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Top 5 early dark-horse college football national title contenders for 2022

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 13, 2021; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Gerry Bohanon (11) and tight end Ben Sims (86) and wide receiver Drew Estrada (18) and running back Abram Smith (7) celebrate a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Gerry Bohanon (11) and tight end Ben Sims (86) and wide receiver Drew Estrada (18) and running back Abram Smith (7) celebrate a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) celebrates after a touchdown during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) celebrates after a touchdown during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /

Like Mel Tucker at Michigan State, Sam Pittman has turned things around in a hurry at Arkansas. The Razorbacks were winless in SEC play under Chad Morris and Morris has had no problem making Arkansas competitive in conference play in just two seasons.

Arkansas finished the 2021 season with a 9-4 record and if I told you back in 2019 that the Razorbacks would finish in the AP Top 25 within Pittman’s first two seasons in Fayetteville, you probably would have called me crazy. But here we are.

KJ Jefferson was instrumental in leading Arkansas to a winning season and he finished what Feleipe Franks started in 2020. He had 2,676 yards and 21 touchdowns with just four picks in his first year as starting quarterback and he’ll be back in 2022 as one of the darkhorse Heisman Trophy contenders at the position.

The Razorbacks will have a solid offense with an impressive backfield and deep receiving corps next season despite losing Treylon Burks to the NFL and they bring in the No. 21 recruiting class in the country. This roster will be good enough to compete in the SEC.

Will Arkansas be “upset Alabama and Georgia” good or just finishing in third place in the division good? We’ll see, but I think this team could hang with the big boys.

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