The third season of the Gus Malzahn era is just around the corner and expectations are high. AL.com gets you ready for the season by previewing each Auburn opponent over the next 12 days.
Arkansas
When: Oct. 24, TBA
Where: Razorbacks Stadium, Fayetteville
2014 record: 7-6
Coach: Bret Bielema, 3rd year (10-15); 10th year overall (78-39)
Returning starters: 9 offense, 6 defense
2014 rewind: Arkansas simply got better as the season went along, and 17-0 and 30-0 shutouts of nationally-ranked LSU and Ole Miss in back to back weeks caught the nation's attention. A 31-7 victory against Texas, which managed only 59 yards of offense, including 2 rushing yards, was downright scary in the bowl game.
What to expect: The hot pick to possibly make a run to the top 15 nationally, Arkansas poses a physical threat that has been built from the ground up under Bret Bielema.
Nine starters return on a bulky, methodical and powerful offense that returns two 1,000-yard rushers in Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins. Quarterback Brandon Allen returns, and though he's not an All-SEC caliber player his experience will do nothing but help the Razorbacks in Year 3 of the Bielema era. Defensively, Robb Smith returns as coordinator after leading an impressive first-year turnaround as coordinator (ninth to second in the SEC) last season.
Unique is a word used too often in college football, but the Razorbacks' power-running game and formidable offensive line averaging more over 320 pounds at each position provides a challenge in this age of spread and uptempo offenses bleeding through the SEC. Auburn has to travel to Fayetteville, too, where the Hogs outscored opponents by an average of 23 points last season. The Razorbacks are also early favorites.
Unit that could hurt Auburn: Auburn's defensive line will be a strength this season, but Arkansas' offensive line could be a daunting matchup for any team in the SEC.
Toughness rating: 6th-toughest game of Auburn's season
Early line: Arkansas -1.5