Arkansas Football: Best and worst case scenario for 2018

Arkansas football has a new head coach and lots of question marks. What are the best and worst case scenarios for the Razorbacks in 2018?

The Razorbacks decided it was time to move on from Bret Bielema following a 2017 campaign that produced one conference win. In his place is hot-shot head coaching candidate Chad Morris. Famous for his work with Deshaun Watson at Clemson, Morris was in the midst of turning around the SMU Mustangs win the Razorbacks came calling.

Morris inherits a smorgasbord of chaos and uncertainty. The Razorbacks have smatterings of talent (running back and defensive line stand out), but on the whole, there is a lot of work to do.

Installing a more passing friendly offense puts the 2018 season in flux. If Morris can decide on a quarterback and if that chosen passer can learn the playbook and implement it on the fly, Arkansas could be dangerous. The consistency won’t be there to make a run at an SEC West title, not yet at least, but they could spring an upset or two and make the divisional race a bit more interesting.

Best case scenario

• Sep 1 – vs Eastern Illinois – W
• Sep 8 – @ Colorado State – W
• Sep 15 – vs North Texas – W
• Sep 22 – @ Auburn – L
• Sep 29 – vs Texas A&M (N) – W
• Oct 6 – vs Alabama – L
• Oct 13 – vs Ole Miss – W
• Oct 20 – vs Tulsa – W
• Oct 27 – vs Vanderbilt – W
• Nov 10 – vs LSU – W
• Nov 17 – @ Mississippi State – L
• Nov 23 – @ Missouri – L

Result: 8-4

Texas A&M has been the thorn in Arkansas’ side. Since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012 they Razorbacks haven’t been able to beat them. The majority of the games have been close. Several overtimes have been played, but the ball hasn’t bounced the Hogs’ way.

If this is the year the can overcome the Aggies and they parlay it with an upset of up-and-down LSU the Hogs would be in striking distance of .500 in SEC play. Quite an accomplishment for Morris in Year One.

Worst case scenario

• Sep 1 – vs Eastern Illinois – W
• Sep 8 – @ Colorado State – L
• Sep 15 – vs North Texas – L
• Sep 22 – @ Auburn – L
• Sep 29 – vs Texas A&M (N) – L
• Oct 6 – vs Alabama – L
• Oct 13 – vs Ole Miss – L
• Oct 20 – vs Tulsa – L
• Oct 27 – vs Vanderbilt – W
• Nov 10 – vs LSU – L
• Nov 17 – @ Mississippi State – L
• Nov 23 – @ Missouri – L

Result: 2-10

Taking care of business in non-conference play could be a challenge for the Razorbacks this year. North Texas’ air raid offense led by veteran Mason Fine could spell an early doom for the Hogs’ 2018 season. A home loss to a CUSA team followed by three straight SEC defeats before a toss-up game against Ole Miss could quell any optimism before it starts.

Realistically Arkansas understands they’re in the early stages of a rebuilding process. Morris isn’t going to be expected to make a bowl game right away, let alone topple an SEC giant. Patience will be preached unless of course the Razorbacks shock the world and take down Alabama. Anything is possible in college football, right?