to replace the production last season’s SEC leading rusher Cody Schrader but the Tigers get half of what he produced in 2023 this fall, they should not skip a beat offensively. Returning starters edge Johnny Walker (senior), tackle Kristian Williams (senior), nickleback Daylan Carnell (junior), and safety Joseph Charleston (senior) should make things easier for Batoon in his first season as the defensive playcaller in Columbia. Missouri will keep their winning ways against the Razorbacks going with another “W” to finish the season in 2024. Projected Score: Missouri 42, Arkansas 28

Final Projected Record: 5-7 (2-6) SEC

Image Courtesy: LSU Athletics

Saturday, October 5
Tennessee
3:30-8 PM ET, TBA
Arkansas has defeated Tennessee three consecutive times, winning over the Volunteers in 2011, 2015, and 2020. Since the two teams ended their time as permanent cross division rivals, the Razorbacks have dominated the series against the Volunteers. Outside of the Razorbacks’ run with Bobby Petrino (2008-2012) and the Vols’ run with Josh Heupel (2021-), both programs have been up and down this century. In their last match up in 2020, Arkansas’ defense got into the Volunteer backfield time and time again on their way to a dominant 24-13 win in Fayetteville. Tennessee again heads on the road for this early October match up with former five-star QB (redshirt freshman) Nico Iamaleava behind center. He takes the reins of Josh Heupel’s high-powered offense after playing in four games in a redshirt season in 2023. Talented receivers (senior) Bru McCoy and (junior) Squirrel White next to Tulane transfer sophomore Chris Brazzell II. The running back duo of Dylan Sampson and Cameron Seldon will comfort Iamaleava on the road behind an offensive line that returns four seniors; Cooper Mays, Javontez Spraggins, John Champell Jr., and Andrej Karic. On defense, junior defensive end James Pearce Jr. may be the most underrated player in the country entering the fall. Pearce joins senior nose tackle Omari Thomas and senior defensive tackle Bryson Eason as the lone returning starters on that side of the ball. The defensive line is definitely strong with the aforementioned Pearce, Thomas, Eason, and new starter Tyre West. Sophomore Arion Carter and senior Keenan Pill will be the new starters at linebacker while there will also be many new names in the secondary for the Vols. Former Oregon State cornerback Jermod McCoy, former Temple cornerback Jalen McMurray, and former Middle Tennessee safety Jakobe Thomas are all expected to start. Bobby Petrino’s passing offense can take advantage of the Vols’ back end group with Petrino’s knowledge of how to get his receivers open so easily. With former Tennessee center Addison Nichols and nickleback Doniko Slaughter, the Arkansas Razorbacks will upset the Tennessee Volunteers. Projected Score: Arkansas 38, Tennessee 34

Saturday, October 19
LSU (Homecoming)
6-8 PM ET, TBA
For the first time ever, the Razorbacks will face LSU on Arkansas soil not in the month of November. The Razorbacks and the Tigers have played some close battles of late, including a 34-31 win for LSU in Baton Rouge in 2023. With Nick Saban retired, Brian Kelly is the clear second best coach in the SEC behind Georgia’s Kirby Smart. He retooled his defensive coaching staff after a dismal showing from that side of the ball last fall, replacing fired defensive coordinator Matt House with Missouri’s Blake Baker. With former Tiger QB Jayden Daniels now with the Washington Commanders after they selected him with the second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and receivers Malik Nabers (sixth pick to the New York Giants) and Brian Thomas (twenty third overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars). Grant Nussmeier replaces Daniels with some starting experience, including success in a loss against Georgia in the 2022 SEC Championship Game and in a victory over Wisconsin ReliaQuest Bowl. Tremendous tight end Mason Taylor returns for his third year and receiver Kyren Lacy returns for his fourth year as targets for Nussmeier. Could Lacy be in for a year similar to Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas next year? If Nussmeier can get the ball to him consistently, it very well could happen. Nussmeier will play behind an experienced offensive line that returns junior left tackle Will Campbell, senior left guard Garrett Dellinger, senior right guard Miles Frazier, and junior right tackle Emery Jones Jr. Arkansas’ defensive line, led by defensive end Landon Jackson, can take advantage of a new LSU running back room including senior Josh Williams and sophomore Kaleb Johnson. With junior Harold Perkins Jr. slated at linebacker instead of at defensive end, LSU’s defense can be better than it was in 2023. Next to Perkins, senior defensive end Sai’vion Jones, senior inside linebacker Greg Penn III, and senior STAR Major Burns return. If this defense shines, LSU can finally make a College Football Playoff under Kelly. If not, hard questions need to be asked in Baton Rouge. As I said earlier, the Razorbacks always play the Tigers close. But, the Tigers have too much talent. Projected Score: LSU 38, Arkansas 27

