Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1159352
Sunday, August 25, 2019 27 NWA College Football Preview 2019 Sept. 21 ........................................ at Arkansas Sept. 27 .........................................at Air Force Oct. 4 ............................................New Mexico Oct. 12 ............................................. at Nevada Oct. 19 ...................................San Diego State Oct. 26 ................................................ at Army Nov. 2 ............................................Boise State Nov. 9 ................................................at Hawaii Nov. 23 ............................................... at UNLV Nov. 30 ........................................Fresno State OUTLOOK San Jose State had an even worse season in 2018 than Arkansas. While the Ra- zorbacks went 2-10, the Spartans were 1-11. At least San Jose State was more competitive in most games last season than in 2017, when the Spartans were 2-11. They lost by an aver- age of 32.5 points in 2017, but by just 17.5 last season. This is expected to be another tough season for San Jose State, which is ranked No. 120 among all FBS teams by Lindy's. Senior Josh Love gives the Spartans an ex- perienced quarterback. He passed for 1,963 yards and 14 touchdowns last season when he was limited to 8 games because of injuries. Love returned for spring practice. San Jose State figures to have to rely heavily on Love's passing, because the Spartans averaged 61.5 rushing yards per game last season to rank last in the nation. The Spartans return their top two tacklers in senior linebackers Ethan Aguayo (106) and Jesse Osuna (93). GAME 5 TEXAS A&M DATE Sept. 28 PLACE AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas 2017 RECORD 9-4, 5-3 SEC COACH Jimbo Fisher (9-4 in one season at Texas A&M, 92-27 in nine seasons overall) RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 4 de- fense KEY RETURNING PLAYERS QB Kellen Mond, WR Quartney Davis, DT Justin Mad- ubuike, P Braden Mann 2019 SCHEDULE Aug. 29 ..........................................Texas State Sept. 7 ........................................... at Clemson Sept. 14 ................................................. Lamar Sept. 21 ................................................ Auburn Sept. 28 ......... vs. Arkansas (Arlington, Texas) Oct. 12 ............................................... Alabama Oct. 19 ........................................... at Ole Miss Oct. 26 .................................. Mississippi State Nov. 2 ..................................................... UTSA Nov. 16 .................................... South Carolina Nov. 23 ........................................... at Georgia Nov. 30 ................................................. at LSU OUTLOOK Texas A&M has owned Arkansas since joining the SEC. The Aggies are 7-0 against the Razorbacks in SEC games, includ- ing three victories in overtime. The Razorbacks were 41-23 in the series before the Aggies joined the SEC, and Arkansas won the teams' only three nonconference games — in 2009, 2010 and 2011 — when the former Southwest Conference rivals renewed their series. Junior quarterback Kellen Mond is entrenched as the Aggies' starter, which led to Nick Starkel's de- cision to transfer from Texas A&M to Arkansas. Mond passed for 3,107 yards last season and rushed for 474, but he also was sacked 34 times and had 9 interceptions. He has two tal- ented targets in junior wide receivers Quartney Davis (45 catches, 585 yards, 7 touchdowns last season) and Kendrick Rogers (27 catch- es, 336 yards, 5 touchdowns). With Trayveon Williams moving on to the NFL after rushing for 3,615 yards in three seasons, sophomore Jashaun Corbin — who had 61 carries for 346 yards last year — is expected to be the Aggies' top running threat. The defense is led by junior tackle Justin Madubuike, who had 10.5 sacks last season. GAME 6 KENTUCKY DATE Oct. 12 PLACE Kroger Field, Lexington, Ky. 2018 RECORD 10-3, 5-3 SEC COACH Mark Stoops (36-39 in six seasons at Kentucky and overall) RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 de- fense KEY RETURNING PLAYERS QB Terry Wil- son, WR Lynn Bowden, LB Kash Daniel, NG Quinton Bohanna 2019 SCHEDULE Aug. 31 .................................................. Toledo Sept. 7 ................................. Eastern Michigan Sept. 14 ................................................ Florida Sept. 21 ............................ at Mississippi State Sept. 28 ............................... at South Carolina Oct. 12 .............................................. Arkansas Oct. 19 ............................................ at Georgia Oct. 26 ................................................ Missouri Nov. 9 .............................................Tennessee Nov. 16 ........................................ at Vanderbilt Nov. 23 ............................... Tennessee-Martin Nov. 30 ..............................................Louisville OUTLOOK Kentucky's football team had a season in 2018 that would make the Wild- cats' basketball team proud. Kentucky won 10 games for the first time since 1977 and beat Penn State 27-24 in the Citrus Bowl. But dupli- cating that season figures to be tough for the Wildcats after they lost 13 starters, including two of the top players in the country in line- backer Josh Allen and running back Benny Snell. But Kentucky should be in contention to play in a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season thanks to good recruiting classes by Coach Mark Stoops, who was afforded pa- tience by the UK administration to build a solid program. Junior Terry Wilson, a dual threat at quarterback, is a returning starter. He passed for 1,889 yards and 11 touchdown, and rushed for 547 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. Junior wide receiver Lynn Bowden is a dynam- ic player. He had 67 catches for 745 yards last season and returned two punts for touch- downs. Senior middle linebacker Kash Daniel had 84 tackles last season. GAME 7 AUBURN DATE Oct. 19 v Continued from preceding page AP File Photo Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond (left), shown during a 2018 game against LSU, is entrenched as the Aggies' starting quarterback. See OPPONENTS, Page 28