The Media has serious respect for us now

[secfan30]

Getting more respect from the media than from some of our "fans". We are getting closer to playing a full 60 against top 10 teams in just the 2nd year of a system.

[three hog night]

Some of the Hogville posters are not fans of the Razorbacks..   

[three hog night]

More good press

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/arkansas-football/5-biggest-takeaways-hogs-compete-sec/

In what looked like a possible upset against the No. 6 ranked Texas A&M Aggies, the Arkansas Razorbacks blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost 35-28 in overtime.

Here are the five biggest takeaways from last night's heartbreaking defeat for the Hogs.

Undisciplined football costs Razorbacks

If there was one area the Hogs' excelled in, it was discipline. Arkansas had committed just 17 penalties in four games, averaging out to just over four penalties per game. Yesterday's performance by the Hogs was sloppy as they committed eight penalties for 76 yards, including two penalties that negated touchdowns. The biggest of which came on the first play in the fourth quarter when Jonathan Williams' 57-yard run was brought back because of a tripping penalty by Dan Skipper. The Hogs would have had the ball at A&M's one-yard line in prime position to go up 21 points against the Aggies. It appears that penalty really could have cost them the game.

Fourth quarter play-calling didn't help Arkansas

Arkansas' offense was clicking on all cylinders for the first three quarters. They seemed to keep A&M's defense guessing, and usually guessing wrong, as a play-action pass to AJ Derby in the third quarter went all the way for a touchdown because the defense had been sucked in so far. Unfortunately for the Hogs, the offensive playcalling struggled in the fourth quarter and they relied a little too much on the passing game, despite being up 14 points. They weren't able to drain any significant minutes off the clock and A&M was able to come back with two big touchdown passes to tie the game and eventually win it in overtime.

Arkansas' secondary is much improved

Yes, I know they gave up two big passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter and eventually the game-winning touchdown in overtime, but the secondary was much improved against Texas A&M. For the majority of the game, Arkansas had limited big plays from the Aggies and kept Kenny Hill largely in check, thanks to some outstanding pressure by Darius Philon and Trey Flowers. They made several big stops throughout the game, including an interception by Carroll Washington and held the Aggies' offense to just 28 points in regulation (averaged 55.3 points per game coming into the game). For a secondary that many thought would be torched for 40-plus points, they rose to the challenge and played one of the best games of the year.

Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams is top duo in the SEC

Another game, another big time performance from Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. The two finished with 226 rushing yards and two touchdowns. It would have been even bigger numbers if Williams' 57-yard run wouldn't have been negated by Dan Skipper's tripping penalty. Once again, they showcased a punishing, physical running style that's so tough to stop for any defense as they averaged 6.2 and 5.3 yards per carry, respectively. What's even more impressive is how often defenses know the run is coming, yet they still can't stop these two. Based off of this season's performances, I'd have to put Collins and Williams at the top of SEC running back duos.

Hogs can compete with anyone in SEC

They were regarded as the SEC West bottom feeder, but with another strong performance, it's clear Arkansas is capable of winning multiple games in this conference. They stayed competitive with arguably the SEC West's best team and should have upset the Aggies. Ole Miss, LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia and Missouri are far from complete teams and Arkansas figures to have a real shot at winning virtually all of those games. Credit Bret Bielema and his coaching staff for getting his guys to progress much farther than anyone originally thought. The Hogs have the toughest schedule remaining of any FBS team, but there's no question that Arkansas will be competitive in each and every game.

[SPAL]

The only thing that saved A&M today were big calls by the refs that call back 2 touchdowns. and playing not to lose the game at the end when 1 first down would have killed the clock. that's it.

How stupid. The refs did not have anything to do with this loss. This is loser mentality and it's not the truth.

[three hog night]

I believe that most of the negative media back then was because of petrino. He had left the falcons and made his way into the sec. Mallet was respected while a hog, others went to the nfl as well. This era is different. After petrino this program was all but dead. John L. Smith's year was a disaster. The fan base was heartbroken and divided on who our coach should be. Mistrust of Jeff Long, complaints everywhere. Now in just year two of CBB's system we ALL can see the progress that these young men have made. They are ahead of where I thought they would be. Shows the talent, the coaching and the heart that will make the razorback program successful. Proud of those guys.

The media recognizes what Petrino is and what he did to us.

[three hog night]

More good press....they think we could win the SEC East!!!!

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/sec-biggest-takeaways-week-5-2014/

"Could Arkansas win the SEC East? The Hogs remind me a lot of Georgia, but they're perhaps even better. Alex Collins paced the offense with 131 yards rushing and one touchdown. Left tackle Dan Skipper cost two scoring plays with careless penalties, and he won't have fun watching this game film. Brandon Allen is better than UGA's Hutson Mason and finished with 199 yards and one touchdown, but the numbers could have been much bigger had penalties not erased scoring plays. But the bad news is the schedule gets even tougher from here. Arkansas plays six ranked teams ahead, assuming Mizzou jumps back into the top 25. That's just brutal, especially when Arkansas needs three more wins to become bowl eligible."

[hawgdawg63]

The two guys on CBS were just embarrassing with their TAMu love fest.

The love fest with top teams will always be a factor in all games this year. Until the hogs become a winner and ranked they will be a target of officials to save the ranked from losing (Skipper is a target because of his play) and not promoted by the media.

All teams in the west are ranked but AR.....think about that for a minute. We are the doormat for the media/officials. Only winning gets the Hogs out of this role. It's not saying next year, 2016 or a five year plan....its winning now.

Respect on a level field only comes with attention and attention comes from WINNING! Getting respect is another hurdle the Hogs have to achieve!! LOSING does not gain respect from any aspect. The Hogs could be better than every other team in college football but being last in the SEC West still gets them zero from the media/officials. That's the part that hurts the most.

[Danny J]

More good press

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/arkansas-football/5-biggest-takeaways-hogs-compete-sec/

In what looked like a possible upset against the No. 6 ranked Texas A&M Aggies, the Arkansas Razorbacks blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost 35-28 in overtime.

Here are the five biggest takeaways from last night's heartbreaking defeat for the Hogs.

Undisciplined football costs Razorbacks

If there was one area the Hogs' excelled in, it was discipline. Arkansas had committed just 17 penalties in four games, averaging out to just over four penalties per game. Yesterday's performance by the Hogs was sloppy as they committed eight penalties for 76 yards, including two penalties that negated touchdowns. The biggest of which came on the first play in the fourth quarter when Jonathan Williams' 57-yard run was brought back because of a tripping penalty by Dan Skipper. The Hogs would have had the ball at A&M's one-yard line in prime position to go up 21 points against the Aggies. It appears that penalty really could have cost them the game.

Fourth quarter play-calling didn't help Arkansas

Arkansas' offense was clicking on all cylinders for the first three quarters. They seemed to keep A&M's defense guessing, and usually guessing wrong, as a play-action pass to AJ Derby in the third quarter went all the way for a touchdown because the defense had been sucked in so far. Unfortunately for the Hogs, the offensive playcalling struggled in the fourth quarter and they relied a little too much on the passing game, despite being up 14 points. They weren't able to drain any significant minutes off the clock and A&M was able to come back with two big touchdown passes to tie the game and eventually win it in overtime.

Arkansas' secondary is much improved

Yes, I know they gave up two big passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter and eventually the game-winning touchdown in overtime, but the secondary was much improved against Texas A&M. For the majority of the game, Arkansas had limited big plays from the Aggies and kept Kenny Hill largely in check, thanks to some outstanding pressure by Darius Philon and Trey Flowers. They made several big stops throughout the game, including an interception by Carroll Washington and held the Aggies' offense to just 28 points in regulation (averaged 55.3 points per game coming into the game). For a secondary that many thought would be torched for 40-plus points, they rose to the challenge and played one of the best games of the year.

Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams is top duo in the SEC

Another game, another big time performance from Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. The two finished with 226 rushing yards and two touchdowns. It would have been even bigger numbers if Williams' 57-yard run wouldn't have been negated by Dan Skipper's tripping penalty. Once again, they showcased a punishing, physical running style that's so tough to stop for any defense as they averaged 6.2 and 5.3 yards per carry, respectively. What's even more impressive is how often defenses know the run is coming, yet they still can't stop these two. Based off of this season's performances, I'd have to put Collins and Williams at the top of SEC running back duos.

