Three reasons Arkansas football can pick up a historic win over Florida

Arkansas football faces Florida after a two-week break, hoping for a win to break their six-game losing streak.

It has been a grueling two weeks since Arkansas football last took the field, and they are eager to face off against Florida this Saturday morning. The Hogs are in a tough spot, having suffered a humiliating 7-3 loss to Mississippi State at home and currently on a six-game losing streak. This puts them at risk of not being bowl eligible for the first time under head coach Sam Pittman. Changes were necessary during the BYE week, leading to Kenny Guiton taking over as the play-caller for the Arkansas offense after the firing of offensive coordinator Dan Enos. While this change may not completely turn the season around, it could provide the much-needed spark the team requires.

The Razorbacks are expected to approach the game with a different energy on the offensive side of the ball, playing with nothing to lose. However, the question remains whether this will be enough to secure a victory. Let's delve into three reasons why the Hogs have a chance to finally triumph in "The Swamp" and three reasons why they may suffer a seventh-straight defeat.

Unfortunately, history has not been kind to the Hogs when facing the Gators. This will be the 13th meeting between the two programs, with Florida holding a dominant 10-2 series lead. Arkansas has never managed to defeat Florida in Gainesville, with their only two victories coming in Houston (1982 Bluebonnet Bowl) and Fayetteville in 2016. Given the current circumstances, it is difficult to envision this Arkansas team being the one to break the losing streak.

Despite their recent blowout loss to Georgia, the Florida offense has shown consistent improvement compared to last year. With Graham Mertz as their quarterback, the Gators have risen to 36th in passing offense nationally, a significant improvement from their 77th ranking in 2022. They are averaging over 270 passing yards per game. Overall, Florida ranks 52nd in total offense in the FBS, averaging 411.4 yards per game and scoring an average of 28 points. The Arkansas defense will face a formidable challenge.

Florida seemed to be heading in the right direction before their loss to Georgia. With the pressure on head coach Billy Napier to deliver and bring Florida back to a respectable bowl game, the Hogs should expect a fierce battle. After being embarrassed by their rivals, the Gators may be seeking revenge.

As mentioned earlier, Kenny Guiton will now be in charge of the offense for the remaining four games. Arkansas' offense currently ranks last in the SEC and 120th nationally in total yards per game. It won't take much for Guiton to improve upon this performance. However, there are larger issues that a mid-season coordinator change cannot fix, such as the lack of talent on the offensive line. Despite this, five of their six losses have been by just one possession, suggesting that a change in leadership could be the catalyst they need to turn things around.

While Florida suffered a devastating loss to Georgia, the Hogs had the advantage of a BYE week at home. This extra week off came at the perfect time, allowing the team to recover, rest, and nurse any injuries. The Hogs may have several players returning from injury, with Rocket Sanders being the most notable. If the game is close, Arkansas' better health and rest could play a significant role.

The future of head coach Sam Pittman at Arkansas remains uncertain. His job security for the next season hinges on how the team performs in these final four games. The simplest path to job security, at least on paper, is winning. If the Hogs can win these games and secure a bowl game appearance, it is likely that Pittman will be back for another season. However, achieving this on the field will be a challenging task. The outcome of Saturday's game against Florida will provide some insight into the difficulties Pittman faces.