Crimson Red Sports

One year ago in Fayetteville, after outplaying Alabama nearly all afternoon, Arkansas had the Crimson Tide on the ropes in the fourth quarter only to implode in the closing minutes and allow an otherwise beaten 'Bama team to somehow escape with victory. While Arkansas would still reach new heights under Bobby Petrino last season with a berth in the Sugar Bowl, that late implosion against Alabama has since served as a dark reminder of the divide between Arkansas and the powerhouse programs legitimately in contention for a national championship.

Coming to Tuscaloosa this fall, revenge and redemption are on Arkansas' mind as they hope to make amends for the nightmare meltdown and to emerge as a serious contender for conference and national championships this season. Discuss the viability of their potential as you will, but this is a team that feels it is ready to take the jump to the next level, and in fairness it's not hard to envision them besting Alabama and LSU, which would clearly put them in the mix nationally for another trip to New Orleans. Admittedly, though, Arkansas is largely an unknown at this point. In essence, they have been preparing for this game since the latter stages of fall camp and their three opening games were little more than obligatory scrimmages that revealed very little of value.

http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2011/9/23/2443527/arkansas-showdown-brings-championship-implications-to-tuscaloosa