Hogs can compete with anyone in SEC

They were regarded as the SEC West bottom feeder, but with another strong performance, it's clear Arkansas is capable of winning multiple games in this conference. They stayed competitive with arguably the SEC West's best team and should have upset the Aggies. Ole Miss, LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia and Missouri are far from complete teams and Arkansas figures to have a real shot at winning virtually all of those games. Credit Bret Bielema and his coaching staff for getting his guys to progress much farther than anyone originally thought. The Hogs have the toughest schedule remaining of any FBS team, but there's no question that Arkansas will be competitive in each and every game.

Totally agree with this part...." Ole Miss, LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia and Missouri are far from complete teams and Arkansas figures to have a real shot at winning virtually all of those games."

I even think we have a shot against Bama. We played the #5 team even for 2.5 quarters on the road and made big improvements to the #6 aTm game where we really should have won the game on a neutral site. We are MUCH better than last year. Unfortunately with our schedule we have a chance to get to 8 wins whereas if we even just played in the east we would be good enough to get to 8 wins easily. We are a good football team. Not average but good.

[three hog night]

An objective grading of both teams

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2212774-arkansas-vs-texas-am-game-grades-analysis-for-razorbacks-aggies



The Texas A&M Aggies were able to rebound from a two-touchdown deficit to upend the Arkansas Razorbacks by a score of 35-28 on Saturday.

Kenny "Trill" Hill threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Although the talented signal-caller started slowly, he came through when his team needed him the most.

It was a tough loss for Arkansas. Bret Bielema's team was the better side for the majority of the afternoon. However, foolish penalties and mental errors ultimately extended the Hogs' streak of losses in SEC play to 14.

A full box score can be found here, courtesy of NCAA.com.

Check out first-half grades and final grades for the Aggies and Razorbacks. Additional analysis for different positional units will also be addressed.

Arkansas Razorbacks Game Grades Position Units    First-Half Grade    Final Grade
Passing Offense    B    B
Pass Defense    A-    C
Rushing Offense    A    A
Rush Defense    C+    C+
Special Teams    A    B
Coaching    A    B

9/27 vs. Texas A&M



Arkansas Razorbacks Game Grades Analysis

Passing Offense

The play-action game was working very effectively through the first three quarters. Brandon Allen found elite tight end Hunter Henry early and often. Allen made a beautiful touchdown throw to A.J. Derby for a 44-yard touchdown.

As the game progressed, the A&M pressure was hindering the signal-caller's ability to stand in the pocket. Although efficient throughout the contest, Allen wasn't able to truly test the Aggies defense down the field.



Pass Defense

The unit in the first half was very good. Cornerbacks were challenging the vaunted A&M stable of receivers, making it difficult to get separation. Holding Hill to 96 yards passing in one half is an impressive feat.

It was a different story in the second portion of the game. A&M scored on touchdown throws of 86 and 59 yards. A busted coverage also led to a 50-yard completion. It was a tale of two halves for the secondary.



Rushing Offense

In terms of a rushing output, racking up 285 yards on the ground versus the No. 6 team in the country is very good. Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams combined for more than 220 yards and two touchdowns.

If we're including the offensive line within this unit, there were some flubs. A poor snap to Allen late in the fourth quarter killed the last drive, ultimately leading to the missed field goal.

A bizarre tripping penalty by tackle Dan Skipper wiped out a touchdown. The potential score would have put the Razorbacks up by three touchdowns late in the second half. False-start penalties also hindered the offense and put Allen behind the chains.



Rush Defense

The unit as a whole was relatively solid. It bottled up Trey Williams, holding him to 26 yards on nine carries. More than anything, it got consistent pressure on Hill. Trey Flowers in particular was a force all afternoon.

As the afternoon wore on, the pressure lessened. Tra Carson was able to pick up big chunks of yardage. Much like the team, the unit somewhat wilted in the fourth quarter. A&M rushed for 137 yards on 27 carries for a respectable 5.1 yards-per-carry average.



Special Teams

The fake punt for a touchdown by Sam Irwin-Hill was a wonderful play. Not only did the Australian punter display some surprising quickness and elusiveness in space, but the touchdown gave the team a lot of momentum.

Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, kicker John Henson badly missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter. The score would have put Arkansas up by 10 points with less than two minutes remaining. As we know, the miss proved to be costly.



Coaching

Kudos to Bielema for devising a solid plan. The fake punt call was a truly brilliant move.

In the second half (namely the fourth quarter), the play-calling was strange. Clock management was the biggest issue on the day for the staff.

Arkansas has the identity of being a running team. Late in the fourth quarter, the team decided to throw the football. It resulted in incompletions, which ultimately gave A&M a chance to equalize.



Texas A&M Aggies Game Grades Position Units    First-Half Grade    Final Grade
Passing Offense    C    B+
Pass Defense    B+    B
Rushing Offense    B+    B+
Rush Defense    F    D
Special Teams    D    D
Coaching    B-    B

9/27 vs. Arkansas

Texas A&M Aggies Game Grades Analysis

Passing Offense

Hill started the game very slowly. He went 10-of-22 for 96 yards in the first half. Arkansas did a nice job of driving the tempo way down. As a result, Hill and the offense weren't able to get into any sort of a rhythm.

In the second half, the pace picked up considerably. Hill was able to make throws down the field to his talented receivers. Impressive touchdown throws to Edward Pope and Josh Reynolds displayed Hill's immense ability in terms of both touch and arm strength. He finished 21-of-41 for 386 yards and four touchdowns.



Pass Defense

The Aggies got bitten by the play-action bug. With Arkansas running the ball so well in the first half, safeties were forced to play up closer to the line of scrimmage. The unit was burned by a big 44-yard touchdown reception to Derby.

Safety Armani Watts in particular had a tough day. He had problems diagnosing the play on the touchdown throw and also had issues tackling the likes of Williams and Collins.



Rushing Offense

Rushing for 5.1 yards per carry is a solid output against a good defensive front. Hill wasn't really involved running the football until late in the contest.

Carson looks like a very good option going forward. As a big, physical back, he helped to get tough yardage. The Oregon transfer led the team with 55 yards on eight carries.



Rush Defense

Giving up 285 yards on the ground is never good. Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams were giving the young defensive front fits for most of the day. Collins in particular was extremely effective, tallying 131 yards on the day.

In the second half, however, the defensive line was more effective in getting off blocks. Arkansas had 198 yards rushing in the first half but only 88 after halftime. This is a case where the statistical output doesn't necessarily tell the entire story. A&M stiffened when it needed to and made critical stops.



Special Teams

Allowing the fake punt touchdown run obviously wasn't a great development. The score occurred right before halftime, giving Arkansas a ton of momentum. Curiously, the very reliable Josh Lambo missed a very makeable field goal from 40 yards.

This wasn't the best day for the Aggies' special teams unit.



Coaching

Hill was having trouble dealing with the Arkansas pressure early. The play-calling had the signal-caller exclusively sitting in the pocket. Getting him on the move could have helped to combat the Arkansas defensive line.

In the second half, the play-calling was much better. A&M was taking shots down the field and also rolling Hill out in order to buy time to throw the ball. Defensively, A&M put the clamps down on the Arkansas rushing attack in the second half.

After allowing nearly 200 yards rushing in the first half, the Aggies allowed only 87 after the break.

[three hog night]

From the Dallas Morning News....

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/texas-aggies/20140927-positive-steps-don-t-lessen-heartbreak-as-arkansas-finds-a-way-to-lose.ece



EDDIE SEFKO

Staff Writer

esefko@dallasnews.com

Published: 27 September 2014 09:57 PM

Updated: 27 September 2014 09:57 PM

ARLINGTON — An afternoon of growth, trickery and opportunity ended the same way the previous 13 Southeastern Conference games have for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

They showed improvement at AT&T Stadium against Texas A&M. They also showed that they still know how to sabotage themselves.

Two costly penalties and the inability to contain the Aggies late led to Arkansas losing a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter and dropping their 14th consecutive conference game, 35-28 in overtime.

"There were a lot of positive steps," coach Bret Bielema said. "But I didn't fly to Dallas to make a positive step. I came here to win. To get that close and not have it ... there are a lot of broken hearts. The good news is these hearts can be mended if they are handled the right way and treated the right way."

Arkansas used a fake punt for a touchdown and a typically bruising ground attack to go ahead 28-14 as the fourth quarter began.

Three long scoring plays, the final one on the Aggies' first play of overtime, left the Hogs stung.

"When you got your foot on somebody's throat, keep it on it," Bielema said. "I think we need to have that killer mentality to put that thing away, to find a way to get it done, whether it's a first down or a scoring drive or a third-down stop or execution in the fourth quarter on a third-down call."

