Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
2020 ARKANSAS OPPONENT CAPSULES
GAME 1 GEORGIA
DATE Sept. 26 PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
2019 RECORD 12-2, 7-1 SEC COACH Kirby Smart (44-12 in four seasons at Georgia) RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS QB TJ Daniels, RB Zamir White, S Richard LaCounte, LB Monty Rice.
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 ........................................ at Arkansas Oct. 3 .................................................. Auburn Oct. 10 ............................................ Tennessee Oct. 17 .......................................... at Alabama Oct. 24 .......................................... at Kentucky Nov. 7 ................ vs Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.) Nov. 14 .......................................... at Missouri Nov. 21 ................................. Mississippi State Nov. 28 ................................. at South Carolina Dec. 5 .............................................. Vanderbilt OUTLOOK A transfer quarterback figures to start for the Bulldogs when they open the season at Arkansas. Just not the transfer expected. Jamie Newman, a senior graduate transfer from Wake Forest projected to be the Georgia starter, decided to opt out of this season midway through training camp. That leaves JT Daniels, a sophomore transfer from Southern California, as the likely starter. Newman’s opting out was a surprise, but it doesn’t figure to adversely affect Georgia too much. The Bulldogs are loaded with talent – Coach Kirby Smart learned about recruiting from Nick Saban as Alabama’s defensive coordinator – and they look ready to go after a fourth consecutive SEC East title.
GAME 2 MISSISSIPPI STATE
DATE Oct. 3 PLACE Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Miss. 2019 RECORD 6-7, 3-5 SEC COACH Mike Leach (First season at Mississippi State, 139-90 overall in 18 seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Kylin Hill, QB K.J. Costello, LB Erroll Thompson, DT Nathan Pickering
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 at LSU Oct. 3 ............................................... Arkansas Oct. 10 .......................................... at Kentucky Oct. 17 .......................................... Texas A&M Oct. 31 .......................................... at Alabama Nov. 7 .............................................. Vanderbilt Nov. 14 ................................................ Auburn Nov. 21 ............................................ at Georgia Nov. 28 .......................................... at Ole Miss Dec. 5 ................................................ Missouri OUTLOOK New Mississippi State Coach Mike Leach is known for his Air Raid attack, and K.J. Costello – a graduate transfer – passed for 6,151 and 48 touchdowns at Stanford the previous three seasons. But the Bulldogs figure to do plenty of running with Kylin Hill after he rushed for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Mississippi State should be able to have good balance on offense and put up points, but stopping opponents figures to be a problem with the Bulldogs losing a lot of talent on defense the last two seasons. At the least, Mississippi State should be fun and interesting to watch in Leach’s first season.
GAME 3 AUBURN
DATE Oct. 10 PLACE Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala. 2019 RECORD 9-4, 5-3 SEC COACH Gus Malzahn (62-31 in eight seasons at Auburn, 71-34 overall in nine seasons) RETURN STARTERS 3 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Bo Nix, WR Seth Williams, LB K.J. Britt, DE Big Kat Bryant
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 ........................................... Kentucky Oct. 3 .............................................. at Georgia Oct. 10 ............................................. Arkansas Oct. 17 ................................. at South Carolina Oct. 24 .......................................... at Ole Miss Oct. 31 ..................................................... LSU Nov. 14 ............................. at Mississippi State Nov. 21 ............................................ Tennessee Nov. 28 .......................................... at Alabama Dec. 5 ............................................ Texas A&M head coach, Chad Morris, when they play at Auburn. Morris, who was fired at Arkansas with two games left last season after falling to 4-18 while leading the Razorbacks, is now the Tigers’ offensive coordinator. Gus Malzahn and Morris have been friends for several years, going back to their high school coaching days in Arkansas for Malzahn and in Texas for Morris. Despite the Razorbacks’ problems, Malzahn trusts Morris enough to have turned over play-calling duties to him. Previously as an offensive coordinator at Tulsa and Clemson, Morris had a lot of success, and he’ll have talented players to work with at Auburn.
