Texas Mastermind’s Hated ‘Horns Are Ready to Rip the Pigs’ Defense

Arkansas’ defense fell apart last game and faces another strong offense on Saturday when No. 3 Texas invades Fayetteville. Unfortunately for Arkansas fans, there is a similarity between the Ole Miss debacle 11 days ago and the upcoming showdown with the Longhorns.

Both the Ole Miss and Texas head coaches are former rising stars in the coaching profession. Both were offensive coordinators at Alabama. Both won national championships with legendary head coach Nick Saban as their boss.

Lane Kiffin, now Ole Miss’ coach, called for Alabama to beat Clemson in a 45-40 thriller and win the 2016 national championship. The Hogs’ last game was a 63-31 rout of Arkansas at Razorback Stadium.

Steve Sarkisian, now the head coach at Texas, weighed in on the fallout from Alabama’s 52-24 loss to Ohio State in the 2020 national title race. Alabama’s offense scored 35 or more points in 24 consecutive games during Sarkisian’s time with the team, the longest streak in college football history.

The question is: Will Sarkisian’s team destroy Arkansas like the Rebels did? The answer is; in no way. But the Longhorns are certainly capable of winning by much more than the 13.5-point margin favored by Texas.

Kickoff is at 11 a.m. on ABC. Arkansas (5-4 overall, 3-3 in the SEC) could qualify for the bowl with a win. Texas (8-1, 5-1) is in position to advance to the SEC championship game, earn a bye in the 12-team College Football Playoff and win its fifth national title (1963, 1969, 1970, 2005).

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman was asked about Sarkisian’s ability to devise and execute offensive schemes that confuse opposing defenses. Pittman offered a two-word statement: “Explosive crimes.”

“I thought the national championship game he played when he was an OC at Alabama was the greatest game I have ever seen by an offensive coordinator,” Pittman said.

What are Arkansas defensive coaches and players working on the most to contain Sark’s offense? What didn’t other teams achieve?

“The environment,” Pittman said. “He uses his explosiveness and ability on the perimeter really well and has a lot of talent. But I think this guy is an offensive genius and will be a great challenge with the talent he has.

“They are a very good screen team,” Pittman said, as you will see, they often used misdirection to create big plays. “One way, whether it’s a wide receiver or a running back, counter with screens, the next way. They want to take the ball to the sideline and get you into space.”

Arkansas linebacker Eric Gregory echoed his coach. Assignment football, free from mistakes, flying football and team struggle. That’s all it takes to lasso the Longhorns’ offense, he said.

“Yeah, they’re throwing a lot on the perimeter, trying to get guys open in space,” Gregory said. “They’ve got a lot of screens and things like that, so we’ve got to really run and crowd the ball. They’ve got a lot of great weapons at receiver and great running backs.”

Not only that, Gregory said Texas’ offensive line could be as good as any other offensive line the Hogs have faced.

“I mean, that line is probably going to be one of the best lines we’ve ever played,” he said. “There’s a great group there.”

Can Arkansas pull off another upset like it did then? 4 Tennessee six Saturdays ago? Of course, but it’s not very likely. It will take a surprisingly active home crowd, a few Texas turnovers and a furious UA defense with a short memory, and a point to prove while regaining his pride.

Another win against a potential playoff team would certainly earn the Hogs some much-needed positive national exposure. Tennessee has struggled since losing to Arkansas and sits at No. 7 in the College Football Playoff rankings.

After destroying Arkansas, Ole Miss stayed hot as Kiffin’s Rebels beat Georgia and earned a No. 2 ranking last Saturday. Ole Miss will now claim the final playoff spot.

But Texas boasts the best team Arkansas will play this season. The Longhorns also may have the best quarterback the Hogs will ever face in Quinn Ewers.

It’s unlikely Sarkisian’s team will put up 63 points on the Hogs’ defense like Kiffin did, but they are talented. The ‘Horns led Florida 35-0 at halftime last week and went on to win 49-17 playing in the reserves.

Arkansas fans will take to the field for an early start and every television in the state will be tuned to this game. That’s what Hog fans want to win most. The problem is Sarkisian knows this and his team will be ready.

• Razorbacks try to solve early shooting issues

• What if the Hogs actually beat the Longhorns? | Locked in Razorbacks

• Razorback Fans Shouldn’t Be Too Quick to Blame Collateral

• The Razorback was listed as a first-round pick in the latest ESPN mock draft

• Three programs emerge as leaders for the top 10 candidates