Arkansas Football: It’s time to buy stock in the Razorbacks

Though Arkansas football is just 3-4 through seven games, but it’s time to buy stock in the Razorbacks if you’re looking for a rising program.

If you’re an Arkansas fan, I bet you thought this was the last thing you’d be reading in November of Sam Pittman’s first season. Sure, you hoped things would turn around quickly, but years of mediocrity under John L. Smith, Bret Bielema and Chad Morris, it seemed like there was a massive rebuild coming.

There’s no chance this program would see immediate results of a fresh coaching regime, right?

Wrong.

Seven games into the Pittman era, the Razorbacks look like a completely different team. They won four total games in two years under Morris and they were 0-16 in those seasons in SEC play, but through seven games, the Razorbacks already have three wins and all are in conference action. In seven games, Pittman has won three more SEC games than Morris did in two years.

And this is just the start.

Feleipe Franks has been a revelation at quarterback, Trelon Smith has been a pleasant surprise at running back, the receiving corps are led by a couple of budding stars and the defense is better than it’s been in years.

The culture has completely changed in Fayetteville.

No longer are the Razorbacks looked at as an easy win in SEC play and you can ask teams like Auburn, Georgia and even Florida about that. Texas A&M was the only team that really handled Arkansas from start to finish, but the other three needed some time before they put the Razorbacks away — I’m still not convinced Auburn deserved the win against Arkansas.

This team could very well be 4-3 right now with a couple of competitive losses and that’s just the first season of the Pittman era. Not too shabby.

If Pittman can do this with a team that looked lifeless and unmotivated for a couple of years under Morris, imagine what he can do when he gets his guys. The Razorbacks landed the No. 30 recruiting class in 2020 and currently have the No. 22 class in 2021, according to 247Sports. Oh, and they’re off to a hot start to 2022 with the No. 13 class in the country.

The stock for Arkansas is on the rise and it’s going to hit big in the next year or two. If you’re a college football fan looking for an up-and-coming team that will be fun to watch for the next few years or more, keep an eye on Arkansas.

Don’t be shocked if the Razorbacks are contending for SEC titles by 2022 or 2023.