FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Undefeated Rutgers heads into SEC country Saturday night looking for a statement win against a talented team from the nation’s top conference. What they will find is an Arkansas squad that’s hungry and suddenly healthy as quarterback Tyler Wilson returns from his concussion just in time to try to salvage a season gone awry.
In coach Kyle Flood’s first year replacing Greg Schiano, Rutgers (3-0) has been defensively stout, but penalty-prone. Running back Jawan Jamison (Big East-leading 393 yards) has become a workhorse while quarterback Gary Nova is learning to curb his turnovers.
But for Rutgers, Arkansas provides a higher caliber of foe and a greater opportunity (7 p.m., ESPNU).
“The SEC is looked at as a powerhouse, and rightfully so. They’ve won however many of the last national championships in a row,’’ linebacker Khaseem Greene said of a league some view as just a step behind the NFC East. “But it’s not the only conference that plays football. It’s not the only conference that plays good football. I’m looking forward to this game. … It’s going to be big.’’
It might actually be bigger for Arkansas., and few could have foreseen that at the start of the season. Coming off an 11-2 campaign — with their only two losses to national finalists Alabama and LSU — the Razorbacks were a Top 10 team many presumed would contend for this year’s title. They presumed wrong.
Along came Bobby Petrino’s sordid sex scandal.when the now former coach put his mistress on the school’s payroll and then lied to athletic director Jeff Long’s face about it after an April Fool’s Day motorcycle crash exposed the whole salacious affair. Petrino was fired as coach and replaced by John L. Smith, who attended his brother’s funeral in Idaho yesterday. Arkansas fans also saw lightly regarded Louisiana-Monroe concuss Wilson and upset the Razorbacks.
After Arkansas got hammered 52-0 by Alabama last week without Wilson, the quarterback publicly accused some of his teammates of quitting. Rutgers will now deal with the All-SEC passer and a desperate bunch.
“You know where they’re coming from, from an emotional standpoint,’’ Rutgers defensive tackle Scott Vallone said. “They’re desperate. At 1-2 any team would be desperate. They see us coming into their house, and they want to protect their home turf, so we have to come out there with the mindset of being ready to fight through adversity.’’
Wilson, who threw for 3,638 yards and 24 touchdowns last year, was 30-of-47 for five touchdowns before getting concussed. He is the leader and triggerman for a bevy of weapons, including running back Knile Davis, wide receiver Brandon Mitchell and tight end Chris Gragg. Though Rutger’s offense and Arkansas’ defense have struggled, how the Scarlet Knights’ fierce pass rush gets to Wilson may well decide tonight’s game.
“Mentally we’re down. We’re hurting. We’re working our tail off fighting back, making sure we’re staying positive,’’ said Smith, who filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Sept. 6 to wipe out $25.7 million in debt. “[Rutgers is] an awful good football team. We have to do a better job playing defense than we have.’’