The Razorbacks did none of the above when it counted.

Most discouraging was that they could have avoided all the pitfalls if they hadn't drawn two brutal penalties.

On a first down from the Arkansas 42-yard line, running back Jonathan Williams broke loose and rumbled 55 yards to the A&M 3-yard line. The play was called back because tackle Dan Skipper was flagged for tripping.

"I couldn't understand why there would be a flag on the backside of the play, but the guys upstairs said there was a trip and it was legit," Bielema said. "It's a teaching moment. There's no room for it. There's no need for it.

"We had a chance to make it a three-score game, but when we weren't able to do it, you could almost feel that momentum slide. We weren't able to have success there at the end. I'll let our kids know that I love them to death. There's going to be some things they got to hone in on to make a positive out of a very negative situation today."

Earlier, Skipper had a holding call that negated a 34-yard scoring pass from Brandon Allen to Hunter Henry.

"It (stinks), but the thing you learn is that you're not going to win if you don't play clean," Allen said, referring to the penalties. "We keep harping on it. We've been doing so well on it. And the plays that were called back were tough."

The Razorbacks also faltered in overtime when they couldn't get a first down on fourth and 1.

"We called a play that had been working for us the whole game and credit them," Allen said. "They were able to stop us. We'd been gashing them on it all game and it's a good call in that situation."

Perhaps, but not good enough to spring the Hogs to their first SEC win since 2012.

[three hog night]

More from the Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/columnists/kate-hairopoulos/20140927-timely-stuff-wipes-out-rough-day-for-am-defense-a-beautiful-thing-says-aggies-dc-mark-snyder.ece

ARLINGTON — So it came down to this. Overtime. Arkansas, doing what it does best, running the ball, on fourth-and-1 from the Texas A&M 16.

Defensive end Julien Obioha and cornerback Deshazor Everett stuffed Alex Collins, who had rushed for 131 yards Saturday at AT&T Stadium, for no gain. Game over. No. 6 A&M 35, Arkansas 28.

"It's a beautiful thing," A&M defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said later, after getting hugs from just about everybody in maroon. "A beautiful thing."

An oft-questioned Aggie defense made plenty of mistakes in its SEC West opener. But A&M strengthened after A.J. Derby scored on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Allen to put Arkansas up 28-14 with five minutes left in the third quarter.

Arkansas wouldn't score again, with A&M forcing four punts, holding the Hogs to a 44-yard field goal attempt, which missed wide left, and shutting the Razorbacks down in overtime. During the stretch, with ball possession at a premium as the Aggies tried to come back, A&M forced three three-and-outs.

"That was a very good Arkansas team," Snyder said. "Big, strong, even stronger than they looked on film. I think we took a step today. We're going to build on this."

Arkansas finished with 47 carries for 285 yards (supplemented by a 51-yard fake punt for a touchdown in the second quarter) and 484 total yards.

A&M gave up a 50-yard scoring run by Collins, and a busted coverage by cornerback De'Vante Harris led to Derby's big scoring grab.

Allen, the much-maligned Arkansas quarterback, had passed for one more yard (97) than celebrated A&M quarterback Kenny Hill (96) at the half. Arkansas had success with misdirection plays, running away from the strong side of the formation.

And Arkansas helped A&M out — wiping out a touchdown and another play to A&M's 3 — with holding and tripping penalties.

"There are a couple times when you saw in the big plays where nobody was covering a guy," Obioha said. "Somebody took their eyes off their key. Once we fixed that problem, everybody was on the same page."

Snyder said he made second-half adjustments, including simplifying responsibilities for freshman safety Armani Watts. Watts starred in the opening four games of the season, but found himself lost at times Saturday.

"It was his first time really seeing that package," Snyder said, "but he came back and played pretty well."

Snyder credited the defensive line's depth for keeping the Aggies fresh. It's something they didn't have a season ago. Freshman defensive end Myles Garrett made his first start. Snyder tinkered at times with moving the tackles to the outside and putting the ends in the middle to put them closer to the quarterback.

Everett left the game briefly with an injury but came back in on the next drive. He finished with a career-high 16 tackles (seven solo, nine assisted).

"We had our issues early," A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. "We didn't fit some gaps sometimes. We were rotating linebackers in and out of there.

"We just got to keep getting better. And there's a lot of things from this game we can learn from. There's also some confidence that we can draw from it, because that team's good at what they do running the football."

After A&M scored first in overtime, it came down to the defense to hold one more time.

A&M stopped Jonathan Williams after a 2-yard gain. Then Garrett and Alonzo Williams stuffed him for a 1-yard loss. Allen hit Derby for an 8-yard gain, bringing up the fourth-and-1.

"When we got to the fourth quarter, we were just rolling," Obioha said. "We had so many stops. And the last play, I wouldn't do anything different. The running back bounced to my side. It was a play that ended the game and gave us a W. It was just a great play."

[three hog night]

Sherrington column from Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columnists/kevin-sherrington/20140927-sherrington-up-and-down-day-finishes-on-a-high-for-am-qb-kenny-trill-hill.ece

ARLINGTON - On a wildly-entertaining day when a Texas A&M defender made a touchdown-saving tackle by pulling a guy's hair and Arkansas' punter - from Australia, no less - ran 51 yards for a touchdown, it became clear fairly early on Saturday at JerryWorld that anything goes.

All the way to overtime it carried, which was probably not what your bookie expected of the nation's No. 6 team and an unranked one.

A loss to the Razorbacks would have, indeed, put a serious crimp in A&M's College Football Playoff plans.

Eventually Kenny Hill put it all together and pulled it out, 35-28, before 68,113 fans still dizzy from all the momentum swings.

What Hill and A&M proved Saturday was that, in the brutal SEC West, there's no such thing as style points.

"Was it perfect?" Kevin Sumlin asked. "No. But it was a heckuva game."

Here's how good it was: Johnny Manziel was at the game to get his Aggie ring at halftime, but, despite CBS' best intentions, he was hardly the center of attention.

Not that the Aggies didn't miss Johnny Football for the better part of three quarters. Until the fourth, Kenny Hill didn't look anything like the quarterback who led A&M to a stunning upset of South Carolina in the Aggies' opener. In his coming-out party, Hill had been so sharp, so poised, so perfect, his performance prompted Heisman predictions and a trademark of a nickname, "Kenny Trill," a rapper's somewhat curious contraction of "truth" and "real."

For the record: A nickname after your first start might seem a little presumptuous, but Manziel had his epic handle before he ever played a down. If it were me, though, I'd have gone with Kenny Thrill, something Baby Boomers can identify with. Not a lot of rap fans in the 50-and-over set, and we wield a sizeable bloc of Heisman votes.

Anyway, in the first quarter, Hill was 3 of 7 for 15 yards. Going into the fourth, with Arkansas leading by 14 points, he was 15 of 31 for 182 yards and a touchdown. A couple of drops were sprinkled in, but, for the most part, he missed high, low and inbetween. Even his 8-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter was mostly the result of a spectacular leaping catch by Edward Pope.

He'd even been involved in a little shouting match with the Arkansas sideline after one first-half scrum. Of course, Manziel did that sort of thing all the time. The difference is that those episodes usually ended with the band playing and Johnny "cashing out."

Unlike Manziel, Hill isn't an emotional player. Or at least he shouldn't be. The impression made on his teammates has been a cool demeanor under pressure.

Most of Saturday, he looked anything but Kenny Chill.

Even at that, the Razorbacks, who bludgeoned the Aggies early with their road-hog running game, were only up by seven at the half. They lost 10 points, maybe as many as 14, directly because of penalties.

But give them credit, the Hogs made it interesting in a variety of ways. Other than a touchdown-saving tackle of Arkansas' Alex Collins by Deshazor Everett, who grabbed Collins' dreads and held on for dear life, the game's most entertaining play came courtesy of Arkansas' punter, Sam Irwin-Hill, who caught a snap at midfield and took it to the house. Looking nervously left and right on his 51-yard scamper, he looked like a guy with a toaster under his arm.

Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, such moments were too few. Ultimately, it allowed Hill time to recover from his roller-coaster of a game.

He's up: Down two touchdowns early in the fourth, the Aggies needed a quick strike. And that's exactly what Hill provided, hitting Pope in stride for an 86-yard touchdown pass three minutes in.

He's down: After A&M forced a three-and-out, Hill underthrew Josh Reynolds and Arkansas' Carroll Washington picked it off.

"The game for me, I mean, it was up and down and up and down the whole time," Hill said. "I just need to be level the whole time."

