The USA Today preseason college football top 25 coaches poll is out, and guess who’s on it?
The Arkansas Razorbacks, that’s who.
The Hogs are ranked #19 in the nation in the inaugural poll for the 2010 season, released late last week.
“Preseason rankings are largely based on how many players you have returning and how a team finished the previous year,” said UA head coach Bobby Petrino. “We have great leadership from within the team and we are aware of the excitement surrounding the program. We are focused on working hard to prepare for the upcoming season.”
The Hogs finished 8-5 last year, finishing the season with a victory over East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.
Pre-season prognosticators are predicting big things for the Hogs this year, largely because of Junior Quarterback Ryan Mallett, who set or tied 16 different Arkansas school records last season.
He also led the SEC in touchdown passes (30), passing yards per game (278.8) and total offense (276.5) and was named a second-team All-SEC honoree by the AP and league coaches.
Six SEC schools (including Arkansas) were ranked in the top 25 in the first poll of the year, more than any other conference in the nation. All Four of the five ranked teams in the SEC are on the Razorbacks schedule this season. Defending national champion Alabama was ranked #1.
Arkansas kicks off the 2010 season on Sept. 4 against Tennessee Tech at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Go Hogs.
