OK Arkansas fans, now it may be time to panic.
In last week’s column, I suggested that a loss to top-ranked Alabama is one thing, but a follow-up loss at Mississippi State would be another. And I went on to say that if the Hogs followed the Alabama loss by playing poorly or loosing at State, then there would be reason to panic.
Well, the Hogs did both; playing poorly and suffering a devastating loss on the road at Starkville. So, it is now time to panic. If not complete panic, the finger is getting close to pushing the button.
But that’s me…I’m just another fan out there that does not know what is actually happening within the program, and I certainly don’t know what is going on in the minds of the players and coaches. I can only repeat the obvious that anyone can see. But I also know this; BYU is an outstanding team and the Hogs’ first ever trip to Provo, Utah will not be an easy proposition. For the Hogs to have a chance to win, the team must rally behind their coach, Sam Pittman, and take an “us against the world” attitude into Provo on Saturday.
One positive flare that happened last Saturday at State was perhaps the emergence of Malik Hornsby as the clear number two quarterback. And in this writer’s opinion, I believe he could be a future starter in a very short time if KJ Jeferson does not rebound quickly on Saturday. Jefferson appears to be returning to practice this week which I take as a sign that he will get the start against BYU. I like Jefferson and he is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback, but the offense seems to take a much more explosive threat to defenses with Hornsby at quarterback. We will see on Saturday.
Here is our weekly report on this week’s opponent as provided by the University of Arkansas:
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (3-3, 1-3 SEC)
AP/Coaches Poll: NR/NR
Head Coach: Sam Pittman (Pittsburg State [Kan.], ‘86)
Career Record: 15-14 (3rd season)
Record at Arkansas: Same
BYU COUGARS (4-2)
AP/Coaches Poll: RV/RV
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake (BYU, ‘00)
Career Record: 52-31 (7th season)
Record at BYU: Same
• Arkansas goes on the road for the second week in a row to square off against FBS Independent opponent BYU for the first time in program history. Kickoff between the Razorbacks and Cougars is set for 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 15, in Provo, Utah, at LaVell Edwards Stadium on ESPN.
• BYU is receiving votes in both the AP Top 25 Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. All six of Arkansas’ FBS opponents this season have either been ranked or received votes. Since 2020, 22 of Arkansas’ 28 FBS opponents have either been ranked or received votes in the national polls.
• Under head coach Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks are a perfect 7-0 against non-conference opponents. Pittman is the first Arkansas head coach since Lou Holtz (1977-78) to win his first seven games against non-conference foes.
• QB KJ Jefferson, who did not play in the contest against Mississippi State, has wreaked havoc on opposing efenses through the air and on the ground. Jefferson has completed 80-of-121 passes (66.1%) for 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns with one interception while rushing for 312 yards and four scores in five games. Entering this week, Jefferson is one of two SEC quarterbacks to throw for over 1,000 yards and run for over 300 yards this season.
• RB Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders is the Hogs’ leading ball carrier through six games, totaling 695 yards on 125 carries (5.6 avg.) with five scores on the ground. He leads the SEC in both rushing yards (695) and rushing yards per game (115.8), and he ranks second in all-purpose yards per game
(146.7) this season. Sanders, who has caught 14 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown, is one of three FBS players with 600+ rushing yards and 100+ receiving yards this year.
• WR Jadon Haselwood leads Arkansas’ receiving corps with a team-high 27 catches for 364 yards (13.5 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns. A transfer from Oklahoma, Haselwood has caught three or more passes in each of his first six games as a Hog and has tallied at least one catch in 18 consecutive games dating back to the start of the 2021 season.
• LB Drew Sanders has emerged as one of the top defensive playmakers in college football, racking up 59 total tackles with a team-leading 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 6.5 sacks through six games. Sanders, who leads the SEC and ranks second nationally in sacks, has four double-digit
tackle games this season, most among all Hog defenders
The road game at BYU will be another big test for the Arkansas defense that has struggled all season. The shifting of players into the Arkansas secondary has been a continued experiment as the coaches look to beef up the back end of a defense that has ranked among the poorest in the country.
A win a BYU would be big for the Hogs and would shift momentum in a positive direction heading in to the stretch portion of their schedule. But another loss….
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.
