Hogs Need Small Bites, Drink's on Easy Street

Someone at Florida schemed with the SEC to get Billy Napier fired

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Dec 14, 2023 1:24 AM EST
Original:
Dec 14, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The SEC schedules are officially out, so it's time to make a few quick observations.

Pittman Will Have to View This as Three Seasons

There's no getting around it. If Sam Pittman is going to survive next season, he has to approach this as if he is playing three separate seasons. It's too much to bite off otherwise.

The first runs from the last week of August until the first week of October. Unlike other seasons, there's not a lot of room for growth and development. Arkansas isn't going to get a whole lot other than a sun burn against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Little Rock.

The only thing to learn opening week is whether concession stands still function at War Memorial Stadium and also if anyone has sense enough to realize people might want to buy cold water in August. That means Arkansas heads into Stillwater to face Oklahoma State knowing next to nothing about the team.

With UAB being the only other perceived win, Pittman has to hope and pray he finishes the first portion 3-3. The good news is there's only one game in Razorback Satdium until Arkansas closes this portion of the schedule against Tennessee. The Hogs were embarrassing in Fayetteville all last season, so not having to play in Razorback Stadium is a blessing.

The second section features LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Arkansas has to figure out a way to get out of this section 2-1. The good news is there's a bye week before LSU. The bad news is the Tigers come to Fayetteville. Same for Ole Miss.

The only road game is in Starkville, which should be a much different contest than the pillow fight fans were forced to endure last season. Whether Arkansas can meet its goal will be determined by how well Pittman can manage the portal over the next few weeks.

The final stretch features games against Texas, Louisiana Tech and at Missouri. Pittman better hope he gets to this portion of the season at 5-4 because it's going to be hard to squeeze out more than one win. Fans will be up for Texas, but it likely won't matter, and Arkansas just can't seem to make itself care about Missouri enough to prepare properly and pretend to want to be there.

Perhaps this team will surprise people. It should be better than last season. Still, that doesn't change the sectioned off approach this team is going to need.

Drinkwitz Living on Easy Street

There's no telling how good Missouri is going to be next year and no one will really have any idea after the first six weeks either. The Tigers have by far the easiest schedule in the SEC and the entire first half of the season is simply laughable.

If Mizzou doesn't head into its game against Auburn undefeated, Drinkwitz should be fired on the spot. Murray State, Buffalo, Boston College, Vanderbilt all at home. Then the Tigers get an off week to prepare for the only game in the first half of the season that isn't a total joke – Texas A&M. It's the lone road game for the first two months of the season save a trip to perennial Bottom 10 dweller UMass.

The only stretch of the season that isn't against a team expected to be barely average to bad is Auburn, Alabama and Oklahoma. Only the game against the Crimson Tide is on the road and the Tigers have a bye before hosting the Sooners. Drinkwitz could have the sixth or seventh worst team in the SEC, yet find himself in the SEC championship game and also the playoffs simply through fortunate scheduling.

Who Hates Billy Napier This Much?

Even if Florida makes it to November undefeated and No. 1 in the country, Billy Napier is still going to lose his job next season. There is simply no way, no matter what he does over the next few weeks, the Gators are going to win a single game in November.

Georgia. Loss.
At Texas. Loss.
LSU. Loss.
Ole Miss. Loss.
At Florida State. Loss.
Fired.