With three games remaining, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns are in control of their path to the SEC Championship and, ultimately, the College Football Playoff. If you win, you will get the right to participate. Conference realignment has shaken up many of college football’s traditions, but Texas is in first place. They are the rare team to get two historic rivalry games back, the first of which was this weekend against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. It was rekindled.
The last time the Longhorns faced the Razorbacks on the road was a brutal loss in Steve Sarkisian’s first year in Austin. The game garnered a lot of attention at the time, but Sarkisian and his staff took the lessons learned from that game and revamped their offensive and defensive lines to solve the biggest problems that plagued them in that game. Incorporated into recruitment activities.
Now, Texas is back with elite players on the offensive line and a defensive front seven that continues to improve each week. Sam Pittman, on the other hand, seems to have fallen off the radar and could do more to get back into the fanbase’s favor if they beat Texas and earn a bowl berth.
I consider the University of Texas-Arkansas to be No. 3, but there is a pretty big gap between the top two schools. Although Arkansas has a lot of history, the rivalry has cooled down in recent years, having faced each other just six times since 2000. The hatred, especially from the Arkansas fans, is still there and I’m just waiting for it to heat up again. I think that after a few years at the SEC, the gap will start to narrow.
In the last matchup against OIe Miss, Arkansas had Jackson Dart for 515 yards and six touchdowns, with Jordan Watkins gaining 254 yards and five touchdowns. Watkins has played the role of WR2 at Ole Miss, but with WR1 Tre Harris sidelined with injury, he has taken on a larger role.
Among the pass rushers, defensive ends Landon Jackson (4.5 sacks) and Nico Davillier (1 sack) are the only standouts for Arkansas. Their run-stopping ability is functionally consistent throughout the defense. Jackson (23 tackles, 18 stops) is also the best run stopper, followed by nose tackle Eric Gregory (18, 14) and defensive tackle Cameron Ball (15, 14). Behind that, Mike linebacker Zavian Slay Jr. (35, 29) and Will linebacker Brad Spence (13, 11) are good to fill the remaining holes.
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How to watch
TV: ABC
Time: 11:00 AM Chubu
Radio: Texassports.com. You can also broadcast on Sirius 132, XM 199, and App Ch. 953
Online Streaming: WatchESPN
Odds: Texas -16.5, via FanDuel
Weather: High temperature 60 degrees, sunny