Arkansas upset of Texas unlikely according to Razorbackers Staff

After 33 years years of separation, Arkansas and Texas are conference rivals. From Arkansas's last season in the Southwest Conference, the Razorbacks have dominated the series, winning five of their seven meetings. But this team is arguably the best Texas team Arkansas's faced since 2004 when Vince Young was quarterback.

Texas has some of the best talent in the country, with a star QB, Quinn Ewers, at the helm. However, the team is relatively untested. The Longhorn's hardest game of the season came against Georgia, where they lost 30-15. The second-best opponent they've faced so far is Vandy, who nearly knocked them off, too.

Arkansas has had a tough season, but it also has the fifth-best offense in the country in terms of total yards, and the Hogs have faced very tough defenses like Ole Miss and Tennessee. The problem is scoring. Can the Razorbacks finally get in the endzone consistently, or will Texas get the leg up in the new SEC conference rivalry? Here are the Razorbacker's thoughts on the game:

Matthew

Playing at home, Arkansas can be another agent of chaos in a year full of surprises in college football. But do the Hogs have the firepower to keep pace with a Texas offense that could take advantage of a suspect Arkansas defense?

Ater what Ole Miss just did to the Razorbacks’ secondary, that’s hard to envision. Texas is also stout against the run, which is whatArkansasdoes best so it could be tough going when the home team has the football. In the end, Texas will have too much firepower on offense.

Texas 35 – Arkansas 20

Antonio

Although the No. 3 Texas Longhorns 8-1 (4-1 SEC) and Arkansas Razorbacks 5-4 (3-3 SEC) are classic rivals, their rivalry does not receive the respect it merits, especially in our current historical period, where a thirst for genuine history is increasingly waning.

Given the Razorbacks come into this game with no momentum, suffering two consecutive blowout defeats at home, they needed to benefit from their fans and sports media, at least local sports media, ginning up nostalgia and excitement for this clash against the Longhorns. Unfortunately, Arkansas’s poor performance in its previous two games did not inspire fans and sports media to engender such buzz.  

While Arkansas benefitted from a bye week, Texas essentially enjoyed its version of a bye week as it whipped the lowly Florida Gators 49-17. The game functioned practically as a scrimmage game against an inferior opponent. Although Arkansas is a much better team than Florida, the Hogs have two glaring weaknesses that will be exploited for a third straight game: a secondary that now seems unable to cover anyone and an offensive line that does not block, which has kept quarterback Taylen Green running for his life and vulnerable to the injuries he has sustained.

The Razorbacks’ secondary and offensive line will continue to struggle. Even though Dan Mullen has placed Texas on “upset alert” against Arkansas, as reported by Nick Schultz, staff writer at On3, the Hogs’ ineffective secondary and offensive line makes Mullen’s position laughable. Texas will come to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and dominate the Razorbacks.

Texas 42 – Arkansas 20

Austin

Without a doubt, this season has been the most roller coaster-esque season since 2007. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Arkansas miraculously beats Texas and sends them back to Austin, wishing they'd never signed up for the SEC. Is that likely to happen? No. Will I predict that to happen? Also, no.

Sure, the Longhorns haven't been tested this season very much, but I think the game against Georgia woke them up to the reality they face in their new conference (regardless of what their fans say in public). But Arkansas is just too inconsistent and its defense has not been the same since LSU embarrassed the Hogs at home.

Texas 45 – Arkansas 35