Arkansas caught the attention of the Associated Press on Saturday night.
The Razorbacks’ 41-20 win over No. 15 Texas was enough to propel the Hogs into the top 25 for the first time since 2016. Arkansas enters Week 3 ranked No. 20 in the country in the AP poll. They are No. 24 in the coaches poll, but have moved up to No. 18 in the ESPN Power Index.
It is the first 2-0 start for Arkansas since 2016, which marks the longest period of time not being ranked since 1937-46. It’s been a long, dry spell.
Behind a balanced rushing attack, the Razorbacks dominated the Texas’ front seven on nearly every play. Four different running backs scored at least one touchdowns, while five different players rushed for over 40 plus yards.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson went 14 of 19 passing for 138 yards, while tacking on an extra 73 yards with his legs. The Razorbacks outscored Texas in nearly every category on the night, including time of possession, first downs and third down efficiency.
The new ranking could have massive implications following a Week 3 matchup against Georgia Southern (1-1). Should they win, Arkansas would be ranked against No. 7 Texas A&M for the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium.
This would be the first time the Razorbacks were ranked for the former Southwest rivalry since 2016. The Aggies improved to 4-0 following a 45-24 win in Jerry World.
Among programs in the SEC, Alabama and Georgia remained No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Texas A&M dropped outside the top five following a 10-7 victory on the road against Colorado. Other ranked teams from the conference include Florida (No. 11), Ole Miss (No. 17) and Auburn (No. 22).
Full AP Top 25 Week 3:
1 Alabama (2-0)
2 Georgia (2-0)
3 Oklahoma (2-0)
4 Oregon (2-0)
5 Iowa (2-0)
6 Clemson (1-1)
7 Texas A&M (2-0)
8 Cincinnati (2-0)
9 Ohio State (1-1)
10 Penn State (2-0)
11 Florida (2-0)
12 Notre Dame (2-0)
13 UCLA (2-0)
14 Iowa State (1-1)
15 Virginia Tech (2-0)
16 Costal Carolina (2-0)
17 Ole Miss (2-0)
18 Wisconsin (1-1)
19 Arizona State (2-0)
20 Arkansas (2-0)
21 North Carolina (1-1)
22 Auburn (2-0)
23 BYU (2-0)
24 Miami (1-1)
25 Michigan (2-0)
