2015 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

2015 Arkansas Razorbacks football
Arkansas Razorbacks logo
Liberty Bowl champion
Liberty Bowl, W 45–23 vs. Kansas State
Conference Southeastern Conference
Division Western Division
2015 record 8–5 (5–3 SEC)
Head coach Bret Bielema (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos (1st season)
Offensive scheme Pro-style
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith (2nd season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
(Capacity: 72,000)
War Memorial Stadium
(Capacity: 53,955)
2015 SEC football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 25 Florida x  7 –1     10 –4  
No. 22 Tennessee  5 –3     9 –4  
Georgia  5 –3     10 –3  
Vanderbilt  2 –6     4 –8  
Kentucky  2 –6     5 –7  
Missouri  1 –7     5 –7  
South Carolina  1 –7     3 –9  
West Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#^  7 –1     14 –1  
No. 10 Ole Miss  6 –2     10 –3  
Arkansas  5 –3     8 –5  
No. 16 LSU  5 –3     9 –3  
Texas A&M  4 –4     8 –5  
Mississippi State  4 –4     9 –4  
Auburn  2 –6     7 –6  
Championship: Alabama 29, Florida 15
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. They competed as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Arkansas was led by third-year head coach Bret Bielema. Dan Enos served his first season as offensive coordinator, replacing Jim Chaney who left for a job with Pittsburgh. Enos was previously the head coach of Central Michigan.

Personnel

Coaching staff

NamePositionSeasons at
Arkansas		Alma Mater
Bret BielemaHead Coach2Iowa (1992)
Dan EnosOffensive coordinator/Quarterbacks0Michigan State (1991)
Sam PittmanAssociate Head Coach/Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator2Pittsburg State (1986)
Barry Lunney Jr.Tight ends2Arkansas (1996)
Michael SmithWide receivers2Kansas State (1991)
Jemal SingletonRunning backs0Air Force (1999)
Robb SmithDefensive Coordinator/Secondary1Allegheny College (1997)
Vernon HargreavesLinebackers0Connecticut (1986)
Clay JenningsSecondary1North Texas (1996)
Rory SegrestDefensive Line/Specialists1Alabama (1996)
Ernest E.K. FranksDirector of Recruiting2Kansas State (2002)
Reference:[1]

Background

In the second season under head coach Bret Bielema, the Razorbacks went to a bowl game and had a winning record for the first time since 2011, which was the last season of former head coach Bobby Petrino.

Arkansas won three of its last four games, including becoming the first team in NCAA Division I history to shut out consecutive ranked opponents (LSU, Ole Miss) as an unranked team.

They ended the year by routing rival Texas in the 2014 Texas Bowl, 31–7.

Recap

Arkansas lost leading returning rusher Jonathan Williams before the season to a foot injury, tempering expectations slightly, but the #18 ranked Razorbacks cruised to a 48-13 victory over UTEP in the season opener.

The next three weeks, however, were full of disappointment. First, the Razorbacks lost to Toledo, a 23-point underdog, in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium, 16-12, and then turned around and lost to Texas Tech in Fayetteville, 35-24. A week later, Texas A&M defeated the Razorbacks in overtime for the second consecutive year, 28-21, to begin SEC play.

Bielema got his first SEC road win to begin October, defeating the Tennessee Volunteers 24-20 in Neyland Stadium. After dropping one on the road to eventual SEC champion Alabama on October 10, the Razorbacks would not lose again until November 21.

That included a four-overtime win at home over Auburn, a wild overtime victory over then #19 Ole Miss on the road which saw the Razorbacks convert a 4th-and-25 in overtime via a lateral from tight end Hunter Henry, and a 31-14 dismantling of then #9 LSU.

Despite losing a shootout to Mississippi State in Fayetteville, Arkansas bounced back with a 28-3 victory in the regular season finale over Missouri in Gary Pinkel's final game coaching the Tigers.

Arkansas accepted an invitation to the Liberty Bowl to play Kansas State on Jan. 2. Thanks to three touchdowns and 185 yards from running back Alex Collins, the Razorbacks defeated the Wildcats, 45-23. It was the first time Arkansas had won back-to-back bowl games in consecutive seasons in program history, and the 45 points was the most ever in a bowl game. The Razorbacks have won each of their last three bowl games, counting back to the 2012 Cotton Bowl.

The seven regular season wins, including five in SEC play, were the most for Arkansas since Bobby Petrino's final season in 2011. That season also ended with a bowl game victory against Kansas State.

Tight end Hunter Henry and offensive guard Sebastian Tretola were named first team All-SEC. Henry was also a consensus first team All-American, and won the John Mackey Award given to the nation's best tight end. Tretola was named an All-American as well. Quarterback Brandon Allen, Collins, and offensive tackle Dan Skipper were named second team All-SEC. Freshman linebacker Dre Greenlaw was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, as well as the Freshman All-American Team.

Collins was named the Liberty Bowl MVP. Collins would finish the season with 1,577 yards rushing, good enough for third place in the Arkansas all-time single season record book. Collins' 20 rushing touchdowns in 2015 ranks first for the Hogs program. Collins elected to leave early for the NFL draft, finishing his college career with 3,703 yards, which is second in school history behind only Darren McFadden, and 36 rushing touchdowns. He also became only the third player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, joining McFadden (2005-2007) and Ben Cowins (1976-1978), as well as joining McFadden and Herschel Walker as the only running backs in SEC history to have 1,000 yard seasons in their first three years playing college football.

