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Hope Springs Eternal: Alabama’s loss to A&M opens doors for Hogs

How did Texas A&M’s upset win over Alabama suddenly change what’s possible for Sam Pittman and the Hogs this season?

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There is hope now for Razorback fans.

And they can thank Texas A&M, who knocked off top-ranked Alabama, 41-38, and created a mess at the top of the SEC West.

Just about everybody is a half-game behind the Crimson Tide. Arkansas isn’t because of a missed 2-point conversion pass against Ole Miss that handed them a 52-51 loss on Saturday afternoon.

The Razorbacks (4-2, 1-2 in SEC) are tied with the Aggies and a sinking LSU program at the bottom of the division, a game and a half behind Alabama.

Mississippi State, the Rebels and Auburn are a half-game behind the Crimson Tide with one loss, but they only have a single win to go with that.

Let all of that sink in for a minute or two.

The Hogs still have a hand in their own destiny and could just completely throw everything into chaos in the league … if they can start winning again and stay on a roll.

All of a sudden that Nov. 20 game in Tuscaloosa could be a huge game.

Arkansas has home games with Auburn, Mississippi State and Missouri in the second half of the season. They go on the road to LSU and Alabama.

The Hogs have five wins. Okay, technically it’s four but if they lose to UAPB every coach on the staff should be fired in Little Rock and not allowed north of the tunnel.

Unless they have collapsed completely defensively they should win at least one more league game to qualify for a bowl.

But so much more is suddenly in front of them. Two losses isn’t a disqualifier from anything. The Rebels got to the Sugar Bowl after losing to the Hogs in 2015.

That would be ironic.

Sam Pittman may have already sent a congratulatory text to Jimbo Fisher, who becomes the first of Nick Saban’s ex-assistants to beat him. Somehow that figures.

Now he has a motivational tool. Every goal they had in preseason for the SEC West is suddenly back in front of them and there is a logical path to achieve those goals.

If they can figure out how to win games and tackle anybody.

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2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-31
Sat, Nov 16vs Texas11:00 AM
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana TechTBD
ESPN+/SECN+
Sat, Nov 30@ MissouriTBD
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2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (19)9-02711
2.Conway (7)9-02522
3.Greenwood (2)9-02213
4.Little Rock Parkview8-11804
5.Bentonville6-31575
6.Benton8-11386
7.Fayetteville7-21057
8.Pulaski Academy7-2978
9.Rogers6-3389
10.Mountain Home8-129
Others receiving votes: Joe T Robinson 12, Elkins 7, LR Catholic 7, Shiloh Christian 7, Valley View 7, Cabot 6, Marion 4, LR Christian 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (21)9-01331
2.Conway (7)9-01192
3.Bentonville6-3783
4.Fayetteville7-2504
5.Pulaski Academy7-2335
Others receiving votes: Rogers 7.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (28)9-01401
2.Benton8-11122
3.Mountain Home8-1775
4.Shiloh Christian6-3353
5.Little Rock Catholic8-128
Others receiving votes: Marion 24.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)8-11391
2.Joe T. Robinson8-11022
3.Valley View (1)9-0943
4.Farmington8-1435
5.Hot Springs Lakeside7-2214
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 8, Harding Academy 8, Morrilton 3, Vilonia 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (18)9-01291
2.Little Rock Mills (4)9-0753
3.Arkadelphia (3)7-2712
4.Warren7-2594
5.Malvern (3)9-0485
Others receiving votes: Dardanelle 18, Southside Batesville 13, Mena 6, Highland 1.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (11)9-01081
Fordyce (11)9-01082
3.Osceola (3)7-1654
4.Prescott (2)8-1603
5.Booneville (1)8-1275
Others receiving votes: Mansfield 20, Rivercrest 20, Charleston 4, Rison 9, Mayflower 3.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (24)9-01351
2.Conway Christian (3)9-01102
3.Bigelow (1)7-2724
4.Murfreesboro7-2535
5.Des Arc7-2283
Others receiving votes: East Poinsett County 8, Marked Tree 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3, Junction City 2, Mount Ida 2.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0831
2.Midland (1)8-0542
3.Cedar Ridge8-1273
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 4.

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ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.