By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Arkansas will once again be a tough out in the loaded SEC West.

Head Coach: Bret Bielema 3 fourth year at Arkansas; 11th year overall (86-44 overall, 7-17 SEC)

Offensive Coordinator: Dan Enos (second season)

Defensive Coordinator: Robb Smith (third season)

2015 Record: 8-5 (5-3 SEC); defeated Kansas State in Liberty Bowl

Returning Starters: 14 (5 offense, 9 defense)

2016 Schedule

Sept. 3 3 LOUISIANA TECH (4 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
Sept. 10 3 at TCU (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Sept. 17 3 TEXAS STATE (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network Alt.)
Sept. 24 3 vs. Texas A&M (Arlington)

Oct. 1 3 ALCORN STATE (Little Rock)
Oct. 8 3 ALABAMA
Oct. 15 3 OLE MISS
Oct. 22 3 at Auburn

Nov. 5 3 FLORIDA
Nov. 12 3 LSU
Nov. 19 3 at Mississippi State
Nov. 25 3 at Missouri (2:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

What We Know

– The run game shouldnt miss a beat. Yes, Alex Collins is gone, but Arkansas has three excellent options at running back in bulky senior Kody Walker, sophomore Rawleigh Williams and true freshman Devwah Whaley. Williams suffered a scary neck injury against Auburn that ended his season in October, but hes back healthy and hoping to build on the promise he displayed in his shortened freshman year. Collins was a 1,000-yard rusher as a freshman in Bielemas first season. Whaley, if he can earn enough carries, has the potential to match that accomplishment.

– Arkansas has the most underrated receiving corps in the SEC. There arent any All-Americans like Calvin Ridley at Alabama or Christian Kirk at Texas A&M, which keeps the group out of the spotlight, but the Hogs have a diverse and deep unit to help ease the transition at quarterback after the loss of Brandon Allen. Every wide receiver that had at least 60 yards last season returns, and senior Keon Hatcher is back after playing in just two games last year before a broken leg ended his season. Mackey Award-winning tight end Hunter Henry is gone, but Jeremy Sprinkle returns after matching Henrys touchdown total a year ago with six.

– The back seven should be excellent. Only one starter departs among the linebackers and defensive backs, which should help establish more consistency for a defense that fluctuated between awesome and awful last season. Bielema made a great hire by bringing in former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads to run the secondary. Linebackers Brooks Ellis and Dre Greenlaw arent spectacular, but are very solid.

What We Dont Know

– Can the Hogs find more of a pass rush? Arkansas has ranked No. 10 and No. 12 in the SEC the past two seasons in sacks, but returns its entire starting lineup up front from last season, as well as adding in prized recruit McTelvin Agim at defensive end. Bret Bielema inherited a defense that produced 31 sacks in 2012, but that number has declined in each of his three seasons to 28 in 2013, 24 in 2014 and 20 a year ago. That trend must be reversed.

– How much will Allen be missed? Theres still an Allen under center, but its Brandons younger brother Austin, who surprisingly emerged from the competition in short order in the spring to be declared the starter. The elder Allen finished the season as one of the best quarterbacks in college football, so the shoes to fill for Austin Allen are significant. He can make all the necessary throws, but needs to avoids the inconsistencies that plagued his brother prior to his final season for Arkansas to contend in a loaded SEC West.

– Will Arkansas survive September? Arkansas has yet to make it through September with fewer than two losses under Bielema. The schedule starts out tough again this year with a trip to TCU and the neutral-site game with nemesis Texas A&M before October dawns. If the Hogs can survive the month at 3-1, that could set up the biggest game of the Bielema era in early October when Alabama visits Fayetteville. The eventual SEC champions barely escaped Razorback Stadium with a 14-13 victory in their last visit to the Natural State in 2014.

X-Factor

Allen 3 With Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss all having to visit the Ozarks, the schedule sets up so that Arkansas could have a dream season and win the SEC West, or, with more of the seemingly toss-up games on the road, could be a 5-7 disaster. Allen will dictate just where on that wide spectrum the 2016 Razorbacks will fall. Theres experience all around him, but with talent that still doesnt match that of an Alabama or LSU, mediocre quarterback play simply wont get it done at Arkansas.

Ranking The Units

1. Wide Receivers

2. Defensive Line

3. Linebackers

4. Running Backs

5. Offensive Line

6. Defensive Backs

7. Quarterbacks

Season Prediction

The Hogs will knock off Ole Miss for a third straight season, but wont be able to crack the upper tier of the SEC West after losses to Alabama and LSU at home, and Auburn and Mississippi State on the road. Theyll be in every game for 60 minutes, but will drop just enough of them to make the season be unable to be deemed a success. Another 7-5 season feels about right for these Hogs with another nasty schedule and a new quarterback balancing out a solid defense and always capable running game. At least the bowl game will be chock-full of storylines.

Overall Record: 7-5

SEC Record: 4-4

Final CFP Ranking: NR

Bowl: TaxSlayer Bowl vs. Louisville