GAME 1 AUG. 31 Louisiana-Lafayette PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2010 RECORD 9-4. 6-2 Sun Belt Conference COACH Mark Hudspeth (18-8 in two seasons Louisiana-Lafayette) RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Terrance Broadway, RB Alonzo Harris, C Andre Huval, DE Christian Ringo.
OUTLOOK This doesn’t figure to be an easy debut for Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema.The Razorbacks hope to avoid being upset by a Sun Belt team again after Louisiana-Monroe rallied to beat the Razorbacks34-31 in overtime last year in Little Rock. Louisiana-Lafayette is used to winning - going 9-4 with New Orleans Bowl victories each of the previous two seasons - and the Ragin’ Cajuns have a big playmaker at quarterback in junior Terrance Broadway, who set a school record last season with 3,611 yards in total offense.
SCHEDULE Aug. 31 at Arkansas
Sept. 7 at Kansas St.
Sept. 14 Nicholls State
Sept. 21 at Akron
Oct. 5 Texas State
Oct. 15 W.Kentucky
Oct. 22 at Arkansas St.
Nov. 2 N.M. State
Nov. 7 Troy
Nov. 16 at Georgia St.
Nov. 30 La.-Monroe
Dec. 7 at South Ala.
GAME 2 SEPT. 7 Samford PLACE War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock 2012 RECORD 7-4, 5-3 Southern Conference COACH Pat Sullivan (32-34 in six seasons at Samford, 56-76-1 in 12 seasons overall).
RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS RB/KR Fabian Truss, QB Andy Summerlin, WR Kesley Pope, FS Jaquiski Tarrt OUTLOOK Pat Sullivan, who won the Heisman Trophy as Auburn’s quarterback in 1972, goes into his seventh season as Samford’s coach with a team that looks like it can challenge for the Southern Conference title. Bulldogs quarterback Andy Summerlin and defensive tackle Jeremy Towns were granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Summerlin completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,269 yards last season at Samford after transferring from Memphis. Junior tailback Fabian Truss rushed for 1,063 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
SCHEDULE Aug. 30 at Georgia State Sept. 7 at Arkansas (LR) Sept. 14 at Florida A&M Sept. 21 SE Louisiana Sept. 28 W. Carolina Oct. 5 Ga. Southern Oct. 12 at App. State Oct. 26 at Wofford Nov. 2 at The Citadel Nov. 9 at Furman Nov. 16 Chattanooga Nov. 23 Elon
GAME 3 SEPT. 14
Southern Mississippi PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2012 RECORD 0-12, 0-8 Conference USA COACH Todd Monken (first season) RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 9 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Jalen Richard, WR Dominique Sullivan, DT Khyri Thornton, CB Deron Wilson OUTLOOK After winning 12 games in2011, the Golden Eagles fell all the way to 0-12 last season, which turned out to be Ellis Johnson’s lone season as the Southern Miss head coach. Johnson is now the defensive coordinator at Auburn, and former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken has taken over as Southern Miss’ coach to try and get the Eagles back to their winning ways. Monken is installing a fast-paced offense like he directed at Oklahoma State.
SCHEDULE Aug. 31 Texas State Sept. 7 at Nebraska Sept. 14 at Arkansas Sept. 28 at Boise State Oct. 5 Florida International Oct. 19 at East Carolina Oct. 26 North Texas Nov. 2 at Marshall Nov. 9 at La. Tech Nov. 16 Florida Atlantic Nov. 23 Middle Tennessee Nov. 30 at UAB
GAME 4 SEPT. 21 RUTGERS PLACE High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, N.J.
2012 RECORD 9-4, 5-2 Big East COACH Kyle Flood (9-4 in one season at Rutgers) RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Gary Nova, RB Savon Huggins, DE Jamil Merrell, SS Lorenzo Waters OUTLOOK Before joining the Big Ten next season, Rutgers will try and win the first American Athletic Conference title. Or is it more like the last Big East title? The AAC - not to be confused with the ACC - is made up of what’s left of the football-playing Big East schools before another round of breakups. The Scarlett Knights lost a school-record seven players to the NFL Draft - including five on defense - but they return senior quarterback Gary Nova, who lit up Arkansas for five touchdown passes when Rutgers beat the Razorbacks 35-26 last season. Ron Prince, the former Kansas State coach, is the Scarlett Knights’ new offensive coordinator.
