College Football Preview 2024 | Page 16

16 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.25.2024

UAPB GOLDEN LIONS

DATE Aug. 29 SITE War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock TIME 6:30 p. m. COACH Alonzo Hampton( 2nd year 2-9) 2023 RECORD 2-9( 1-7 SWAC) SERIES RECORD Arkansas leads 1-0 SCOUTING REPORT Alonzo Hampton begins his second season leading the UAPB program. The Golden Lions won just two games last season, but one of those was the final game of the season against Texas Southern, sending UAPB into the offseason on a high note. The Golden Lions struggled offensively in 2023, averaging just 15 points per game and fewer than 300 yards of total offense per game. Mekhi Hagens returns at quarterback after rushing for 312 yards and passing for 580. UAPB’ s strength will be its defense, led by returning linebacker Khalil Arnold who was tabbed by Phil Steele as a preseason All-SWAC selection. Arnold recorded 4 sacks last season.

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

DATE Sept. 7 SITE Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater TIME 11 a. m. COACH Mike Gundy( 20th year 166-79) 2023 RECORD 10-4( 7-2 Big 12) SERIES RECORD Arkansas leads 29-14-1 SCOUTING REPORT With Texas and Oklahoma now in the SEC, Oklahoma State could become the kingpin in the Big 12, and the Cowboys have the horses for it. Running back Ollie Gordon II won the Doak Walker Award as the top back in the country in 2023. Gordon rushed for 1,776 yards on 285 carries and scored 21 rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Alan Bowman returns for his seventh season after going 304 of 501 for 3,460 yards. Bowman fired 15 touchdown passes, but ranked last in the Big 12 with 14 interceptions. Defensively, junior linebacker Nick Martin is one of the best in the Big 12 after

ARKANSAS OPPONENT CAPSULES HOGS FACE TOUGH SCHEDULE IN NEW SEC CHIP SOUZA HAWGS SPORTS NETWORK

recording 140 total tackles( 83 solo) with 6 sacks and 2 interceptions last year. Linebacker Collin Oliver is another stellar defensive after recording 73 tackles with 4 forced fumbles.

UAB BLAZERS

DATE Sept. 14 SITE Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville TIME 3:15 p. m. COACH Trent Dilfer( 2nd year 4-8) 2023 RECORD 4-8( 3-5 American Athletic) SERIES RECORD Arkansas leads 1-0 SCOUTING REPORT Trent Dilfer, who spent 14 seasons as an NFL quarterback and helped the Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl in 2000, begins his second season at UAB. Offensively, the Blazers were solid behind quarterback Jacob Zeno, who passed for 3,126 yards. The Baylor transfer posted a 73 percent completion percentage, among the best in the country. Defensively it was a different story as the Blazers were torched for 40 or more points in six games. UAB addressed its defensive deficiencies through the transfer portal in the offseason. UAB is still trying to establish itself after reviving the football program in 2017, but the program does have 3 conference titles in six seasons.

AUBURN TIGERS

DATE Sept. 21 SITE Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn TIME 2:30-7 p. m.( Flex) COACH Hugh Freeze( 2nd year 103-47 overall) 2023 RECORD 6-7( 3-5 SEC) SERIES RECORD Auburn leads 20-12-1 SCOUTING REPORT The Tigers have posted three consecutive losing seasons, going 6-7 in Hough Freeze’ s first season on The Plains. Payton Thorne returns at quarterback after transferring from Michigan State. Thorne fired 16 scoring passes last season, but was intercepted 10 times. The Tigers

will lean heavily on a strong run game, led by senior Jarquez Hunter, who has 2,172 career rushing yards and 17 career touchdowns. Hunter ran for 109 yards against the Razorbacks last season. Defensively the Tigers were among the worst in the SEC last season in rushing yardage and must replace All-SEC tackle Marcus Harris.

TEXAS A & M AGGIES

DATE Sept. 28 SITE AT & T Stadium, Arlington, Texas TIME 2:30 p. m. COACH Mike Elko( 1st year) 2023 RECORD 7-6( 4-4 SEC) SERIES RECORD Arkansas leads 42-35-3 SCOUTING REPORT A new era in Aggieland starts this season after the Aggies parted ways with former coach Jimbo Fisher and hired Mike Elko from Duke. More than 30 players left the program via the transfer portal after Fisher was fired, but Elko was able to restock the roster with 45 newcomers. Expect Elko’ s team to lean heavily on the run game if the retooled offensive line can perform. The Aggies have firepower in the backfield with Amari Daniels( 105- 532), Le’ Vion Moss( 96-484) and Rueben Owens( 101-385) all returning. Conner Weigman played just 4 games last year before suffering a season-ending injury. His return should bolster the Texas A & M offense.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

DATE Oct. 5 SITE Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville TIME 2:30-7 p. m.( Flex) COACH Josh Heupel( 4th year 27-12) 2023 RECORD 9-4( 4-4 SEC) SERIES RECORD Tennessee leads 13-6 SCOUTING REPORT Consistent play at quarterback could put the Vols in contention for the SEC championship. Nico Iamaleava steps in to lead the Tennessee offense as a redshirt freshman, and he

certainly passes the eye test. In his only true test, Iamaleava led the Vols to a 35-0 Citrus Bowl win against Iowa. If there is a glaring weakness, it would be Tennessee’ s secondary. The Vols must get better on the back end of they want to contend for SEC titles and beyond. The Vols are solid on the defensive front, led by preseason first team All-American edge rusher James Pearce Jr., who had 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2023.

LSU TIGERS

DATE Oct. 19 SITE Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville TIME 5-7 p. m. COACH Brian Kelly( 3rd year 20-7 at LSU) 2023 RECORD 10-3( 6-2 SEC) SERIES RECORD LSU leads 44-23-2 SCOUTING REPORT The Tigers must replace Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and a bevy of offensive stars that led the nation in total offense. Garrett Nussmeier is tasked with replacing Daniels, and the former 4-star recruit appears ready to take on that challenge. LSU will have to be better defensively than it was a year ago if it expects to challenge for the SEC championship. The Tigers ranked 13th in the SEC in scoring, passing and rushing defense last year and things only get tougher with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the conference. LSU needs junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. to return to the form he showed as a freshman. Last year Perkins struggled playing inside linebacker, so he moved back to the outside where he wreaked havoc in 2022.

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

DATE OCT. 26 SITE Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville TIME 11 a. m.-Noon COACH Jeff Lebby( 1st year) 2023 RECORD 5-7( 1-7 SEC) SERIES RECORD Arkansas leads 18-15-1

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