Commentary

Hogs have come a long way since Toledo

Arkansas wide receiver Jared Cornelius finishes a catch in the end zone for a score on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, during the third quarter against Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.
Arkansas wide receiver Jared Cornelius finishes a catch in the end zone for a score on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, during the third quarter against Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.

— Walking into Tiger Stadium last Saturday afternoon, I overheard a couple of LSU fans taunt those dressed in red.

They yelled, "Holy Toledo," an obvious reference to the Razorbacks' loss to Toledo earlier this year in Little Rock. Arkansas had several chances to beat Toledo, but was error-prone in a 16-12 loss.

That game knocked Arkansas out of the top 25 and began a three-game losing streak that also included losses to Texas Tech and Texas A&M. By late September many, including myself, wondered if Arkansas would be considered college football's biggest bust this year.

Fast-forward two months and the Razorbacks have recovered well from those losses, while Auburn has flopped hardest among teams ranked in the preseason. Arkansas has won five of its last six games with its only blemish coming at Alabama.

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For the first time ever, the Razorbacks beat top 25 teams - Ole Miss and LSU - on the road in consecutive weeks. Those "Holy Toledo" fans were likely shouting holy-something-else by the end of Arkansas' dominant performance Saturday night in Death Valley.

(It should be noted Toledo is now 9-1, has an outside chance at making a New Year's Six bowl and a head coach whose name will be one to watch in the coming hiring season).

With two more wins, the Razorbacks would finish at least second in the vaunted SEC West. Arkansas has never beaten AP top 25 teams three straight games, but would accomplish that with a win over Mississippi State on Saturday.

Despite its success, there are many who just can't get past Arkansas' start to the season. That's probably why the Razorbacks didn't crack the top 25 after winning in Baton Rouge.

But you'd be hard-pressed to find 25 teams playing better than Arkansas right now. The more it plays, the more apparent it becomes that those early losses were a byproduct of a few things.

First, an offense should be expected to go through growing pains under a first-year coordinator. Dan Enos doesn't call games like his predecessor and the lack of continuity with his players showed in those early losses, especially in critical situations and along the offensive line.

It's not that way anymore. Enos seems to be as in-tune to his offense as any coordinator around. Arkansas entered the bye week as the SEC's worst red zone offense, but the Razorbacks have scored in 19 straight trips inside the 20.

Give Enos credit, too, for being able to plug in new players when so many have gone down to injury. The return of impact players like Kody Walker and Jared Cornelius has helped, but Arkansas has the SEC's second-best offense despite its best running back missing the entire season and its best receiver missing every game but two.

Second, Arkansas had to rely on several junior college transfers, true or redshirt freshmen this season. If you don't believe there is a learning curve associated with adjusting to big-time college football, look at Dominique Reed and Dre Greenlaw.

Reed didn't catch a pass in his first three games but has scored a touchdown in six straight after getting a grasp on the playbook. Greenlaw didn't record a tackle in the Toledo game, but now leads the team in tackles and is a candidate for SEC freshman of the year.

Other newcomers who are playing significant snaps include fullback Kendrick Jackson, safety Santos Ramirez and cornerback Ryan Pulley. Running back Rawleigh Williams was primed for a great freshman campaign before his season-ending injury against Auburn.

Finally, the light came on for Brandon Allen. The Razorbacks' win at Tennessee flipped a switch in the senior quarterback, who won three true SEC road games. Only three other starting Arkansas quarterbacks had done that before.

No offense has been more effective in the last month. Arkansas is averaging 50 points during its four-game win streak.

Allen made several crucial plays in overtime wins over Auburn and Ole Miss. He is more confident since the season's first month and it is showing in his play.

His change is a reflection of the entire team - one much different from when it lost to Toledo.

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