SCHEDULE Aug. 29 at Fresno State Sept. 7 Norfolk State Sept. 14 Eastern Michigan Sept. 21 Arkansas Oct. 5 at SMU Oct. 10 at Louisville Oct. 26 Houston Nov. 2 Temple Nov. 16 Cincinnati Nov. 21 at Central Florida Nov. 30 at Connecticut Dec. 7 South Florida
GAME 5 SEPT. 28 TEXAS A&M PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2012 RECORD 11-2, 6-2 SEC COACH Kevin Sumlin (11-2 in one season at Texas A&M, 46-19 overall in five seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Johnny Manziel, OT Jake Matthews, WR Mike Evans, CB Deshazor Everett OUTLOOK Only the Aggies could potentially mess up having the HeismanTrophy winner back, right? With Johnny Manziel - who last season became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy - at quarterback, the Aggies are a top-five pick in most preseason polls. But Manziel and Texas A&M face an uncertain future with the NCAA investigating reports that he broke rules by accepting money for signing autographs. If Manziel has to miss the Aggies’ SEC opener against two-time defending national champion Alabama, then Texas A&M’s season could begin to take a nose-dive.
SCHEDULE Aug. 31 Rice Sept. 7 Sam Houston State Sept. 14 Alabama Sept. 21 SMU Sept. 28 at Arkansas Oct. 12 at Ole Miss Oct. 9 Auburn Oct. 26 Vanderbilt Nov. 2 Texas-El Paso Nov. 9 Mississippi State Nov. 23 at LSU Nov. 30 at Missouri
GAME 6 OCT. 5 FLORIDA PLACE Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fa.
2012 RECORD 11-2, 7-1 SEC COACH Will Muschamp (18-8 in two seasons at Florida) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Jeff Driskel, G Jon Halapio, DT Dominique Easley, CB Loucheiz Purifoy OUTLOOK Florida looks to be back among the SEC’s elite after winning11 games last season in Will Muschamp’s second year as coach. Texas fans are probably wishing the Longhorns had elevated Muschamp from defensive coordinator to head coach when they had the chance. The Gators capped off their comeback season in poor fashion in the Sugar Bowl, where they they lost 33-23 to Louisville. Players have said that performance served as motivation in the off-season and kept them from getting satisfied. Junior quarterback Jeff Driskel is back to run the offense, and the Gators have more overall depth across the board thanks for Muschamp’s recruiting efforts.
SCHEDULE Aug. 31 Toledo Sept. 7 at Miami Sept. 21 Tennessee Sept. 28 at Kentucky Oct. 5 Arkansas Oct. 12 at LSU Oct. 19 at Missouri Nov. 2 vs Georgia (at Jacksonville) Nov. 9 Vanderbilt Nov. 16 at South Carolina Nov. 23 Georgia Southern Nov. 30 Florida State
GAME 7 OCT. 12 SOUTH CAROLINA PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2012 RECORD 11-2, 6-2 SEC COACH Steve Spurrier (66-37 in eight seasons at South Carolina, 208-77-2 overall in 23 seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS DE Jadeveon Clowney, DT Kelcy Quarles, QB Connor Shaw, WR Bruce Ellington OUTLOOK Hard to believe this is going to be Steve Spurrier’s ninth season at South Carolina. It took some time, but the ol’ ball coach has turned South Carolina into a national power. The Gamecocks have gone 11-2 in each of the previous two seasons and boast arguably the best player in the country in junior defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The one thing Spurrier hasn’t done yet is win South Carolina’s first SEC championship, but this might be the year. The Gamecocks have two good quarterbacks in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson, and Shaw may get some snaps at receiver and catch passes from Thompson. Sophomore tailback Mike Davis might be a breakout star after averaging 5.3 yards on 52 carries last season.
SCHEDULE Aug. 29 North Carolina Sept. 7 at Georgia Sept. 14 Vanderbilt Sept. 28 at Central Florida Oct. 3 Kentucky Oct. 12 at Arkansas Oct. 19 at Tennessee Oct. 26 at Missouri Nov. 2 Mississippi State Nov. 16 Florida Nov. 23 Coastal Carolina Nov. 30 Clemson
GAME 8 OCT. 19 ALABAMA PLACE Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2012 RECORD 13-1, 7-1 SEC COACH Nick Saban (63-13 in 6 seasons at Alabama, 153-55-1 in 17 seasons overall) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS QB AJ McCarron, RB T.J. Yeldon, LB C.J. Mosley, LB Adrian Hubbard OUTLOOK Alabama has had 13 first-round NFL Draft picks in the previous four seasons, but the Crimson Tide keeps on rolling to national championships as they keep reloading with highly-rated recruits. The Tide will begin the season ranked atop most national polls and go for their fourth national title in five seasons - and third in a row - under Coach Nick Saban. Senior AJ McCarron is back to lead the offense for his third season as a starter, and he has plenty of play makers to get the ball to, led by tailback T.J. Yeldon and wide receiver Amari Cooper. The defense is loaded as usual, led by linebackers C.J. Mosley and Adrian Hubbard.
