One doesn’t need a master’s degree in SEC football fandom to see which way things could trend at Arkansas.
Sam Pittman, an under-pressure coach in his fifth season at a place that expects to win big but hasn’t in a long time, made a desperation hire to save his offense.
In came Bobby Petrino, a coordinator known for producing points and plenty of drama along with it, especially at Arkansas, where he used to be the head coach.
Immediately, the offense is producing, thanks in large part due to transfers who were excited about Petrino’s offense. Fans are thrilled about seeing Arkansas ranked in the SEC’s top three for passing and rushing offense after two games.
But the same team just dropped what would have been a statement game in double overtime because 31 points on the road against a ranked Oklahoma State turned out to be not enough.Bad turnovers and bad penalties proved costly. It’s the kind of stuff head coaches ultimately get held accountable for in the end.
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Should Petrino be coaching the Hogs instead of Pittman?
Some already were there, but more have likely joined them since Arkansas fumbled away a potential season-altering win, a win that could have had Arkansas ranked.
After scoring at will in a route of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the first game, Petrino’s transfer-juiced offense captured a 14-point halftime lead and outgained the Cowboys by more than 250 yards in the loss. New Hogs quarterback Taylen Green is an impressive athlete. So is new Hogs running back Ja’Quinden Jackson.
But bad penalties, like a personal foul and multiple pass interference flags, helped the Cowboys come back. So did missed field goals and three turnovers. Arkansas should have won the game and perhaps would have if it was a better-coached team. That’s hard to ignore.
Again I ask: Will Petrino be coaching Arkansas when No. 6 Mizzou hosts the Hogs at the end of the regular season?
Some other thoughts on Mizzou’s upcoming SEC opponents:
Vanderbilt: After stunning Virginia Tech to start their season, the Commodores stiff-armed any notion of a hangover against overmatched Alcorn State while securing the program’s first shutout since 2019 in the 55-0 win. They test their road legs at Georgia State next week before becoming Mizzou’s SEC opener.
Vanderbilt’s defense looks capable. It hasn’t yet allowed 100 yards rushing in a game. Clark Lea’s team is now in the receiving-votes category of the AP Top 25. One of the most encouraging SEC season launches is happening in Nashville.
Texas A&M: The Aggies rebounded from their season-opening loss to Notre Dame by beating overmatched McNeese 52-10, but here’s the thing about that season-opening loss at home to the Irish: It looks worse after Notre Dame choked against Northern Illinois at home.
We’ll learn more about the now-unranked Aggies when they play at Florida on Saturday.
Stat to watch: Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman has only competed one pass longer than 20 yards through two games. That’s as many as Mizzou backup Drew Pyne. I bet SEC defenses will test his arm.
Auburn: The explosiveness and athleticism that Hugh Freeze’s offense flashed in Auburn’s first game didn’t show up against a more formidable foe. Quarterback Payton Thorne threw four interceptions, and the Tigers fumbled away another turnover in a 21-14 home loss to Cal, reminding all there will be some growing pains on The Plains this season.
“You can’t turn the ball over five times and expect to beat anybody,†Freeze said after the loss.
Amen.
Auburn’s secondary looks beatable, and Thorne has a proven history of not playing very well against power conference teams. Freeze was questioned for not using Auburn’s name, image and likeness war chest to land a QB out of the transfer portal following Thorne’s struggles last season. Perhaps those critics were correct.
No. 4 Alabama: A 42-16 defeat of South Florida looked a lot more interesting when the Bulls trailed by only single digits late into the second half before three consecutive touchdowns by Bama within the game’s final six minutes slammed shut the upset door. Better bet ball security drills will be popular for Crimson Tide players this week after three fumbles were lost.
Bama’s often-penalized offensive line looks like it’s missing injured left tackle Kadyn Proctor, who could return soon from a shoulder scare.
Big test coming: Bama travels to Wisconsin on Saturday, where one 2-0 team must lose.
No. 15 Oklahoma: After getting out-passed, out-gained and having to punt eight times, the Sooners narrowly dodged a home upset against Houston. Yes, the same Cougars that old friend Barry Odom’s UNLV Rebels easily beat by 20 points.
Defense saved the day for OU, thanks to a late interception and safety. Young Sooners QB Jackson Arnold ate three sacks, completed just 59% of his throws and got picked off once. OU converted only four of its attempted 14 third-down conversions.
Read the Tulsa World headline on columnist Berry Tramel’s take: “Sound the alarm, OU’s offense stinks in 16-12 win over Houston.†He noted OU produced only two plays of 15-plus yards.
South Carolina: Well then. After needing everything they had to survive Old Dominion a week ago, the Gamecocks went on the road and pummeled Kentucky 31-6.
Redshirt freshman QB LaNorris Sellers looked more comfortable and confident, but the real story here was USC’s D. It’s the conference’s early leader in sacks (10) and is tied with No. 2 Texas for the early SEC lead in interceptions (four), one of which was returned for a score against UK.
No. 16 LSU comes to the other Columbia on Saturday.
Mississippi State: Similar to Auburn’s reality check, the Bulldogs got bit by Arizona State in a 30-23 loss. At least this one happened on the road?
The Sun Devils secured their fist ever win against an SEC opponent by running. A lot. The Bulldogs allowed 359 rushing yards, an average of 6.6 per ASU carry. Give State some credit for making what was at one point a 27-point deficit interesting late. The Bulldogs play fast and can score, but their offensive and defensive lines lack bite and their defense in general needs a lot of work.
If Arizona State can run all over you, a lot of SEC teams will try.