GAME 4 OLE MISS
DATE Oct. 17 PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2019 RECORD 4-8, 2-6 SEC COACH Lane Kiffin (First season at Ole Miss, 61-34 overall in eight seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 4 defense KEY STARTERS QB John Rhys Plumlee, RB Jerrion Ealy, LB Lakia Henry, LB Jacquez Jones
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 ............................................... Florida Oct. 3 ............................................ at Kentucky Oct. 10 .............................................. Alabama Oct. 17 .......................................... at Arkansas Oct. 24 ................................................ Auburn Oct. 31 ........................................ at Vanderbilt Nov. 14 ..................................... South Carolina Nov. 21 ...................................... at Texas A&M Nov. 28 ................................. Mississippi State Dec. 5 ................................................... at LSU OUTLOOK Ole Miss Athletic Director Keith Carter, a former Rebels basketball player from Perryville, felt he needed to instill some excitement in the football program. So Matt Luke was fired as coach — he replaced Sam Pittman as Georgia’s offensive line coach – and Carter brought Lane Kiffin back to the SEC for his third stop. Kiffin can say and do things that get him in hot water, but there’s no doubting his skills as a play caller and molder of quarterbacks. Kiffin, 26-13 the last three seasons at Florida Atlantic, previously was in the SEC as Tennessee’s coach in 2009 and Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2014-16.
GAME 5 TEXAS A&M
DATE Oct. 31 PLACE Kyle Field, College Station, Texas 2019 RECORD 8-5, 4-4 SEC COACH Jimbo Fisher (17-9 in two seasons at Texas A&M, 100-32 overall in 10 seasons). RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Kellen Mond, RB Isaiah Spiller, LB Buddy Johnson, S Demani Richardson.
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 .......................................... Vanderbilt Oct. 3 ............................................ at Alabama Oct. 10 ................................................. Florida Oct. 17 ............................. at Mississippi State Oct. 31 ............................................. Arkansas Nov. 7 ................................... at South Carolina Nov. 14 ........................................ at Tennessee Nov. 21 .............................................. Ole Miss Nov. 28 ..................................................... LSU Dec. 5 .............................................. at Auburn OUTLOOK Instead of the Arkansas-Texas A&M game being played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this season’s game is at Kyle Field. A change of scenery – even playing on the road – probably can’t hurt the Razorbacks considering they’ve lost eight in row to the Aggies. That’s every game between the teams since Texas A&M joined the SEC. Arkansas will play at Kyle Field for the first time since 2012 – the Aggies insisted their first two games against Arkansas in the SEC be home and home – when Johnny Manziel ran wild and Texas A&M won 58-10. Five of the last six meetings have been decided by seven or fewer points – with three overtime games – but the Aggies keep winning. Next season’s game will be in Fayetteville.
GAME 6 TENNESSEE
DATE Nov. 7 PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2019 RECORD 8-5, 3-5 SEC COACH Jeremy Pruitt (13-12 in two seasons at Tennessee) RETURNING STARTERS 3 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Jarrett Guarantano, WR Josh Palmer, linebacker Henry To’o To’o, CB Shawn Shamburger, 2020 SCHEDULE Sept. 26 ............................... at South Carolina Oct. 3 ................................................ Missouri Oct. 10 ............................................ at Georgia Oct. 17 ............................................. Kentucky Oct. 24 .............................................. Alabama Nov. 7 ............................................ at Arkansas Nov. 14 .......................................... Texas A&M Nov. 21 ............................................ at Auburn Nov. 28 ........................................ at Vanderbilt Dec. 5 ................................................... Florida OUTLOOK Jeremy Pruitt looked like he might have a short stay as the Vols’ coach when they lost at home to Georgia State and BYU to open last season. That dropped Pruitt’s record at Tennessee to 5-9. But the Vols rallied to finish 8-5, including a Taxpayer Bowl victory over Indiana. Pruitt, who previously was defensive coordinator at Georgia and Alabama, has added some impressive recruits to raise the roster’s talent level. He also has an experienced quarterback in Guarantano, who has 25 career starts. The Vols are playing at Arkansas for the first time since 2011 when Joe Adams had an electrifying punt return for a touchdown in the Razorbacks’ 49-7 victory.
GAME 7 FLORIDA
DATE Nov. 14 PLACE Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla. 2019 RECORD 11-2, 6-2 SEC COACH Dan Mullen (21-5 in two seasons at Florida, 90-51 overall in 11 seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Kyle Trask, WR Trevon Grimes, DE Zachary Carter, LB Ventrell Miller
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 ........................................ at Ole Miss Oct. 3 ....................................... South Carolina Oct. 10 ...................................... at Texas A&M Oct. 17 ..................................................... LSU Oct. 24 .............................................. Missouri Nov. 7 ............... vs Georgia (Jacksonville, Fla.) Nov. 14 ............................................. Arkansas Nov. 21 ........................................ at Vanderbilt Nov. 28 ............................................. Kentucky Dec. 5 at .......................................... Tennessee OUTLOOK Arkansas is playing at Florida for the first time since 2013 when the Gators won 30-10, but Razorbacks quarterback Feleipe Franks will be in familiar surroundings in the Swamp. Franks is a senior graduate who transferred to Arkansas from Florida. He made 24 starts for the Gators, including all 13 in 2018 when they were 10-3. Last season Franks suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the third game, and Kyle Trask played so well as his replacement that Franks decided to transfer. Trask and the Gators should be good on offense with six starters back. The defense has some starters to replace, but Florida is expected challenge Georgia for the SEC East title. Maybe this will be Coach Dan Mullen’s time to get to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game.