Fortunately for A&M, Hill was on an upswing again on his next drive, which lasted exactly two plays. First, a 14-yard pass to Ricky Seals-Jones. Then a 59-yard pitch-and-run to Reynolds to tie the game with 2:29 left.

After the Aggies settled for overtime, Hill took charge, throwing a touchdown to Malcome Kennedy on the first play.

Once A&M's defense stuffed Arkansas, the Aggies' crisis was averted.

Not only is the CFP still in play for the Aggies, but Hill, who finished 21-of-41 for 386 yards and four touchdowns, retains his Heisman hopes.

"Kenny kept his poise like always," Kennedy said. "He didn't sulk. He never pointed fingers at anybody. If anything, he was, like, my fault, my bad."

If this is as bad as Hill gets this season, it may work out just fine.

[three hog night]

From Alabama.com

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/09/what_we_learned_from_texas_am_3.html#incart_river



Arkansas, which hasn't won an SEC game since 2012, nearly upset No. 6 Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but Kenny Hill threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to tie the game and then hit Malcolme Kennedy with a 25-yarder in overtime for the game-winner.

Arkansas (2-2) led 28-14 after three quarters and had a chance to put the game away in the fourth, but John Henson missed a 44-yard field goal that would have had the Hogs ahead 31-21 with  2:29 to play.

Two plays later, Hill hit a Josh Reynolds with a 59-yard touchdown pass to tie it up and force overtime.

Three things we learned from the Aggies' comeback win:

1. Bielema Ball is for real, but the Hogs still need to learn how to finish.

Alex Collins, Jonathan Williams and the Arkansas offensive line controlled the game for three quarters, and the Razorbacks finished with 286 yards rushing. The effective ground game opened up play-action, allowing Brandon Allen to find A.J. Derby open for a 44-yard touchdown pass that put the Hogs up by two touchdowns.

But the secondary had two big busts in the fourth quarter, the offense wasted an important down while trying to hold the lead with a botched snap, and Henson missed a field goal that could have all but iced the game. It's tough to beat a top-10 team while making mistakes like those at crunch time.

2. Kenny Hill  is human after all, but he knows how to finish.

Hill's 511-yard explosion against South Carolina seemed like an eternity ago through three quarters Saturday in which he clearly wasn't sharp. He finished with 386 yards and four touchdowns, but 204 of those yards and three of the touchdowns came in the fourth quarter and overtime. Fortunately for Texas A&M, that's just when the Aggies needed them most. In a post-game interview with CBS, Hill said he told his teammates he'd lead them back: "Trust me. I promise, I got y'all."

3. Texas A&M's defense can be had.

This game will be remembered in College Station for the great fourth-quarter comeback, but there are warning signs for Aggie fans and plenty of game film for opposing offensive coordinators to exploit. The Aggies got pounded by the Arkansas run game and play-action passing game for three quarters, before the momentum turned in the fourth. They came up with some big stops in the fourth quarter and overtime, but they will soon be running into some conference opponents who know how to hold onto a two-touchdown lead in the final period.

[three hog night]

Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/sports/aggies/article/A-M-rallies-to-beat-Arkansas-in-OT-5785951.php



ARLINGTON - Kenny Hill and No. 6 Texas A&M provided quite a late thrill.

After throwing two long touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, Hill hit Malcome Kennedy for a 25-yard score on the first play of overtime and Julien Obioha made the game-ending defensive stop for the undefeated Aggies in a 35-28 victory over Arkansas on Saturday.

"We just made the connection on that one," Hill said of the game-winning pass. "They had the defender getting there late, and I threw it to him. He took care of the rest."

Johnny Manziel was on hand with the NFL's Cleveland Browns on an open week, and the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner got to see his Aggies improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2001. He also provided plenty of encouragement for Hill, who was 21-for-41 for 386 yards and four touchdowns.

"He was just kind of trying to get us pumped," Hill said. "He was doing the same thing, telling me, 'You got this. You got this. Go lead this team down there.' And then right after the game he was saying, 'Great game! I love you, bro.' "

The Aggies (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed 28-14 before Hill hit Edward Pope for an 86-yard pass when defensive back Jared Collins fell down and left the receiver running all alone. Hill then found Josh Reynolds for a tying 59-yard TD with 2:08 left, only two plays after Arkansas missed a field goal.

'Complete team'

Texas A&M had a chance to end the game in regulation, getting the ball back with 1:18 left and no timeouts. Kennedy's 13-yard catch provided a quick first down, but the Aggies let the clock run out when facing fourth-and-13 short of midfield - before Kennedy caught the quick strike in overtime.

"In order to win a game like that, it takes a complete team. Every phase had its poor moments in the first half. Offensively, we were a beat off. Defensively, we gave up some big plays, and special teams, we gave up a fake," coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Our defense stopped them not just in overtime but on the last couple series."

On its overtime possession, Arkansas (3-2, 0-2) had fourth-and-1 when a handoff went to Alex Collins, who finished with 131 yards rushing. But Collins was stuffed at the line by Obioha, who was quickly joined by a swarm of A&M defenders.

"I didn't do anything different. The running back bounced to my side," Obioha said.

Arkansas (3-2, 0-2), the only unranked team in the SEC West, has lost 14 consecutive conference games since 2012.

This one was particularly painful.

The Razorbacks had a touchdown pass in the second quarter wiped out by a holding call against Dan Skipper, and a tripping penalty on the left tackle in the final period erased a 55-yard run by Jonathan Williams to the Aggies' 3.

The Razorbacks wound up punting after both penalties, the second leading to Pope's second TD catch, the 86-yarder that sparked the A&M comeback.

"A lot of things that caused us to lose this game today came from within our locker room," Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. "Our third edge we talk about is playing clean, and that means playing penalty-free. ... The good news is we can correct those things. Our guys did several things throughout the course of the game to get excited about. But obviously, not enough to close it."

Fake punt works

Australian punter Sam Irwin-Hill ran 51 yards for a tiebreaking touchdown on a fake punt, and Brandon Allen turned a fake handoff into an easy scoring pass for the Razorbacks, who haven't beaten an SEC opponent since a 49-7 win over Kentucky on Oct. 13, 2012.

Allen was 15-of-27 passing for 199 yards, including his 44-yard TD to wide-open AJ Derby after the quarterback faked a handoff, and then briefly held the ball to his side before throwing downfield for a 28-14 lead with 5 minutes left in the third.

The big run by Irwin-Hill put the Razorbacks up 21-14 at halftime. On fourth-and-10 just short of midfield, he took the snap and swept left to a wide-open part of the field. Several teammates caught up and ran with him to the end zone, and it appeared that only one Texas A&M player even got a hand on the sprinting punter.

"They gave us a look that we wanted. ... And I triggered it," Bielema said. "Good job on some downfield blocks, but obviously not enough to win the game."

[shotgun7]

You cannot jump from "doormat" to "dominant" in one season. There has to be a transition.

We have lost two conference games....and both of them were against top ten teams.

The next one is, too.

We're better. Everyone sees it. But we're also swimming upstream in the toughest league in the country.

Actually Auburn did last year, not exactly the same situation... just saying. :razorback:

[Steef]

Actually Auburn did last year, not exactly the same situation... just saying. :razorback:

Not remotely the same situation. And Auburn didn't dominate last year. They had at least two 'W's just handed to them.

They did jump bigger than we have jumped. But they also never had a recruiting black hole. We had YEARS of recruiting black hole.



What's so ironic is...the same people who are complaining NOW...that we lost this game...spent the entire summer telling us 'sunshine pumpers'....that we were going to lose games.

Well....duh.

[TMc]

The two guys on CBS were just embarrassing with their TAMu love fest.

They sure were.., I especially liked how they kept pointing out A&M's missed opportunities.., when A&M wouldn't even been in the game - had we not had so many dumb plays.

[three hog night]

Not remotely the same situation. And Auburn didn't dominate last year. They had at least two 'W's just handed to them.

They did jump bigger than we have jumped. But they also never had a recruiting black hole. We had YEARS of recruiting black hole.



What's so ironic is...the same people who are complaining NOW...that we lost this game...spent the entire summer telling us 'sunshine pumpers'....that we were going to lose games.

Well....duh.

People outside of Hogville have respect for us, but the haters on Hogville troll to make themselves feel good.   We have major progress after 3 bad years of recruitng and retention.  We have fallen on hard times with 2 straight losing seasons and with a serious talent deficiency.   We are playing a lot of freshman at increased snaps each week.  Our depth chart is upside down in many areas with Freshman and Sophs dominating playing time.

