Razorbacks' SEC Hill Turns into Mountain with New Teams

ESPN's "way-too-early" ranking of Top 25 teams loaded with opponents this year

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — There can't be any complaints about Arkansas not playing quality competition this year. Yes, that's even taking the opener against UAPB into account because this may be as brutal as anything faced in school history. 

If you doubt any of that, just take a look at ESPN's "Way-Too-Early" ranking of the Top 25. Seven of the Razorbacks' dozen opponents this year are on the list. 

Some won't be there come December because the Hogs aren't the only league team facing a previous hill that has now grown into a mountain. Both of the newcomers, Texas (4) and Oklahoma (14), pretty much guarantee that.

It's also spread out over the course of the entire season. It starts in the second week against Oklahoma State (17) and ends with Missouri (7). In between there are nothing but highly-ranked teams almost every other week. 

Of course some of these predictions will be way off. No one can predict in February the reality of November. Injuries, turnovers, significant others (that has been known to create issues in the locker room) and officials' calls all turn seasons.

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ESPN's WAY-TOO-EARLY TOP 25

1. Georgia

2. Ohio State

3. Oregon

4. Texas (Nov. 16)

5. Notre Dame

6. Ole Miss (Nov. 2)

7. Missouri (Nov. 30)

8. Penn State

9. Alabama

10. Utah

11. Arizona

12. LSU (Oct. 19)

13. Michigan

14. Oklahoma

15. Florida State

16. Tennessee (Oct. 5)

17. Oklahoma State (Sept. 7)

18. North Carolina State

19. Clemson

20. Kansas State

21. Louisville

22. Kansas

23. Kentucky

24. Miami

25. Texas A&M (Sept. 28)

It's part of the reason the College Football Playoff is now trying to get the number of teams raised from 12 to 14 before even trying it at a dozen. The bowl games are essentially dead. They actually have been for over 20 years, but rigor mortis hasn't set in yet.

As for the Razorbacks, no amount of watching practices in the spring and late summer will reveal what this team can actually do in a game. We should have a pretty good idea Sept. 7 against the Cowboys, but when November rolls around and they face three projected Top 25 teams.

The Hogs historically have pulled off surprising seasons. The differences when those happened was everyone could see the talent on the field, even in practices. There was also evidence they were pretty good because they had been here for 2-3 years and everybody knew what they could do.

There is no such evidence yet that players on this roster that can emerge like that. Not a single playmaker is on the offensive roster, especially at wide receiver. That's before even talking about who the quarterback will be.

New Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green throws a pass for Boise State last year :: Michael Madrid / USA TODAY Sports

That doesn't stop diehard fans from predicting big things. Not having a proven linebacker is one of the biggest question marks, but the most glaring is not having a quarterback with a proven track record at a big-time level. Taylen Green playing in the Mountain West is one thing, but how that translates to the brightest of lights, there's no evidence yet. There is just hope.

In the past, fans tend to forget the Razorbacks aren't the only ones who made every effort to improve the roster in the off-season. Unrestricted free agency makes for drastic changes everywhere. We won't know until the fall who got it right and who missed the mark entirely until it's too late to make a big difference one way or the other.

HOGS FEED:

VAN HORN HAS WORK CUT OUT WITH RAZORBACKS' HITTERS

THREE QUESTIONS HEADING INTO SPRING PRACTICE

MAYBE SOMEONE CAN FINALLY END COURT AND FIELD STORMING

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