Sam Pittman: Arkansas bowl eligibility ‘feels like’ Super Bowl

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 6-3 and bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. A dramatic win over No. 17 Mississippi State sealed their postseason fate, bringing the dubious streak to a close. According to head coach Sam Pittman, that feeling cannot be overlooked.

In the college football world – which emphasizes the importance of perfect records and playoff contention – Pittman provided a stark reminder of what the sport means to the other 126 FBS teams.

“We didn’t win the Super Bowl but it sure feels like it,” Sam Pittman said, via Tera Talmadge of Pig Trail Nation.

Pittman took over the Arkansas Razorbacks and quickly turned them back into a competitive SEC team. Much to the fans frustration, it had not been over recent years. After Bret Bielema’s disappointing 4-8 season ended with a split, Chad Morris led the Razorbacks to two 2-10 seasons. With a 1-23 SEC record over the past three seasons, Sam Pittman stepped into the lead role.

Quick improvement in 2020 led to unexpected optimism in 2021. Arkansas delivered on the hype with early wins over old rivals Texas and Texas A&M, setting them up for a bowl run. Despite their 2-3 SEC record, Arkansas is bowl bound, and could find its way into the College Football Playoff top 25. With games against LSU, Alabama and Missouri, the Razorbacks could improve the record and find themselves in their biggest bowl game of the past decade.

Latest bowl projection: Arkansas

On3’s Mike Huguenin has assembled a full list of College Football Playoff and bowl projections for 2021. In his latest installment, he projects the Arkansas Razorbacks against the Kansas State Wildcats in the Liberty Bowl. The Dec. 28 matchup would keep the team close to home, in a city with a large alumni base.

Arkansas has made many Liberty Bowl appearances over the years, most recently under Bret Bielema. The 45-23 win over – ironically – Kansas State marked the Razorbacks last bowl win in 2015. Before that, coach Bobby Petrino led Arkansas to a 20-17 overtime win over East Carolina.

The last New Year’s Day bowl for Arkansas came in 2011, when they took down – again, ironically – Kansas State. The 29-16 win drew more than 80,000 at AT&T Stadium, built by former Arkansas football player and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Pittman has been a part of bowl season more recently, traveling to the national championship game as Georgia’s offensive line coach in 2017 before a pair of Sugar Bowl appearances. However, 2021 will mark his first bowl as head coach.

No matter where Sam Pittman’s Arkansas Razorbacks play, it will feel like the Super Bowl.