Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1404860
16 NWA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.29.2021 GAME 1 RICE DATE Sept. 4 KICKOFF 1 p.m. SEC Network-Plus PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2020 RECORD 2-3, Conference USA COACH Mike Bloomgren (7-23 in three seasons at Rice) RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 10 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Khalan Griffin, WR Austin Trammell, LB Antonio Montero, DT De'Braylon Carroll 2021 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 ................................................at Arkansas Sept. 11 ..................................................Houston Sept. 18 .................................................. at Texas Sept. 25 ....................................... Texas Southern Oct. 2 ............................................ Southern Miss Oct. 16 ................................ at Texas-San Antonio Oct. 23 ...................................................... at UAB Oct. 30 .............................................. North Texas Nov. 6 .........................................at UNC-Charlotte Nov. 13 .....................................Western Kentucky Nov. 20 .....................................................at UTEP Nov. 27 ..........................................Louisiana Tech OUTLOOK Rice was limited to five games — all against Conference USA opponents — last season because of cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Owls got a notable victory when they beat No. 15 Marshall 20-0 on the road. It was Rice's first victory over a nationally ranked team since 1997 when the Owls beat No. 21 BYU 27-14. With 17 starters returning, Rice doesn't figure to be a pushover for Arkansas in the old Southwest Conference foes' first meeting since 1991. The Razorbacks won that game 20-0 in Little Rock. Defense is the Owls' strength — they had five interceptions when they beat Marshall and held the Thundering Herd to 245 yards in total offense. GAME 2 TEXAS DATE Sept. 11 KICKOFF 6 p.m. ESPN PLACE Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium, Fayetteville 2020 RECORD 7-3, 5-3 Big 12 COACH Steve Sarkisian (first season at Texas, 46- 35 overall in seven seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 9 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Casey Thompson, RB Bijan Robinson, DT Deondre Coburn, CB D'Shawn Jamison 2021 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 .................................. Louisiana-Lafayette Sept. 11 .............................................at Arkansas Sept. 18 ........................................................ Rice Sept. 25 .............................................. Texas Tech Oct. 2 .........................................................at TCU Oct. 9 ..................................vs Oklahoma (Dallas) Oct. 16 ........................................ Oklahoma State Oct. 30 ................................................... at Baylor Nov. 6 ...............................................at Iowa State Nov. 13 ......................................................Kansas Nov. 20 ........................................ at West Virginia Nov. 26 .............................................Kansas State OUTLOOK Steve Sarkisian, who was Alabama's offensive coordinator the previous two seasons, will see if he can make Texas a national power again, and succeed where Batesville native Charlie Strong and Tom Herman failed after Mack Brown was forced out. Junior quarterback Casey Thompson replaced injured Sam Ehlinger in the Alamo Bowl last season, and in the second half he passed for 170 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Longhorns' 56-23 victory over Colorado. That wasn't enough to save Herman's job, but it might be enough for Thompson to win the starting quarterback job. GAME 3 GEORGIA SOUTHERN DATE SEPT. 18 KICKOFF 3 p.m. SEC Network PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2020 RECORD 8-5, 4-4 Sun Belt COACH Chad Lunsford (27-18 in four seasons at Georgia Southern) RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS RB J.D. King, QB Justin Tomlin, CB Derrick Canteen, SS Anthony Wilson 2021 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 .......................................... Gardner-Webb Sept. 11 ....................................at Florida Atlantic Sept. 18 .............................................at Arkansas Sept. 25 ................................ Louisiana-Lafayette Oct. 2 ............................................Arkansas State Oct. 9 ........................................................ at Troy Oct. 14 ..................................... at South Alabama Oct. 30 ............................................ Georgia State Nov. 6 ..........................................Coastal Carolina Nov. 13 ........................................... at Texas State Nov. 20 ........................................................... BYU Nov. 27 ................................. at Appalachian State OUTLOOK Georgia Southern returns 16 starters from a team that won eight games, but the Eagles are picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt East Division. It's a sign of how strong the conference has become with preseason nationally ranked teams such as Louisiana-Lafayette and Coastal Carolina. Running the ball will remain a strength led by J.D. King, who has recovered from a knee injury he suffered in November. He has rushed for 1,429 yards and 13 touchdowns in 19 games the previous two seasons. Cornerback Derrick Canteen had 6 interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 48 tackles last season. GAME 4 TEXAS A&M DATE Sept. 25 PLACE AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas KICKOFF TBA 2020 RECORD 9-1, 8-1 SEC COACH Jimbo Fisher (26-10 in three seasons at Texas A&M, 109-33 overall in 11 seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 9 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Isaiah Spiller, WR Ainias Smith, TE Jalen Wydermyer, DE DeMarvin Leal 2021 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 ................................................. Kent State Sept. 11 .............................vs. Colorado (Denver) Sept. 18 ............................................ New Mexico Sept. 25 .............. vs. Arkansas (Arlington, Texas) Oct. 2 ........................................ Mississippi State Oct. 9 ......................................................Alabama Oct. 16 ............................................... at Missouri Oct. 23 .......................................... South Carolina Nov. 6 ........................................................Auburn Nov. 13 ................................................at Ole Miss Nov. 20 ..................................... Prairie View A&M Nov. 27 .......................................................at LSU OUTLOOK After finishing No. 5 nationally last season, the Aggies open this season No. 6 in the AP and USA Today coaches polls. That still ARKANSAS OPPONENT CAPSULES BY BOB HOLT AP Photo/Sam Craft Arkansas will square off against rival Texas A&M in the fourth game of the season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.