ESPN's preseason FPI respects Arkansas ahead of 2021

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Sam Pittman has quickly elevated the Arkansas football program.

Heading into just his second season as head coach, the Razorbacks are ranked No. 29 in ESPN’s preseason Football Power Index (FPI) released Tuesday.

That is still last among SEC West programs, but it is dramatically improved from what he inherited when he took over.

Arkansas finished the 2018 and 2019 seasons at No. 91 in the FPI and was sitting at No. 66 in the preseason last February. Three wins and several close losses later, the Razorbacks were No. 56 in the final 2020 FPI ranking.

They have climbed another 27 spots in the initial preseason FPI ranking this year and they’re projected to go 6-6, but it won’t be easy.

As it seems to always be the case, Arkansas has the toughest schedule in the country, according to ESPN’s metric. It is just ahead of Auburn, Kansas, Texas and TCU in that category.

The ranking of each SEC team - with Arkansas opponents bolded - and all of the Razorbacks’ non-conference opponents are listed below, as is the list of the top-10 strength of schedules, as determined by the FPI…

1. Alabama

6. Texas A&M

7. Georgia

8. Mississippi State

14. Florida

16. Auburn

18. LSU

22. Ole Miss

29. Arkansas

34. Missouri

39. Kentucky

48. Tennessee

68. South Carolina

93. Vanderbilt

12. Texas

88. Georgia Southern

116. Rice

N/A - UAPB (FCS)

1. Arkansas

2. Auburn

3. Kansas

4. Texas

5. TCU

6. Iowa State

7. LSU

8. West Virginia

9. Ole Miss

10. Oklahoma State