GAME 8 LSU
DATE Nov. 14 PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
2019 RECORD 15-0, 8-0 SEC COACH Ed Orgeron (40-9 in four seasons at LSU, 56-36 overall in eight seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 2 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS CB Derek Stingley Jr., QB Myles Brennan, FS JaCoby Stevens, WR Terrace Marshall
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 ............................... Mississippi State Oct. 3 .......................................... at Vanderbilt Oct. 10 .............................................. Missouri Oct. 17 ............................................. at Florida Oct. 24 ..................................... South Carolina Oct. 31 ............................................ at Auburn Nov. 14 .............................................. Alabama Nov. 21 .......................................... at Arkansas Nov. 2 ........................................ at Texas A&M Dec. 5 ................................................ Ole Miss OUTLOOK Last one to opt out of the season for LSU turn out the lights at Tiger Stadium. Well, it’s not quite that dire, but three starters have opted out of the season – most notably All-American receiver Ja’Marr Chase – to concentrate on the NFL Draft. That’s the downside of having such a talented roster. Guys are pointing to the NFL. The upside of recruiting so well is that even with just five returning starters on offense and defense because 14 players went in the NFL Draft and six others signed free agent deals, the Tigers still have a lot of talent. And they have young players eager to prove themselves. Myles Brennan, a redshirt junior, is ready take over at quarterback and Derek Stingley, a sophomore, may be the best player on defense in the country.
GAME 9 MISSOURI
DATE Nov. 28 PLACE Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo. 2019 RECORD 6-6, 3-5 SEC COACH Eliah Drinkwitz (first season at Missouri, 12-1 last season at Appalachian State) RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Robert Rountree, WR Barrett Banister, LB Nick Bolton, DT Akial Byers
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 ............................................ Alabama Oct. 3 .......................................... at Tennessee Oct. 10 ................................................. at LSU Oct. 17 ............................................ Vanderbilt Oct. 24 ............................................. at Florida Oct. 31 ............................................. Kentucky Nov. 14 ................................................ Georgia Nov. 21 ................................. at South Carolina Nov. 28 ............................................. Arkansas Dec. 5 ............................... at Mississippi State OUTLOOK Eliah Drinkwitz, an Alma native and protege of Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn, landed an SEC job after just one season as a college head coach. But when that season is 12-1 at Appalachian State with road victories against North Carolina and South Carolina, it gets noticed. Drinkwitz was an assistant for Malzahn at Springdale High School in 2005, then was a quality control analyst at Auburn
in 2010-11 when Malzahn was the Tigers’ offensive coordinator. When Malzahn became Arkansas State’s coach in 2012, Drinkwitz followed him as an assistant coach. Missouri doesn’t have to play Malzahn and Auburn this season. But when the SEC added two games for a 10-game conference only schedule, Alabama became Missouri’s opener. Welcome back to the SEC, Eliah.
GAME 10 ALABAMA
DATE Dec. 5 PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2019 RECORD 11-2, 6-2 SEC COACH Nick Saban (157-23 in 13 seasons at Alabama, 248-65-1 overall in 24 seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Najee Harris, WR Jaylen Waddle, QB Mac Jones, LB Dylan Moses, NG D.J. Dale
2020 SCHEDULE
Sept. 26 ........................................ at Missouri Oct. 3 ............................................ Texas A&M Oct. 10 .......................................... at Ole Miss Oct. 17 ................................................ Georgia Oct. 24 ........................................ at Tennessee Oct. 31 ................................. Mississippi State Nov. 14 ................................................. at LSU Nov. 21 ............................................. Kentucky Nov. 28 ................................................ Auburn Dec. 5 ............................................ at Arkansas OUTLOOK Alabama missed being in the College Football Playoff last season after making it the first five seasons, and winning it in 2015 and 2017. The Crimson Tide had to settle for 11 victories and pounding Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Alabama is expected to be a playoff contender again this season and have a shot to win Nick Saban’s seventh national title. So far he’s won one title at LSU and five at Alabama. Nick Saban is 16-2 as a head coach against Arkansas and last lost to the Razorbacks in the Miracle on Markham game in 2002 when Arkansas pulled out a 21-20 victory over LSU in Little Rock. He’s 13-0 against the Razorbacks as Alabama’s coach.