Arkansas Football: Ranking 2020 opponents by toughness

The month of November isn’t going to be all that kind for the Razorbacks with a road contest against potential top-10 foe Auburn on Nov. 7.

The Tigers are returning Heisman candidate Bo Nix at quarterback after he passed for over 2,500 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman while rushing for another 313 and seven scores. He has his top three receivers back and DJ Williams returns at running back.

Defensively, this team is losing a lot from the solid 2019 squad, but the Tigers have Big Kat Bryant and Christian Tutt who will both be All-SEC candidates. Like always, Auburn’s defense won’t rebuild, it’ll reload.

No surprise here, despite a home game, Alabama will present Arkansas with its toughest test of the 2020 season.

Say goodbye to Tua Tagovailoa, Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy, but the offense is going to be just fine with Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle back. The line also returns four out of five starters from last year to protect Mac Jones.

The defense brings back five starters including Dylan Moses who was injured in 2019 and didn’t get to make an impact. This side of the ball won’t be an issue.

After missing the College Football Playoff in 2019, don’t expect the same to happen to Alabama in 2020.