Arkansas had its second straight winning season last year under Bret Bielema, finishing 8-5 overall and 5-3 in the SEC — with victories in six of its final seven games.

The Razorbacks are wary of that being the conclusion to their journey back to respectability. Bielema believes he now has the depth to stay in the mix among the SEC's best teams.

Arkansas this year will have Austin Allen at quarterback after a three-year apprenticeship under his older brother. And the hope is that the defense will be a top-10 unit, as it was two years ago.

Arkansas opens the season at home against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 3, facing a team that went 9-4 with a bowl win last season. It gets tougher the next week with a trip to TCU. Four of their toughest games (Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and LSU) all come at home in Fayetteville over a five-week stretch.

 

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