[shotgun7]

Just for the record, I am not one of those "haters" I was just making a point about auburn, but yes totally different situation and they did have quite a bit of "Help" I am proud to have BB as our coach, love the team though not exactly sold on our OC but will stop shirt of saying he should be fired... will see what the rest of the season holds.

[three hog night]

Just for the record, I am not one of those "haters" I was just making a point about auburn, but yes totally different situation and they did have quite a bit of "Help" I am proud to have BB as our coach, love the team though not exactly sold on our OC but will stop shirt of saying he should be fired... will see what the rest of the season holds.

Its ok, we are sensitive after the Gussiah fans have been on here for 2-3 years running their mouths.

[iCalledThatHogBrotha!]

So frustrating to read all these articles how even the national guys see that we had it won and gave it away. At the end of the day all that matters is we have a 14 game losing streak and even tougher teams coming up.

[Steef]

So frustrating to read all these articles how even the national guys see that we had it won and gave it away. At the end of the day all that matters is we have a 14 game losing streak and even tougher teams coming up.

That really isn't all that matters.

[three hog night]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/89563/sec-power-rankings-week-5-4

[lumphog]

Exactly. It's step #1. And you can tell that we're about to take step #2 to competitive in the West. If this team continues to improve at this rate, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bielema take the final step and get to Atlanta and the playoff in the next two years.

Not even the biggest UA homer could've expected to improve this quickly.

WPS and +1

+1 well said & +1 to 3 Hog for this thread

[three hog night]

Good analysis and interview of CBB

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2210319-bret-bielemas-arkansas-razorbacks-are-the-secs-sleeper-team-of-2014

For a moment this week, Bret Bielema's main concern wasn't the vaunted Texas A&M passing attack or a division ripe with ranked teams and College Football Playoff hopefuls. It was a stray Popeyes' chicken box—along with a harmless, nameless bag of Chinese food—that he stumbled upon after practice.

"This isn't smorgasbord central here," Bielema bellowed to his players. "If you want to eat our meals, that's fine, but I don't need to see things lying all over the counter. Nothing against Popeyes and nothing against Chinese food, but it wasn't on the menu."

Now, no one hates Popeyes. And a stray box of delicious fried chicken remnants—by Bielema's own admission—pales in comparison to more pressing football matters. The same can be said about the team's noticeably improved attire on game days, a movement that Bielema spoke of like a proud father.

Takeout boxes and pristine Windsor knots won't make Kevin Sumlin's offense any less diabolical. It won't make the SEC West any less immortal than it looks right now. But the fact that Bielema is able to speak of these minute matters rather than massive fundamental cracks in the foundation—issues that plagued his team all last season—highlight how far this program has come in relatively short order.

As a result, the SEC West—college football's most powerful sector—has been put on notice for the foreseeable future. Arkansas, in unfamiliar fashion, is leading that charge.

It's not Nick Saban. It's not Gus Malzahn. You know plenty about these coaches and teams already. It's the program that was given no real expectations to perform—the one poised to grow the most.

"We're probably still another recruiting class away with the offensive line," Bielema said. "We need depth at fullback, tight end and wide receivers to get to where we need to be and operated as efficiently as I'd like. But we're definitely stepping in the right direction."

It is by no means perfect. It will remain a work in progress that will take years to fully complete, but the Razorbacks' surge speaks more to the vast weaponry in the SEC West than the familiar rank-friendly brands—teams like Alabama and Auburn, for starters.

The bottom is pushing the top, and thus, we're left with a football picture the likes of which we haven't seen. Arkansas, meanwhile, is trying to avoid being the odd man out for much longer.

"I'm very aware that we're the only team in the SEC West that isn't ranked. I get that," Bielema said. "We haven't done anything to deserve that. But you're beginning to establish some value to your name that has nothing to do with dollars; it has to do with what people are saying about you. We will earn what we get this Saturday by what we do this week."



The Beautiful Destruction of the SEC West

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Oftentimes when we assess a division's true worth, we begin at the summit. You start with the Florida States, Oregons and Alabamas of the world and work your way downward, making stops along the way to point out various imperfections.

As you make your way to the deepest depths of these groupings, you are left with logos that are there to simply take up space. These aren't nearly as important as the checkmarks you crossed off to get here, because after all, someone has to be on the bottom.

In the instance of the SEC West, however, let's start at the floor and work our way in reverse order. As you evaluate the current standings, you should recognize one glaring difference.

Current SEC West Standings Team    Record    Conference Record    AP Top 25 Ranking
Texas A&M    4-0    1-0    No. 6
Alabama    4-0    1-0    No. 3
Auburn    3-0    1-0    No. 5
Ole Miss    3-0    1-0    No. 10
Mississippi State    4-0    1-0    No. 14
Arkansas    3-1    0-1    Unranked
LSU    3-1    0-1    No. 17

Source: ESPN.com

The current cellar team, LSU, has anything but a cellar reputation. It also has a rank in The AP Top 25, which you can evaluate as you will. The only team without a spot in The AP Top 25—or in this instance, the Top 17—is Arkansas.

"It might blow someone's mind who isn't involved in it," Bielema said on the state of the division. "But for those of us who see it on a daily basis it really isn't all that amazing."

Arkansas will unquestionably rid itself of that dreaded "unranked" label if it can deliver an upset on Saturday. To do so, it will have to conquer Texas A&M as a 10-point underdog, according to Odds Shark.

Although sportsbooks have A&M as a substantial favorite, they've also had to alter their expectations of the Hogs a month into the season. Golden Nugget oddsmaker Aaron Kessler provided perspective on what this team would look like operating in a different climate.

"There are only two—maybe three—teams in the Big Ten I would have favored over Arkansas regardless of where they played," Kessler said. "Those teams are Michigan State, Wisconsin and perhaps Nebraska. In the ACC, Arkansas would be favored against every team except Florida State and Clemson.

For those keeping track, that means Arkansas would be favored over preseason playoff favorite Ohio State.

"I like them. They impressed some people with that Texas Tech win. It's not just the numbers but how dominant they have looked."

This isn't your average bottom dweller: a break from the normal top-heavy presentation found in just about every division—including the SEC's far less successful twin brother.

In terms of evaluating the SEC West, Kessler sees the same thing you do. The only difference is he has to craft point spreads and assess value with enormous financial implications hanging in the balance.

"It's not even close," Kessler said on ranking divisions. "I'd go SEC West followed by a big gap until I got to the Pac-12 North, SEC East and the Pac-12 South."



The SEC's Most Dangerous Bottom Feeder

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

The expectations have shifted. Arkansas, thought to be a pseudo bye week for most SEC teams, has vigor. The Hogs won't be favored in the majority of their games, but with their unique rushing attack, they'll be an enormous nuisance at the bare minimum.

Through four games, the Razorbacks are averaging 7.13 yards per carry, which is good for fourth nationally. The 1,298 rushing yards are good for fifth in the nation, and the 17 rushing touchdowns are second overall.

Arkansas Rushing Statistics From 2014 Opponent    Total Rushing yards    Yards Per Carry    Rushing Touchdowns    
Auburn    153    5.3    1    
Nicholls State    495    12.4    6    
Texas tech    438    6.4    7    
Northern Illinois    212    4.7    3    

Source: ESPN.com

This incredible production hasn't exactly come against brick walls. Outside of Auburn, the competition has been relatively average. Arkansas has played a much better schedule than most, although the Hogs should have rushing success against programs such as Texas Tech or Northern Illinois.

They've done much more than that, though. Arkansas ran for 650 yards the past two weeks combined, which has prompted the sudden re-evaluation and timeline adjustments.

For Bielema, the praise that has come with encouraging early returns clashes somewhat with his personal expectations of what a vibrant football program should look like.

"I hope that someday beating Northern Illinois isn't really a big deal," Bielema said. "It was a big deal because we hadn't won at home, but it's a team that we should expect to have success on."

The rest of the schedule—in particular the next month—is a different story. Arkansas's expectations will be reset one way or another with games against Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia on deck. There is also another opponent included in this stretch, one Bielema wasted little time highlighting when pressed about the difficulty ahead.

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

"There's a little bye week in there," Bielema pointed out with a smile when pressed about navigating the minefield.

Indeed there is. Arkansas will catch its breath following this weekend's game at AT&T Stadium before gearing up for a final run that stretches out over two months.

