Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Arkansas Football: Ranking 2022 opponents by toughness

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 13, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) throws the ball against the LSU Tigers in the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) throws the ball against the LSU Tigers in the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Dec 28, 2021; Memphis, TN, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (2) passes the ball during the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2021; Memphis, TN, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (2) passes the ball during the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /

Year three for Eli Drinkwitz is a big one because if he finishes with a .500 or worse record again, he could be out of a job. The pressure in Columbia is at an all-time high for the third-year head coach and he’ll have to move forward without his quarterback Connor Bazelak who transferred to Indiana.

The Tigers’ top rusher, Tyler Badie, and two of the top three receivers from last year are also gone and I truly think this team will struggle mightily all year.

Mike Leach is entering his third year with Mississippi State and he’s coming off his first winning season, going 7-6 with a Liberty Bowl blowout loss to Texas Tech. He returns Will Rogers who may be the second-best quarterback in the SEC this season after passing for over 4,000 yards and 30-plus touchdowns a year ago.

Playing in Starkville isn’t an easy task so that alone nearly made me put the Bulldogs in the top 6-7 range, but I just don’t see the defense keeping up with the offense and the run game is non-existent.

Home/Arkansas Razorbacks