Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Some would argue that SEC football is heading out the door. But reality is quite the contrary, as there is still many football games left to be played that will open the eyes of the non-believers. Teams have been on the up-and-down in the Southeastern Conference for the past years and have sadly had trouble making ground against gruesome opponents. Teams like Alabama, A&M, LSU and Ole Miss have been battling and dominating over squads that just can’t keep up with their magnitude. But there is one match that will be a big decider on who is rising up the ranks and heading into that luxury class of the SEC.
Arkansas and Tennessee facing off will end up being popular ironically due to it’s unpopularity. One thing these SEC teams really have in common is that they both ended 2014 with a bang. Arkansas stomped Texas in the Texas Bowl, as well as shutting out Ole Miss and LSU to end the regular season. Tennessee capped off their 2014 season with an impressive and exhilarating 45-28 win over Iowa in the Tax Slayer bowl. But with the shining performances and overbearing efforts given by both squads, nobody really seems to draw anyone’s attention.
Tennessee will be looking for their 23 true freshmen to come back strong with some experience under their belt. Volunteer fans will also be excited to see more of Joshua Dobbs after he lit up the scoreboard while only playing half of the season (17 touchdowns, 1,700 yards). Butch Jones has put together a fantastic recruiting class since arriving at Knoxville, and that will surely play into this favorably young Tennessee squad into 2015.
While Tennessee looks for their young stars to make a difference, Arkansas is turning to their more experienced players to step up and take the gold. There’s no doubt the Razorbacks have most of their power in the offensive line. The Hogs lost a lot of defensive players who were crucial to their season in 2014, so the offense will need to step up to the challenge. Along with the O-line, the Hogs will always be able to rely on veteran running backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins. The duo is arguably the best in the SEC. Along with them is QB Brandon Allen, who made remarkable improvements in the spring game.
Arkansas facing off against Tennessee will be one to remember for the 2015 season. The game will decide who the better “comeback team” will be in the SEC. Strap on your caps and stamp your tickets and get a chance to witness the first matchup of the future SEC elite.
Barrett Pfeiffer is a blogger for www.RantSports.com Add him to your network on Google.
