After a turbulent 2024 season, the Arkansas Razorbacks enter 2025 with hopes of resurgence, but the latest power rankings and preseason analysis suggest a challenging road ahead. With a combination of a daunting SEC schedule and major roster turnover, the Razorbacks’ path back to SEC relevance is anything but straightforward.
A Brutal 2025 Schedule: Can the Razorbacks Survive the SEC Gauntlet?
Arkansas has one of the toughest schedules in college football ahead of it this fall. The SEC schedule is loaded for Gameday, filled with perennial heavyweights Texas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Georgia—each projected to win at least nine games this year and currently ranked in the top 25 in the country.
According to reports, the Razorbacks are on pace to go 6-6 or 7-5 at the most likely win totals, giving them a 73% shot at making a bowl and a 0.2% chance of winning the conference.
Arkansas finished 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the SEC in 2024, culminating in a Liberty Bowl victory. But for all its flashes of potential, it could not consistently keep up with the cream of the conference.
Arkansas finished 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the SEC in 2024, culminating in a Liberty Bowl victory. But for all its flashes of potential, it could not consistently keep up with the cream of the conference.
The 2025 schedule provides scant breaks, with games against top-10 opponents and treacherous road assignments that could easily test a team’s depth and toughness. Arkansas is No. 24 in ESPN’s Football Power Index as that win over Tennessee looms large. However, the projection for the season is still largely cautious, especially considering the quality of competition that awaits.
Roster Turnover and Uncertainty: Are the Razorbacks Ready for a Rebuild?
Perhaps the biggest question facing Arkansas is how it’ll handle significant roster turnover. The Razorbacks lost key defensive contributors, including Landon Jackson and Brad Spence, to the transfer portal and the NFL, while also seeing several starters depart for other SEC rivals like Texas and Ole Miss.
The defense, particularly the line, is a major question mark, with new faces needing to step up immediately. However, linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. is back and provides some sense of dependability.
On offense, Arkansas has some big shoes to fill after losing key players at several skill positions. There’s been a lot of buzz this spring about some new guys stepping up, but the real challenge will be seeing how they perform once SEC play starts.
With Bobby Petrino running the offense, the coaching staff has its work cut out for it. They’ll need to get transfers up to speed and help the younger players grow fast, all while dealing with the pressure that comes with playing in the SEC.
Social media sentiment on X reflects cautious optimism for the Razorbacks’ 2025 campaign. As one user posted on December 30, 2024:
“Expectations for Arkansas won’t be sky high next season, but with Taylen Green returning for Year 2 and a pair of great coordinators, the Razorbacks are poised to surprise in 2025.”
Expectations for Arkansas won’t be sky high next season, but with Taylen Green returning for Year 2 and a pair of great coordinators, the Razorbacks are poised to surprise in 2025
Full show: https://t.co/KYP9TYi5aQ pic.twitter.com/87EC2QdTrd
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) December 30, 2024
This captures the balance between the challenges of a brutal SEC schedule and the potential for Arkansas to exceed expectations with key returning players and strategic coaching.
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According to the latest College Football Network power rankings, Arkansas is sitting in the lower half of the SEC. That shows doubt about whether they can move up in the conference, especially with many question marks around the team. Their predicted record and bowl chances look a lot like last year’s, but with how tough the SEC is and all the uncertainty on Arkansas’ roster, there’s even less room for mistakes.
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