The rest of the SEC West has a similar turbulent path. The only difference, however, is many of these programs were counting on Arkansas to provide a convenient tally in the win column. That's no longer the case, and it's why the SEC West will deliver heavyweight fights each and every weekend for the foreseeable future.

The hierarchy in the division will undergo some movement this weekend, regardless of the result. An impressive Texas A&M victory could propel the Aggies into a new expectation threshold. A surprising Arkansas victory—or even a solid performance in an "almost" effort—would push the bottom of that conference closer to the top, widening that gap between it and every other division.

"A win would probably justify in our guys' minds that as long as they keep doing the things we ask them to do—offensively, defensively, special teams and what we ask them to do in the weight room and the classroom—you'll have success," Bielema said. "And in the SEC, it doesn't come easy."

It comes in the form of a box of chicken. Or a perfectly ironed shirt. Or the little things that the program suddenly has the luxury of addressing because it is taking care of everything else, one missed arm tackle at a time.

There is tremendous work still to be done and progress to be made. But after a year defined by negative headlines and losses, Bielema has legitimized his program and, in turn, made the nation's most terrifying group of teams even more so from the bottom up.

And the best part is he's only getting started.[/color]

[Hog Milanese]

We are better in year two under CBB than we were in year two of Petrino.

So we'll go 8-4? ...

[Danny J]

So we'll go 8-4? ...

I think that is very possible unless we completely implode. The progress each week has been noticeable. I think we lose two more games and can win the rest. I don't think we beat MSU or Bama but we do have a chance.

[kaptainkory]

SIAP.  Watch the video:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/gametracker/recap/NCAAF_20140927_ARK@TXAM/no-6-texas-am-rallies-for-35-28-ot-win-over-hogs

[kaptainkory]

SIAP.  Very complimentary article:

"Arkansas will win SEC games, help league cannibalize itself"

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2014-09-27/sec-wild-west-arkansas-loses-to-texas-am-can-beat-anyone-college-football-playoff

[WarPig88]

The media always loves us as long as we know our place. That is why they hated us during the Petrino years. We were too close to breaking through.

[kaptainkory]

The media always loves us as long as we know our place. That is why they hated us during the Petrino years. We were too close to breaking through.

That's complete nonsense.

[Kevin]

I just don't understand why so many people care about what a bunch of talking heads think.

Like Saturday , people excited that herby & Howard picked the hogs.

Play smart, play together, play hard, everything else takes care of itself

[reddogjcss]

Glad to see the media respect! Teams playing us better fasten there chin straps tight cause it's smash mouth.
I gain a little more respect for this team after each game they play. The boys are giving it there all.

[kaptainkory]

I just don't understand why so many people care about what a bunch of talking heads think.

Really?  It's called selling your product.  When the media writes so favorably, it's like free recruiting!

[Granny fan]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/89530/what-we-learned-in-the-sec-week-5-6

With Saturday’s action complete, we’re more than one-quarter of the way through the regular season.

Can you believe that?

Let’s take a look at what we learned from the latest batch of games.

1. Texas two step: Tip your cap to Arkansas. If anything, the Hogs showed they’re worthy of being ranked in the Top 25. But if you’re Texas A&M, what are you thinking? You just got roughed up by a team that hasn’t won a conference game since Oct. 2012. An undeniably one-dimensional offense racked up four touchdowns and 485 yards against you, 286 of which came on the ground. It wasn’t a secret what they were doing, and still you couldn’t stop it. Your defense, the one you said again and again was better than last year, showed it still has a long ways to go in the 35-28 overtime win. There were more missed tackles than an early-morning Pee Wee football game. Texas A&M’s offense is still plenty potent with Kenny Hill under center and a better-than-advertised running game, but without a defense to match we very well could be looking at a team that’s less steak than sizzle.

I think they go down against Miss. St. next week.

[three hog night]

The recruits are reading the media articles.  The good media vibes will counter the negative recruiting from our competitors.   This is really good to see multiple media opines that are positive, because most of them have no agenda...unlike some of the posters on HV.

[three hog night]

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/09/five-thoughts-from-texas-ams-35-28-come-from-behind-victory-over-arkansas-in-overtime.html/

1. Aggies come through in the fourth quarter
Texas A&M has now outscored opponents 69-3 in the fourth quarter and their dominance shined through in a much different way Saturday against Arkansas. Trailing 28-14 entering the fourth quarter, A&M turned on the offensive jets and connected on deep strikes to tie the game.

Quarterback Kenny Hill connected with Edward Pope for an 86-yard touchdown pass and a 59-yard strike to Josh Reynolds to tie the game. Hill passed to Malcome Kennedy for a 25-yard touchdown that wound up being the game-winning touchdown.

2. Arkansas run game is as advertised but pass game excels

Arkansas' much hyped running game was as good as expected. The Razorbacks ran the ball 47 times for 285 yards. Arkansas averaged 6.1 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns on the ground.

Arkansas was hardly stagnant in the passing game, with play action passes coming back to bite A&M on big gains. The Razorbacks lone throwing touchdown came on a 44-yard pass from Brandon Allen to AJ Derby. Allen used his tight ends to perfection on the night.

3. Aggie defense showcases vulnerability

Much of the hype entering the game surrounded question marks about A&M's defense and how they would defend Arkansas' running game. Well, it didn't go so well for the Aggies despite holding the Razorbacks below their average in rushing yards.

Arkansas had 22 first downs and had two touchdown plays called back due to penalties. Though the Aggies expected the run, they were caught off guard by the Arkansas play action passes that led to big games and first down conversions throughout the game.

4. A&M offense sputters

It was a slow day at the office for A&M's high powered offense. Arkansas schemed the Aggies well and hardly allowed the big play ability of A&M's receivers. The Aggies were forced to run the ball in situations they normally wouldn't and put Kenny Hill in positions to through into double coverage. Hill was intercepted once but he had several passes that could've also been picked off. Luckily for the Aggies the offense found its footing when it needed it most, in the fourth quarter.

5. Aggies escape Arkansas test

Ultimately, the Aggie win was ugly and one that they did not really deserve. But through five games A&M is undefeated for the first time since 2001 and made it through its toughest test of the season in Arkansas. The win against South Carolina may have been the biggest in terms of ranking, Arkansas' offense was much more dominant than the one the Aggies saw in Columbia. They advance and live to see another day which means they travel to Starkville to take on a Mississippi State team that upset LSU just a week ago.

[three hog night]

WOW

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1457378.html

Suggestions or something we missed? Let us know
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You must rank teams based on how good you believe they are at the moment. That's the point when it comes to putting the teams in some order. However, once the year is complete, it's only fair to take the subjectivity out of it and go by what actually happened on the field.

1. Alabama 4-0
Last Week: Idle
Why They Should Be Ranked No. 1: The Tide is improving with each passing week, culminating with a 21-point demolition of Florida heading into the break. Bama's evolution has been especially evident on offense, where coordinator Lane Kiffin is maximizing his skill position talent.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Bama has some things to clean up before resuming play, like turnovers and penalties. The team has yet to play a true road game ... or an opponent that's going to finish the year ranked in the Top 25.

2. Oregon 4-0
Last Week: Idle
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Eugene is home to one of the best offenses and one of the premier players, QB Marcus Mariota. The Ducks will score on anyone, as they proved with their Week 2 comeback win over stingy Michigan State, 46-27.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: A close call with Washington State two weeks ago uncovered a number of flaws in Oregon's game. The defense must improve in the open field, but the O-line is an even bigger red flag. Banged-up and reshuffled, the unit yielded seven sacks to the Cougs.

3. Oklahoma 4-0
Last Week: Idle
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Sooners have won their first four games by an average score of 45-16, while making statement in recent wins over Tennessee and West Virginia. OU went into Morgantown, weathered the storm and discovered a young star, rookie RB Samaje Perine.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The D had trouble stopping Clint Trickett and the West Virginia passing game in Week 4, which is going to be an issue in the pass-happy Big 12. Since Oklahoma doesn't play a ranked opponent until at least the middle of October, it'll be a while before this team is tested by a fellow heavyweight.

4. Texas A&M 5-0
Last Week: W, Arkansas, 35-28
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Aggies showed a champion's mettle in Arlington, rallying from two touchdowns down in the fourth quarter to beat the Hogs in overtime. Kenny Hill and Mark Snyder's defense stepped up in a big way to help keep A&M unbeaten.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The Aggie offense can be held in check, which the Razorbacks showed for more than 45 minutes. And the defense got exposed as well. This was a game that Arkansas lost more than Texas A&M won.

