SEC Football: Preseason power rankings for 2022 season
By Matt Melton
4. Arkansas Razorbacks
Week 1 Opponent: No. 23 Cincinnati
Coming off one of their best seasons in recent years, Arkansas begins the 2022 campaign at the No. 4 spot in our SEC Football power rankings.
Looking back at last season, the Razorbacks finished the year with a 9-4 overall record in what was only year two under head coach Sam Pittman. Not only was this Arkansas’ first winning season since 2016 (7-6), but this was also the first time the Razorbacks had won at-least nine games in a season since the 2011 campaign when they finished 11-2.
The Razorbacks will obviously be looking to carry over that success to 2022, and based on the amount of production returning, combined with new additions, it could be a real possibility. In fact, Arkansas enters the 2022 season ranked as the No. 19 team in the country, which just so happens to be the first time the Razorbacks are ranked entering the year since 2015.
Led by returning quarterback KJ Jefferson, the Razorbacks should have a talented roster on both sides of the ball, with names such as Bumper Pool, Raheim Sanders, Jalen Catalon, and more returning. What truly gives the Razorbacks the preseason ranking at No. 4 however over the previous teams is the transfers they have added to that already talented roster such as Jadon Haselwood and Drew Sanders, both of which will make a significant impact.
With the No. 4 ranking comes an immediate test for the Razorbacks in week one as Arkansas will welcome defending AAC champion Cincinnati to Fayetteville. Having made the CFP a year ago, the Bearcats will provide an early season opportunity to see just how good this Arkansas team could be in 2022.