SCHEDULE Aug. 31 Virginia Tech (at Atlanta) Sept. 14 at Texas A&M Sept. 21 Colorado State Sept. 28 Ole Miss Oct. 5 Georgia State Oct. 12 at Kentucky Oct. 19 Arkansas Oct. 26 Tennessee Nov. 9 LSU Nov. 16 at Mississippi State Nov. 23 Tennessee-Chattanooga Nov. 30 at Auburn
GAME 9 NOV. 2 AUBURN PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville 2012 RECORD 3-9, 0-8 SEC COACH Gus Malzahn (first season at Auburn, 10-2 in one season at Arkansas State) RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Tre Mason, C Reese Dismukes, DE Dee Ford, CB Chris Davis. OUTLOOK Gus Malzhan made it back to Auburn in a hurry after the Tigers went winless in the SEC two years after winning the 2010 national title. Malzahn’s 10-2 record at Arkansas State in his first season as a head coach, combined with his successful tenure as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator, made him a popular choice to replace Gene Chizik. Malzahn has said he wants to run the fastest offense in college football, and the Tigers will be doing it with their seventh different starting quarterback in seven seasons with one of two newcomers - junior college transfer Nick Marshall or freshman Jeremy Jackson. Kiehl Frazier, the former Shiloh Christian standout, has moved from quarterback to safety at his request.
SCHEDULE Aug. 31 Washington State Sept. 7 Arkansas State Sept. 14 Mississippi State Sept. 21 at LSU Oct. 5 Ole Miss Oct. 12 Western Carolina Oct. 19 at Texas A&M Oct. 26 Florida Atlantic Nov. 2 at Arkansas Nov. 9 at Tennessee Nov. 16 Georgia Nov. 30 Alabama
GAME 10 NOV. 9 MISSISSIPPI PLACE Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss.
2012 RECORD 7-6, 3-5 SEC COACH Hugh Freeze (7-6 in one season at Ole Miss, 37-13 in four seasons overall) RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 11 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Bo Wallace, WR Donte Moncrief, DE Robert Nkemdiche, LB Denzel Nkemdiche OUTLOOK Hugh Freeze led a surprising turnaround in his first season as Ole Miss’ coach when the Rebels went to a bowl game - and beat Pittsburgh - after going 2-10 in 2011.The Rebels return 19starters and added quality depth with a highly-ranked recruiting class, but four of the Rebels’ first five games are on the road, including three SEC trips and a nonconference match up at Texas.
SCHEDULE Aug. 29 at Vanderbilt Sept. 7 Southeast Missouri Sept. 14 at Texas Sept. 28 at Alabama Oct. 5 at Auburn Oct. 12 Texas A&M Oct. 19 LSU Oct. 26 Idaho Nov. 9 Arkansas Nov. 16 Troy Nov. 23 Missouri Nov. 28 at Mississippi State
GAME 11 NOV. 23 MISSISSIPPI STATE PLACE War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock 2012 RECORD 8-5, 4-4 SEC COACH Dan Mullen (29-22 in four seasons at Mississippi State) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Tyler Russell, G Gabe Jackson, DE Denico Autry, FS Nickoe Whitley OUTLOOK The Bulldogs fell off after a 7-0 start last season and went 1-5 down thestretch, including a 34-20 loss to Northwestern in the Gator Bowl. But fifth-year senior Tyler Russell is back to lead the offense after passing for 2,897 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, and the running game should be strong with senior tailback LaDarius Perkins, who rushed for 1,024 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
SCHEDULE Aug. 31 Oklahoma St. (at Houston) Sept. 7 Alcorn State Sept. 14 at Auburn Sept. 21 Troy Oct. 5 LSU Oct. 12 Bowling Green Oct. 24 Kentucky Nov. 2 at South Carolina Nov. 9 at Texas A&M Nov. 16 Alabama Nov. 23 Arkansas (LR) Nov. 30 Ole Miss
GAME 12 NOV. 29 LSU PLACE Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge 2012 RECORD 10-3, 6-2 SEC COACH Les Miles (85-20 in eight seasons at LSU, 113-41 overall in 12 seasons) RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Zach Mettenberger, RB Jeremy Hill, SS Craig Loston, LB Lamin Barrow OUTLOOK LSU is picked in the top 15 nationally in most preseason polls, but the Tigers are flying a little under the radar in the SEC West, where Alabama and Texas A&M are expected to battle for the title. Tigers Coach Les Miles and his players seem to enjoy being picked lower in the West than usual and clearly aren’t lacking confidence - or talent. Despite losing nine players who were picked in the NFL Draft, the Tigers have quality players at every position. Zach Mettenberger is back as the starting quarterback and has benefited from working with new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, a former NFL head coach. Mettenberger should be able to mix in more down field passes with the Tigers’ punishing running game.
SCHEDULE Aug. 31 TCU (at Arlington Texas) Sept. 7 Alabama-Birmingham Sept. 14 Kent State Sept. 21 Auburn Sept. 28 at Georgia Oct. 5 at Mississippi State Oct. 12 Florida Oct. 19 at Ole Miss Oct. 26 Furman Nov. 9 at Alabama Nov. 23 Texas A&M Nov. 29 Arkansas
Sports, Pages 25 on 08/25/2013