HawgBeat continues its summer preview series on Arkansas’ 2019 football opponents with a closer look at Colorado State. The Razorbacks host the Rams on Sept. 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the SEC Network.

2018 record: 3-9 (2-6 MWC)

Predicted to at least be a decent Group of Five team, the Rams had a disastrous 2018 season. They couldn’t quite pull off an amazing comeback against Hawaii in the opener and then lost to in-state rival Colorado before beating the Razorbacks. The low point was likely a 16-point home loss to FCS Illinois State. Colorado State followed that up with back-to-back wins, but they were against teams - San Jose State and New Mexico - that went a combined 4-20. The Rams ended the year on a five-game losing streak, but three were by eight points or less.

Head coach: Mike Bobo (5th season)

A former Georgia quarterback, assistant and offensive coordinator, Bobo put together three straight 7-5 regular seasons that ended with bowl game losses. After last year’s disaster, there was some speculation his job might be in jeopardy. Instead, Colorado State athletics director Joe Parker announced shortly after the season that he wasn’t going anywhere - perhaps because of an $8.5 million buyout. However, he is very likely on the hot seat going into 2019.

Key Returners

~QB Collin Hill: Oft-injured quarterback… Started first three games of 2016 as a true freshman and final four games of last season, with two ACL tears in between… Has completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 2,483 yards, 15 TD and 9 INT in 15 career games

~WR Warren Jackson: Managed to catch 47 passes for 670 yards and 6 TD over last two years despite playing behind a couple of NFL Draft picks and another undrafted free agent

~RB Marcus McElroy: Expected to be starting running back… Gained 219 yards on 52 carries (4.2 yards/carry) last season

~TE Cameron Butler: Two-year starter… Has 41 career receptions for 483 yards and 3 TD… Caught four passes for 107 yards against Arkansas in 2018

~DE Emmanuel Jones: Second-most TFLs last year with 7.5… Also had 34 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 quarterback hurries

~DT Ellison Hubbard: Made team-high 2.5 sacks last year… Also had 37 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 quarterback hurries

~CB Rashad Ajayi: Started every game as a true freshman… Made team-high 6 pass breakups… Also had 33 tackles, 1 INT and 2 forced fumbles

~P Ryan Stonehouse: First-team All-MWC, second-team All-American by Sporting News… Improved his punting average from 45.9 yards as a freshman to 48.3 yards as a sophomore… His 48.3 yards per punt ranked second nationally behind Texas A&M’s Braden Mann (51.0)

Significant Losses

~WR Preston Williams: First-team All-MWC, second-team All-American by Sporting News… Caught 96 passes for 1,345 yards and 14 TD in lone season after transferring from Tennessee… Torched Arkansas for 154 yards and two TD on 12 catches in 2018

~QB K.J. Carta-Samuels: Completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 2,261 yards, 19 TD and 9 INT in lone season as a graduate transfer from Washington… Was 32-of-47 passing (68.1 percent) for 389 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT vs. Arkansas in 2018

~RB Izzy Matthews: Finished his career with 2,659 yards and 30 TD on 548 carries… Also caught 51 passes for 408 yards and 2 TD

~WR Olabisi Johnson: Finished his career with 125 receptions for 2,019 yards and 11 TD… Caught five passes for 47 yards against Arkansas in 2018

~LB Josh Watson: Second-team All-MWC… Made team-high 131 tackles last season, which was tied for 14th nationally and ranked third in the MWC… Led team with 8.5 TFL, as well

~LB Tre Thomas: Second-leading tackler with 101 last season… Also had 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries and 4 pass breakups

~CB V.J. Banks: Led team with 3 INT last season, his lone as a graduate transfer from Rice… Also had 27 tackles, 4 pass breakups

Notable Additions

~WR Nate Craig-Myers: Transfer from Auburn… Former 6.0 four-star recruit… Caught 22 passes for 394 yards and 4 TD in 28 games with the Tigers… Might not be eligible to play in the Arkansas game (must be a year removed from final game with Auburn, which was Sept. 15, 2018)

~QB Patrick O’Brien: Transfer from Nebraska… Sat out last season because of transfer rules… Projected backup for now, but pushed Hill during spring ball

~DE Jalen Bates: Graduate transfer from Arizona State… Made 31 tackles, 6 TFL and 1 sack as a starter for the Sun Devils last year

~OL T.J. Storment: JUCO transfer from Fullerton College… Projected starter on the offensive line… Began career at Old Dominion

~WR Ty McCullouch: 5.7 three-star recruit… Also had offers from Boise State, Cal, Hawaii and Wyoming

~CB Keevan Bailey: 5.6 three-star recruit… Also had Power Five offers from Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Minnesota, Syracuse, Tennessee and West Virginia

~RB Tyreese Jackson: 5.6 three-star recruit… Also had Power Five offers from Kansas, Virginia and West Virginia

2018 Stats (FBS rank, out of 130 teams)

Scoring offense: 22.8 points/game (t-108th)

Total offense: 410.5 yards/game (60th)

Rushing offense: 105.6 yards/game (124th)

Passing offense: 304.9 yards/game (13th)

Third down percentage: 42.9 percent (t-34th)

Sacks allowed/game: 2.5 (t-88th)

Scoring defense: 36.8 points allowed/game (117th)

Total defense: 451.5 yards allowed/game (111th)

Rushing defense: 219.5 yards allowed/game (113th)

Passing defense: 232.0 yards allowed/game (68th)

Opponents’ third down percentage: 39.3 percent (73rd)

Sacks/game: 1.3 (t-119th)

Turnover margin: -0.83 turnovers/game (t-120th)

Series History

Although it was their fourth all-time matchup, last year’s game between Arkansas and Colorado State will be the main one remembered by fans on both sides. The Razorbacks jumped out to a 27-9 lead midway through the third quarter and it seemed Chad Morris was on his way to a 2-0 start in Year 1.

Then things went wrong…terribly, terribly wrong for Arkansas. Given great field position thanks to a 45-yard punt return by Deon Stewart, the Razorbacks went backwards and missed a 48-yard field goal that would have given them a 21-point lead. After giving up a touchdown, Arkansas opted to punt on fourth-and-one from the 50 despite chewing up yardage on the ground throughout the game.

Colorado State was pinned at the 4, but went on a 96-yard touchdown drive to pull within three. A field goal tied it up and then the Rams won it on a touchdown with eight seconds remaining. It was one of Arkansas’ 16 blown fourth-quarter leads since 2012, which leads the FBS over that timeframe.

Previously, the Razorbacks won two games in blowout fashion over Colorado State in the 1970s and a closer game during the 1990 season. For more details on those games, click here.

Hutch’s Take

Had it gone for it on fourth-and-one from the 50, I firmly believe Arkansas would have beaten Colorado State last year. That was likely the point at which the Razorbacks were destined to have their worst season in program history.

Morris and the players probably remember that and will be determined not to let history repeat itself. Playing in front of a home crowd - regardless of its size - should help, as will playing at a normal elevation (something I think was downplayed last year).

Preston Williams is gone and, for now, it seems like Nate Craig-Myers won’t be eligible against Arkansas. Even though Collin Hill is an older player, the Rams’ quarterback has yet to play a full season and is still relatively inexperienced.

Defensively, Colorado State was worse than Arkansas in 2018. Losing its top two linebackers, including an all-conference player, should ensure the Razorbacks will be able to chew up yards like they did last year - 6.1 yards per carry excluding one sack and one kneel down - and not require Ben Hicks or Nick Starkel to win the game through the air.

I look for Arkansas to jump out to a big lead and make it stick by grinding out the clock.

Arkansas 38, Colorado State 17

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