5. Michigan State 3-1
Last Week: W, Wyoming, 56-14
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The defense is a given in East Lansing, but now the offense is flexing its muscles around QB Connor Cook as well. Michigan State's lone came against one of the best teams in the country, Oregon, in its home stadium.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: No quality wins. There's only so much that can be gained from a moral victory against the Ducks. But there's only so high Michigan State can ascend by beating up on Jacksonville State, Eastern Michigan and Wyoming.

6. Auburn 4-0
Last Week: W, Louisiana Tech, 45-17
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: After starting slowly, the Tigers finally put away the Bulldogs for good with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. Auburn now owns two quality wins over Kansas State and the same Arkansas team that nearly shocked Texas A&M in Week 5.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: This is not the same offense as a season ago. Sure, the passing game has a little more pop than usual, but the Wildcats proved in Manhattan that it's possible to contain QB Nick Marshall & Co.

7. Baylor 4-0
Last Week: W, Iowa State, 49-28
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Just like a year ago, the Bears are burying their early-season opponents, winning the first three by a combined score of 227-55. And they lead the country in scoring, despite being without Antwan Goodley prior to this week's trip to Ames.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Who'd you face, Baylor? It's the same old story with the Bears' non-conference schedule. Annihilating SMU, Northwestern State, Buffalo and Iowa State could wind up being be a mild smokescreen for when the Big 12 slate really gets cranking with next Saturday's trip to Austin.

8. Florida State 4-0
Last Week: W, NC State, 56-41
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The 'Noles are getting every opponent's best effort, yet they continue to find ways to win. After falling behind in Raleigh on Saturday, they stormed back with seven offensive touchdowns over the final three quarters.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Each week provides a new reason why the Seminoles won't repeat this season. The defense was atrocious by anyone's standard, especially FSU's, and the team has now been challenged by everyone except The Citadel.

9. Mississippi State 3-0
Last Week: Idle
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: By beating LSU ... in Baton Rouge ... at night, the Bulldogs made a statement that they're ready to compete in the SEC West. And Mississippi State didn't just win a game; it dominated the Tigers by amassing 570 yards of offense.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Now that Mississippi State is closing in on the high-rent district, it must prove it can remain there. The pass defense flashed lapses in games with UAB and LSU, which raises concerns with Texas A&M and Auburn up next.

10. Arkansas 3-2
Last Week: L, Texas A&M, 35-28
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Until the latter stages, the Razorbacks outplayed a Texas A&M team that had looked unbeatable during the first month of the season. Arkansas' other loss was to another top 10 opponent outside of Fayetteville, Auburn.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The Hogs' two wins over FBS teams were Texas Tech and Northern Illinois, neither of whom are Top 25 timber. And they didn't just lose to Auburn; they lost by 24 points after failing to sustain a fast start.

11. Notre Dame 4-0
Last Week: W, Syracuse, 31-15
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Irish have outscored their first four opponents by a margin of 35-11. They're winning with a combination of steady defense and the crisp passing of Everett Golson, who's putting the offense on his shoulders.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Notre Dame still needs more from the running game to complement Golson's heroics. An imbalanced offense could be overcome against Rice, Michigan, Purdue and Syracuse, but the October slate brings games with Stanford and Florida State.

12. Ole Miss 4-0
Last Week: W, Memphis, 24-3
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Possibly looking ahead to next week's showdown with Alabama, Ole Miss was sluggish, yet found a way to dispose of a feisty Memphis team. The Rebels are only giving up eight points a game so far in 2014.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The Rebels haven't faced anyone yet this season. Even Boise State, which looked as if it might be a quality opponent in the opener, fell this past weekend to a middling Air Force squad.

13. Nebraska 5-0
Last Week: W, Illinois, 45-14
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Huskers have caught fire since beating McNeese State by only a touchdown in Week 2. They've routed the last three opponents behind the dynamic running of Ameer Abdullah, and are outscoring opponents by an average margin of 45-19.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Who's Nebraska beaten? They've yet to face a ranked opponent, or even one that's close to being ranked. The Huskers' best win has come over a two-loss Miami team still trying to find its way.

14. Missouri 3-1
Last Week: W, South Carolina, 21-20
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Now that the Tigers have upset South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium, they're the only SEC East team without a loss. Mizzou showed an enormous amount of resiliency to bounce back from a loss and win this game.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: That Tiger loss came at home to Indiana. Yup, that's the same Hoosier team that's already lost to Bowling Green and Maryland this past weekend in a lopsided 37-15 affair.

15. South Carolina 3-2
Last Week: L, Missouri, 21-20
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Since losing the opener, the Gamecocks have beaten ranked East Carolina and Georgia, and fallen by a point to Mizzou. The defense has come a long way in a short time since the disaster with Texas A&M.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The Mizzou team the Gamecocks lost to at home fell to Indiana just a week earlier. Arkansas played Texas A&M far better than South Carolina did in a 52-28 blowout on opening night.

16. Georgia 3-1
Last Week: W, Tennessee, 35-32
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Dawgs rallied from an early deficit to get past rival Tennessee. Their only loss was by three points on the road at South Carolina, and that opening day win over Clemson will gain in value as the Tigers regroup.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: This is a one-man gang, Todd Gurley, in Athens. The junior back has been phenomenal, but he's going to need more help along the way. Georgia had too many problems, especially on defense, with a Vol team that lost to Oklahoma by 24 points in its previous game.

17. Clemson 2-2
Last Week: W, North Carolina, 50-35
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: A star was born in Death Valley Saturday night, as true freshman QB Deshaun Watson threw a school-record six touchdown passes. The Tigers' two losses have come on the road against playoff contenders, Florida State and Georgia.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: For the second time this season, the talented Clemson defense failed to play up to its potential, giving up four touchdown passes to Marquise Williams. In the loss to the 'Noles, Jameis Winston didn't play, and the Tigers blew opportunities to win a key ACC game.

18. LSU 4-1
Last Week: W, New Mexico State, 63-7
Why The Ranking Should be Higher: The Tigers regained a little confidence with a rout of New Mexico State. An impressive all-around performance from rookie QB Brandon Harris bodes well for the offense for the balance of the season.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: More than just a loss two weeks ago, the Tigers were soundly defeated in Baton Rouge by a Mississippi State that began the year unranked. LSU is young and flawed, with more regular-season losses likely coming.

19. UCLA 4-0
Last Week: W, Arizona State, 62-27
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: In their toughest assignment of the season so far, the Bruins finally made a statement by routing ASU in Tempe. UCLA delivered back-breaking plays in all three phases, and QB Brett Hundley was on point in his return from an elbow injury.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The Bruins could be a team that shows up in the biggest spots, which could leave them vulnerable against lesser opponents. The defense gave up 626 yards to a team led by a backup quarterback, and is still having problems consistently getting to the quarterback.

20. BYU 4-0
Last Week: Idle
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Cougars have efficiently knocked off each opponent with a combination of timely defense and the all-around heroics of QB Taysom Hill. And they haven't feasted on FCS teams, facing two schools from the American, one from the Big 12 and one from the ACC.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: The defense bears a close watch after it was beaten for 519 yards by a sporadic Virginia attack. And back-to-back eight-point wins over Houston and the Cavaliers won't earn much-needed style points for a program lacking the thorny schedule needed to impress skeptics.

21. Tennessee 2-2
Last Week: L, Georgia, 35-32
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Sure, the Vols are a .500 team, but who wouldn't be after playing at Oklahoma and Georgia in consecutive weeks? Tennessee is growing up quickly under Butch Jones, giving the Bulldogs all they could handle in Athens.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Right direction, sure. But the Volunteers still have a long way to go. The team is very young, and the defense isn't ready to stop quality offensive skill players. UT's best win of the year so far was over Utah State in the opener.

22. East Carolina 3-1
Last Week: Idle
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: If the Pirates were in the ACC, they'd probably be the league's third or fourth best team. Over the last three weeks, East Carolina has nearly upset South Carolina in Columbia, stunned Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and annihilated Carolina, 70-41.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: While ECU has no doubt been impressive, it's yet to defeat an elite program. The Hokies have also lost at home to Georgia Tech, while the Tar Heels had to rally at home in Week 2 to hold off San Diego State.

23. Ohio State 3-1
Last Week: W, Cincinnati, 50-28
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: Look out, Big Ten. QB J.T. Barrett and the offense are beginning to heat up. The Buckeyes have scored 116 points the past two weeks, with the redshirt freshman throwing 10 touchdown passes.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Saturday's win over Cincinnati was Ohio State's best of the season so far. And the two-touchdown home loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 6 keeps getting as the Hokies continue to play poorly.