Saturday, October 26
@ Mississippi State
12-1 PM ET, TBA
By the time the clock hits triple zeroes of Arkansas’ trip to Starkville against Mississippi State in late October, memories of the 2023 game between the two schools that resulted in a 7-3 Bulldog win, should be put in the rearview mirror. As Jeff Lebby returns to the state of Mississippi to coach the Bulldogs instead of call plays for Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels, points should come in waves in year 1 of his tenure. Arkansas’ explosive returning offense with quarterback Taylen Green, tailback Ja’Quiden Jackson, and a group of receiving targets returning (Andrew Armstrong, Isaiah Sategna, Tyrone Broden, Isaac TeSlaa, and Luke Hasz) will help Mississippi State show both fanbases that offense has returned to this series. The Bulldogs return only two starters (both on defense) from last season next to what Lebby’s coaching staff adding their transfer portal additions. Lebby hand picked former Baylor signal caller Blake Shapen (2,188 yards and 13 passing TDs in 2022) to take over his offense in his senior year. Bulldog veteran Jordan Mosely will play his first season as a starter at wideout next to former UTEP Miner Kelly Akharaiyi, and former Louisville Cardinal Kevin Coleman. Former Arkansas offensive line coach Cody Kennedy was hired by Jeff Lebby. Kennedy’s line is full of veterans, including junior left tackle Makylan Pounders, junior left guard Jacoby Jackson, senior center Ethan Miner, junior right guard Albert Reese IV, and junior right tackle Leon Bell. It will be up to the Arkansas defensive line to sack Blake Shapen to help them win this game. The Mississippi State defense lost the SEC’s top two leading tacklers the last two years in linebackers Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson to the pros as well as defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy and cornerback Decamerion Robinson. Defensive linemen De’Monte Russell and Deonte Anderson, returning linebacker John Lewis and former South Carolina linebacker Stone Blanton, and defensive backs Corey Ellington and Issac Smith to try to stop what should be a much more exciting Arkansas offense under Bobby Petrino. Arkansas must win this game to make a bowl game this fall. Projected Score: Arkansas 31, Mississippi State 24

Projected Record: 5-4 (2-3) SEC

Image Courtesy: Sporting News

Back in April, 247sports reporter Brandon Marcello reported that a proposed college football super league was being discussed by leaders throughout the country. Per sportico, the league would look like this:
70 teams in ten divisions (or conferences)
10 teams in “Under League” (another version of the current Group of Five)
14-game regular season
16-team College Football Playoff with the ability to expand to 24 teams
“Spring festival” with 40 games in April
NIL Salary Cap
Players paid via TV money distribution
85-man roster with 70 scholarships
Can sign 10 transfers per window
Players can transfer twice in 5-year window

The divisions in the league would look like this:
Midwest
Cincinnati
Illinois
Indiana
Louisville
Michigan
Michigan State
Missouri
Northwestern
Ohio State
Purdue

Northeast
Boston College
Maryland
Notre Dame
Penn State
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
Syracuse
Virginia
Virginia Tech
West Virginia

Plains
BYU
Colorado
Iowa
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Utah
Wisconsin

Southwest
Arkansas
Baylor
Houston
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
SMU
Texas
Texas A&M
TCU
Texas Tech

West
Arizona
Arizona State
California
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
UCLA
USC
Washington
Washington State

South
Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Georgia Tech
Kentucky
LSU
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

Southeast
Central Florida (UCF)
Clemson
Duke
Florida
Florida State
Miami
North Carolina
North Carolina State
South Carolina
Wake Forest

Under League Division
Boise State
James Madison
Liberty
Miami (OH)
New Mexico State
Toledo
Troy
Tulane
UNLV
UTSA

Check out how The Athletic thinks their proposed super league would’ve looked like last season.

College football is turning into the NFL.