Rebels offer Hogs final chance to make move
Every Saturday more teams get bowl eligible, and already the SEC has four and could easily end up with more than enough eligible teams to fill its contracts.
Ole Miss gave itself sanctions for breaking NCAA rules so the Rebels are settling for the role of spoiler, and there’s no doubt they’d love to do that in Oxford when the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville comes to town.
These two teams have had some great games lately — the kind that make for great TV ratings and memories — and they sort of mirror each other.
Last Saturday, the Rebels lost their starting quarterback and earlier this week the Razorbacks lost Frank Ragnow, their best offensive lineman for a group that couldn’t afford any losses.
Arkansas will be looking to pick up its first SEC victory of the season, something the Rebels did easily against Vanderbilt on Oct. 14.
Going into the eighth game of the season, it is next to impossible to determine just how good the Razorbacks really are at any given time.
No excuses, but they have lost their veteran quarterback in Austin Allen, and he may or may not be available this week. The play of redshirt freshman quarterback Cole Kelley has been really good at times, despite not having much time to pass.
This is a team that played pretty well against TCU and Texas A&M and steamrolled Florida A&M and New Mexico State — who are a combined 5-10 on the season — but the Razorbacks were dominated by South Carolina, Alabama (who isn’t?) and Auburn.
If the Razorbacks have any desire to play in a bowl game, they need to start winning this Saturday and let the Rebels spoil another day.
It isn’t up to the coaches whether this team is in postseason play; it is up to the team.
Being a Heisman Trophy voter is always interesting, and this year Oklahoma State and Stanford are working overtime to keep voters in the know about their players.
The Cowboys have two hopefuls in receiver James Wash and quarterback Mason Rudolph, and both are putting up good numbers.
The Cardinal are pushing for running back/athlete Bryce Love, who does everything on offense, including throwing a touchdown pass. He also returns kicks and punts.
Lamar Jackson, last year’s winner from Louisville, is still getting attention but not as much as expected. He’s probably still on the radar.
At this point, the favorite appears to be Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, who like Love finds different ways to score and help his team.
One thing in his favor over Love is his games are played in the east and are over before the voters go to bed. Love plays in the west, and sometimes his games are so late he’s not even watched.
Still plenty of time.
Being out of state this week it was a surprise to check ESPN’s NCAA college football page Tuesday and see that video of Arkansas State University Coach Blake Anderson was the No. 1 headline because of a joke he told at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday.
No doubt it made all the news cycles in Arkansas, but it was a little slow getting to the Smoky Mountains.
It appears a few Florida fans have made a bold move to become the most rednecked fans in the country.
Florida Coach Jim McElwain let it be known at his weekly news conference Monday that members of his family have received death threats after a 3-3 start by the Gators. He did downplay Wednesday the amount of threats received.
It is just a game, and his wife and children haven’t played one down. That’s too far, and don’t be surprised if he puts out feelers for another job after the season.