24. Kansas State 3-1
Last Week: W, UTEP, 58-28
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Wildcats had a short memory in Week 5, bouncing back from a loss to top 10 Auburn to dominate an underrated Miner team that had been playing well. In the Tiger loss a week ago, Kansas State essentially shut down one of the nation's most potent attacks.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: K-State fumbled away an opportunity against Auburn, creating doubt about its ability to close out quality opponents. Plus, the 'Cats labored to put away Iowa State, and haven't beaten a top 50 team in 2014.

25. Oklahoma State 3-1
Last Week: W, Texas Tech, 45-35
Why The Ranking Should Be Higher: The Cowboys only loss was to top-ranked Florida State by just six points. Since that opener in Arlington, Tex., Oklahoma State has scored at least 40 points in three straight games, despite losing starting QB J.W. Walsh.
Why The Ranking Should Be Lower: Oklahoma State has yet to beat a quality opponent, or played a true road game. In Thursday night's win over the Red Raiders, the D was too soft in pass coverage and on third downs.

26. Wisconsin 3-1
27. NC State 4-1
28. USC 3-1
29. Stanford 3-1
30. Arizona State 3-1

31. West Virginia 2-2
32. Georgia Tech 4-0
33. Virginia Tech 3-2
34. Washington 4-1
35. Florida 2-1
36. Arizona 4-0
37. TCU 3-0
38. California 3-1
39. Kentucky 3-1
40. Virginia 3-2

41. Louisville 4-1
42. Maryland 4-1
43. Nevada 3-1
44. Washington State 2-3
45. Utah 3-1
46. Iowa State 1-3
47. Iowa 4-1
48. Miami 3-2
49. Boston College 3-2
50. Texas Tech 2-2

51. Minnesota 4-1
52. Northern Illinois 3-1

[three hog night]

http://sec14.com/2014/09/mitchell-razorback-tears-in-jerrys-world/#more-1186

We checked, and the rule book still reads 60 minutes.

With three minutes to play, the Arkansas Razorbacks  seemed to have it all: momentum, the ball in Texas A&M territory, and the advantage in nearly every statistical category – including the score, 28-21.

A fumbled snap by a back-up center, some conservative play calling and a missed field goal later and the Hogs' party became a pig roast.

In two plays, Aggies' quarterback Kenny Hill connected with Josh Robinson for a 59 yard touchdown pass, and the sixth-ranked Aggies had erased a 14-point, fourth quarter deficit to send the game into overtime.

Once there, Hill hit Malcome Kennedy for a 25-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime, and a stout defense stand ended the Razorbacks' night.

Though it wasn't all roses for the Aggies quarterback.  Hill struggled in the first quarter, missing a wide open Kennedy for a sure score, and going 0-4 on passes beyond the line of scrimmage.

He made up for it late, getting three of his four touchdown in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Arkansas' defense did a good job of keeping Kevin Sumlin's dynamic offense in check, with particular credit going to the Razorbacks secondary.

Until those final few minutes.

The Hogs rushed for 284 yards on 47 attempts, for a 6.1 average.  Not far off the 7.1 ypc average Arkansas carried into the game, and twice what A&M had allowed through its first four games.

But penalties killed at least two big Arkansas plays, and likely took 14 points off the board.

If it felt like there was a little bit of Johnny Football magic in the Arlington air Saturday night, there was.  The NFL rookie was roaming the Jerry's World sideline as a cheerleader.  And his ex-teammate Eddie Pope must have been listening.

The 6-4, 185 pound sophomore from Carthage, TX averaged 38 yards on four receptions, including two touchdowns.

Last season the Aggies run defense was regularly pelted, and while surrendering nearly 300 yards is certainly nothing to celebrate, the new found depth of A&M's defensive line allowed it to dig its heels in when it had to ... standing up Alex Collins on fourth-and-one on the final play in overtime.

And the Hogs are still winless in conference play.  Now 0-14.

- See more at: http://sec14.com/2014/09/mitchell-razorback-tears-in-jerrys-world/#more-1186

[Vantage 8 dude]

Sad, sad to think that much of the national media, many of whom really ridiculed CBB and the Hogs last season, are more impressed and respect this team and staff more than some of the "fans" and posters on this site. Then again, perhaps that speaks more of the mindset or agenda driven attitude some live with. In other words, some would prefer to see their supposed favorite team and its leadership fail rather than let go of the fact that their personal choice for HC wasn't hired a couple of years ago. Makes you wonder what team they're REALLY rooting for.

[three hog night]

Sad, sad to think that much of the national media, many of whom really ridiculed CBB and the Hogs last season, are more impressed and respect this team and staff more than some of the "fans" and posters on this site. Then again, perhaps that speaks more of the mindset or agenda driven attitude some live with. In other words, some would prefer to see their supposed favorite team and its leadership fail rather than let go of the fact that their personal choice for HC wasn't hired a couple of years ago. Makes you wonder what team they're REALLY rooting for.

Amen Brutha!

[Kevin]

Really?  It's called selling your product.  When the media writes so favorably, it's like free recruiting!

How many 16-18 year old know what they are saying?

[hawgon]

That is great and all, but generally the media doesn't know squat.  As a collective whole, they thought Houston Nutt was a great coach and the best we could do at Arkansas.

But, yeah, it is better to be well thought of than not.

[kaptainkory]

How many 16-18 year old know what they are saying?

It's as much simply that they are being talked about...even 16-18 year-olds want to play for a team that is relevant.  And parents/ HS coaches do carry so sway with many.

I guess I just don't get it.  You want the media to give us the silent treatment?

[DeltaBoy]

Close but no cigar.  Lets just win our next SEC game for the Love of God , I'm in no mood for Moral Victories and Media platitudes.

[three hog night]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/90018/how-would-arkansas-do-outside-of-sec-west

"Would Arkansas win the conference title if it resided in some other Power 5 league? Probably not.

But would the Razorbacks have a better chance of winning, let's the Big Ten, than grabbing the crown in the SEC West? All signs point to yes.

SEC West vs. the rest

We know the SEC has a high opinion of itself. But this year, the numbers justify it. So with three huge SEC West showdowns this weekend, we were wondering how top teams in other conferences would fare in the SEC West.

• Florida State vs. SEC West

• Oklahoma, Baylor vs. SEC West

• Michigan State vs. SEC West

• Oregon, UCLA vs. SEC West

• How would Arkansas fare against the ACC, B1G, Big 12, Pac-12?
While Arkansas is a flawed team, it has improved a ton, in Bret Bielema's second season. Look at the leaderboards for the other major conferences, then rewatch the Arkansas-Texas A&M game and tell me the Razorbacks wouldn't be able to play with teams like Maryland, Nebraska, Iowa, Northwestern or Minnesota -- all of which hold at least a share of a Big Ten division lead.

Take a glimpse at the ACC standings. Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and Virginia are tied atop the Coastal Division and Florida State, which dodged upset bids in the last two weekends, is the only unbeaten team in the Atlantic.

Arkansas would be a better fit in the Big Ten -- Bielema basically brought that league's philosophy with him when he left Wisconsin in 2013 -- but it would rank among the contenders in either conference. In the SEC, it has lost 14 straight conference games and might finish last in the Western Division for the second consecutive season.

To me, the more entertaining hypothetical is considering how Arkansas might fare in the Pac-12 and Big 12. The culture clashes that would exist on most Saturdays would make for fascinating viewing.

We got a small taste of that a couple of weeks ago when Arkansas thrashed Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders are a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 team this season. Think about the wide-open offenses from Oregon or Baylor going up against Arkansas' power run. Or Mike Leach's Washington State passing game facing an Arkansas secondary that would have major difficulty defending it.

However, watching Arkansas-Stanford might make some SEC fans think they'd somehow gone back to the 1980s. Barely anybody around these parts repeatedly smashes each other in the mouth anymore. I'm getting nostalgic just thinking about it.

These what-if scenarios are fun, but reality isn't so pleasant for Arkansas. It will fall to 3-3 and 0-3 in SEC play if it loses to No. 3 Alabama next weekend, with the other conference losses coming to No. 5 Auburn and No. 6 Texas A&M. Good luck with that schedule no matter how good your team is, and yet something tells me Bielema wouldn't leave.

He had already won a bunch of Big Ten titles and said he wanted to face the best when he came to Arkansas. Becoming a consistent winner in the SEC West is the toughest challenge in his profession.

[DeltaBoy]

Good reads I am glad we are seeing progress.