Missouri football preseason preview: Has Arkansas improved over the offseason?

The Battle Line game may end up drawing the line.

Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz, quarterback Brady Cook, wide receiver Luther Burden III and defensive tackle Kristian Williams will speak Tuesday at SEC media days in Dallas. Later this month, they’ll report for fall camp with the rest of their MU teammates. Then, in just 44 days, Mizzou will kick off its 2024 season at home against Murray State on Thursday, Aug. 29.

This season teases a potential Missouri run at the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff. If MU does the necessary work — meaning a maximum of two regular-season losses — there’s a chance all that stands between the Tigers and a nod from the CFP committee is a win against Arkansas on Nov. 30 on Faurot Field.

Mizzou ran the Hogs out of their own stadium last year, and there’s since been more than a few changes in Fayetteville, Arkansas … and perhaps more to come. Mizzou-Arkansas is set for Saturday, Nov. 30, in Columbia, which will be the second time the game hasn’t been played on Black Friday since 2014.

Here’s what to know about Arkansas’ offseason, including key additions and losses, coaching changes and playmakers to watch when the Razorbacks visit Columbia to close the regular season:

Who are the opposing names to know when Missouri football hosts Arkansas?

Quarterback: Taylen Green is the newcomer at QB in Fayetteville, transferring in from Boise State to replace UCF-bound KJ Jefferson. Green, who stands at 6 foot 6, is a dual-threat quarterback who has rushed for 19 total touchdowns and an average of more than 500 yards per season over the past couple years as the Broncos’ No. 1. He has completed 59.4% of his career pass attempts and threw for 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

Offensive playmakers: Ja’Quinden Jackson was Arkansas’ marquee grab out of the portal this offseason, transferring in from Utah after rushing for 797 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.

Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong is back after a productive 764-yard, five-touchdown season in an otherwise ineffective UA pass-catching corps. Another in-house talent, redshirt senior Tyrone Broden, had a standout spring for the Razorbacks, per local reporting from the Southwest Times Record, and appears set for an uptick in reps in 2024.

Defensive playmakers: Jaylon Braxton returns after a standout freshman campaign at cornerback in 2023, when he notched eight pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble that he recovered. He’ll lead a secondary that is a little light on returning reps.

Edge rusher Landon Jackson is the clear leader along the defensive line for the Razorbacks, with 13.5 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks, on his statline from last season. Albany transfer Anton Juncaj, who notched 21.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks at the FCS level last season, ought to bolster that room, too.

What did the offseason look like for Razorbacks?

Key additions: Taylen Green (QB); Ja’Quinden Jackson (RB); Fernando Carmona (LT); Anton Juncaj (EDGE); Anthony Switzer (S); Xavien Sorey (LB)

Key losses: KJ Jefferson (QB); Raheim Sanders (RB); Chris Paul Jr. (LB); Dwight McGlothern (CB); Cam Little (PK); Trajan Jeffcoat (DE); Jaheim Thomas (LB); Jaylon Braxton (CB); Alfahiym Walcott (DB)

Key coaching changes: Bobby Petrino (OC, Texas A&M) 

The Arkansas offense’s progression will be worth keeping an eye on with Bobby Petrino, somewhat surprisingly, back coaching in Fayetteville, this time as the Hogs’ offensive coordinator.

After last year’s regular-season mauling by Mizzou, which capped a 4-8 campaign, it was somewhat of a surprise to see the Arkansas coaching staff stay largely in-tact. Another poor year, and that more than likely won’t be the case. For now, Sam Pittman is still Arkansas’ coach. Whether that’s the case when Mizzou hosts the Razorbacks is firmly in the ‘to-be-determined’ category.

It was a busy offseason for Arkansas, with 21 total players transferring in and 34 heading the other way.

The Razorbacks lost their two leading linebackers, Chris Paul Jr. and Jaheim Thomas, to Ole Miss and Wisconsin, respectively. Georgia reserve Xavien Sorey transferred in, providing a much-needed boost to the room. 

Arkansas also lost a lot of production at defensive back with three players receiving NFL offers, with the cornerback position looking particularly light on quality depth heading into 2024.

Early forecast for Mizzou vs. Arkansas

This was Missouri’s easiest game on the schedule last season. The Tigers had their starters out by the beginning of the fourth quarter, with a 41-point cushion already built on the road and a New Year’s Six Bowl clinched.

Will there be a repeat?

It’s tough to see the Razorbacks’ offense being as stale as it was last season — Arkansas ranked second-last in the SEC last season in total offense, leading to the firing of then-OC Dan Enos — with Petrino now on board. 

Arkansas has plenty of holes to fill on a defense that allowed the third-most points per game (27.9) in the conference last season, and there will be a lot of wait-and-see involved as to how it plugs some bigger gaps.

Mizzou will likely be a favorite, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the coaching situation in Fayetteville. A potential interim might make the regular-season finale a de-facto tryout for 2025 in what will be MU’s last chance to impress the CFP committee.

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