Schedule

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 5 2:30 p.m. UTEP* No. 18 Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR ESPNU W 48–13   67,708
September 12 3:00 p.m. Toledo* No. 18 War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, AR SECN L 12–16   49,591
September 19 6:00 p.m. Texas Tech* Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR ESPN2 L 24–35   73,334
September 26 6:00 p.m. vs. No. 14 Texas A&M AT&T Stadium • Arlington, TX (rivalry) ESPN L 21–28 OT  67,339
October 3 6:00 p.m. at Tennessee Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN ESPN2 W 24–20   101,265
October 10 6:00 p.m. at No. 8 Alabama Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL ESPN L 14–27   101,821
October 24 11:00 a.m. Auburn Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR SECN W 54–46 4OT  72,008
October 31 3:00 p.m. Tennessee–Martin*dagger Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR SECN W 63–28   64,206
November 7 2:30 p.m. at No. 19 Ole Miss Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS (rivalry) CBS W 53–52 OT  60,680
November 14 6:15 p.m. at No. 9 LSU Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Golden Boot) ESPN W 31–14   101,699
November 21 6:00 p.m. Mississippi State Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR ESPN L 50–51   71,936
November 27 1:30 p.m. Missouri Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR (Battle Line Rivalry) CBS W 28–3   65,228
January 2 2:20 p.m. vs. Kansas State* Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN (Liberty Bowl) ESPN W 45–23   61,136
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.
Schedule Source:[2]

Game summaries

UTEP

Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0 2010 W 58–21
UTEP Miners at #18 Arkansas Razorbacks
1 2 34Total
Miners 0 10 3013
#18 Razorbacks 14 14 17348

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR

  • Date: September 5, 2015
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 67,708
  • TV: ESPNU
  • Source[3]
Game information

Toledo

Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting
Toledo Rockets at #18 Arkansas Razorbacks
1 2 34Total
Rockets 6 3 7016
#18 Razorbacks 0 7 0512

at War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, AR

  • Date: September 12, 2015
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 49,591
  • TV: SEC Network
  • Source[4]
Game information

Texas Tech

Overall record Last meeting Result
29–7 2014 W 49–28
Texas Tech Red Raiders at Arkansas Razorbacks
1 2 34Total
Red Raiders 14 7 7735
Razorbacks 7 14 3024

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR

  • Date: September 19, 2015
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 73,334
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Source[5]
Game information

vs. No. 14 Texas A&M

Overall record Last meeting Result
41–27–3 2014 L 28–35OT
#14 Texas A&M Aggies vs Arkansas Razorbacks
1 2 34OTTotal
#14 Aggies 0 10 38728
Razorbacks 7 0 77021

at AT&T Stadium • Arlington, TX

  • Date: September 26, 2015
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 67,339
  • TV: ESPN
  • Source[6]
Game information

at Tennessee

Overall record Last meeting Result
4–13 2011 W 49–7
Arkansas Razorbacks at Tennessee Volunteers
1 2 34Total
Razorbacks 7 10 7024
Volunteers 14 3 3020

at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN

  • Date: October 3, 2015
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 101,265
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Source[7]
Game information

at No. 8 Alabama

Overall record Last meeting Result
8–15 2014 L 13–14
Arkansas Razorbacks at #8 Alabama Crimson Tide
1 2 34Total
Razorbacks 0 7 0714
#8 Crimson Tide 3 0 71727

at Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL

  • Date: October 10, 2015
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 101,821
  • TV: ESPN
  • Source[8]
Game information

Auburn

Overall record Last meeting Result
13–10–1 2014 L 21–45
Auburn Tigers at Arkansas Razorbacks
1 2 34OT2OT3OT4OTTotal
Tigers 0 7 710778046
Razorbacks 7 7 73778854

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR

  • Date: October 24, 2015
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 72,008
  • TV: ESPNU
  • Source[9]
Game information

UT Martin

Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting
UT Martin Skyhawks at Arkansas Razorbacks
1 2 34Total
Skyhawks 0 14 7728
Razorbacks 7 28 21763

at War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, AR

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 64,206
  • TV: SEC Network
  • Source[10]
Game information

at No. 19 Ole Miss

Overall record Last meeting Result
33–27–1 2014 W 30–0
Arkansas Razorbacks at #19 Ole Miss Rebels
1 2 34OTTotal
Razorbacks 7 10 1414853
#19 Rebels 7 10 1414752

at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS

  • Date: October 10, 2015
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 60,680
  • TV: CBS
  • Source[11]
Game information

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 18 18 RV NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR RV RV RV RV RV 
Coaches 20 18 RV NR NR NR NR NR NR NR RV RV RV NR NR RV 
CFP Not released NR NR NR NR NR NR Not released

References

  1. ↑ "Football – 2015 Coaches". University of Arkansas Department of Athletics. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  2. ↑ "2014 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400603828
  4. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400603861
  5. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400603851
  6. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400603842
  7. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400603884
  8. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400603899
  9. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400603861
  10. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400603871
  11. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400603908
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