Saturday's SEC games saw victories for all SEC schools playing - including resounding ones for Texas A&M, Auburn and Alabama in the three biggest games out there. So here are our big thoughts about the SEC's Saturday. 1. Texas A&M's performance impresses Great performance by the Aggies, who crushed Arizona State 38-17 and looked comfortable. A lot of credit has to go that the game wasn't played in an actual 'neutral' venue (Houston's in Texas, people), so ASU struggled with crowd noise...but they also struggled with Myles Garrett, who was sensational. On the other side of the ball, Read more [...]

  Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams is out for the season after requiring surgery on his left foot. Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema said today: "Jonathan Williams won't be with us for the regular season" - updating the media on an earlier announcement that the running back would miss "an extended period of time". He said at the time of the injury announcement: “I have no doubt that Jonathan will come back stronger than ever. Anyone that knows Jonathan Williams knows this is just another opportunity for him to prove the man of character and substance that he really is...It’s Read more [...]

Here's the best bits from Bret Bielema's press conference at SEC Media Days. ON CLOSE LOSSES "We played Alabama and Mississippi State, both heart breakers at the end. Mississippi State was obviously ranked number one at the time, and we let it get away from us. All the credit in the world to Dan, his staff, and his players to make that happen. I am a big believer in life in this fact. Scars are a very beautiful thing. I have scars on my knee from an ACL surgery. I have scar on my ankle from ankle surgery. I have a scar on my left hand from hand surgery. My mom has scars from 24 years of Read more [...]

Arkansas has lost its running backs coach Joel Thomas to the New Orleans Saints, it has been reported. Sports Illustrated senior writer Thayer Evans tweeted the news first, saying: "Arkansas RBs coach Joel Thomas has accepted same job w/ New Orleans Saints per sources." Last year Arkansas was 24th in the nation in rushing offense, running for 2,834 total yards (218 yards per game). The running game - led by RBs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams - ran for around 5 yards per rush and 31 touchdowns. The news comes just a few weeks after Thomas signed a contract extension with the school Read more [...]

Arkansas has given head coach Bret Bielema a two-year contract extension through 2020, in a deal that will earn the coach at least $4m a year. The Razorbacks will raise Bielema's salary by $100,000 per year, and have also added incentives for athletic and academic success that could give 'Bert' an extra $1m a year. ESPN.com noted that Bielema becomes the eighth SEC coach to earn at least $4m a year. Jeff Long, Arkansas' AD said: "Coach Bret Bielema is not only one of the best college football coaches in the nation, he is an outstanding leader. What Coach Bielema and his coaching staff Read more [...]

Bret Bielema's press conference should have just said "I'm just sick of losing, and I'll turn this ship around", and stopped there, but it didn't. Instead, he told the world how he was irritated about fast-paced offenses and how they might endanger players' safety, and all we here at SEC Football Blog could think was: "Is he that scared of the way the way it's all changing?". Anyway, will good things happen in 2014 for the Razorbacks and their suffering support base? LAST SEASON Bret Bielema's first season for Arkansas was probably one he'd like to forget. The Hogs went winless in the SEC, Read more [...]

Robb Smith, Arkansas' new DC, took the bow on Monday as he was introduced by head coach Bret Bielema. Smith comes from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was the NFL team's linebackers' coach in 2013. Former DC Chris Ash has gone to Ohio State to be the Buckeyes' DC - despite the Razorbacks going 3-9  in 2013 and lost every game from September 21st onwards. "I've been able to watch Robb Smith grow in the profession, and I know he'll bring in an attacking defensive philosophy that is built specifically to stop offenses in the SEC", Bielema said in a release. "Robb has been promoted time Read more [...]

Bret Bielema isn't much liked in SEC corridors. Maybe it's because he was Wisconsin's head coach. Maybe it's because of his wife and her tweeting ways. Maybe it's because he hasn't won a SEC game. Anyway, Arkansas fans will certainly like him a lot better after a solid National Signing Day - which included getting a player to come play for him instead of National Champion Florida State. That was the case with 4-star athlete JoJo Robinson . Robinson had been pursued by LSU, Auburn and Miami, too. They think he might be the next great UA punt/kick returner. We can't wait. Anyway, Bielema has Read more [...]

Huge news in the SEC and the Big Ten: Arkansas has grabbed Brett Bielema, Wisconsin's coach, according to reports. Pat Forde at Yahoo Sports said: "An announcement will come today, sources told Y! Sports, but Bielema is not expected to be introduced until Wednesday." Arkansas had already dangled a monster contract under the nose of LSU Coach Les Miles before the Tigers gave him a massive new extension and contract increase. BOTTOM LINE: This is massive news for the Razorbacks. Bielema is a fine recruiter, and has taken Wisconsin to three straight Rose Bowls. The Badgers are coached with Read more [...]

Every year the SEC dominates other schools in bowl games (unless you're Michigan State, but less said about that the better) quite simply because they have the most difficult conference. EVERY game is a bowl game,  a potential National Championship Game, or a big-time match-up. If you don't believe us, ask CBS why - every year without fail - they always screen Florida vs Tennessee, even though both sides weren't going to compete last year, and could possibly be put down as 'afterthoughts' for the last couple, at least. Anyway, here's our Top 10 games (IN-CONFERENCE) on the SEC schedule. And Read more [...]