Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson (Arkansas Razorbacks Football)The Arkansas football team is ranked No. 19 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, which was released Monday. The team finished last season ranked No. 21.
The Razorbacks are one of six SEC teams ranked in the preseason poll, alongside Alabama (1), Georgia (3), Texas A&M (6), Kentucky (20) and Ole Miss (21).
Arkansas junior K.J. Jefferson returns as the Razorbacks’ starting quarterback, coming off an impressive sophomore season. Jefferson passed for 2,676 yards and 21 touchdowns with a 67.3 percent passing rating last season and rushed for 664 net yards to lead the team in rushing.
With Jefferson in control, the Hogs posted a 9-4 season including a victory over Penn State in the Outback Bowl. As our own Terry Wood pointed out on Friday, it was the team’s best season in a decade and their first trip to a New Year’s Day Bowl since 2011.
The Hogs begin the 2022 season on Sept. 3 against Cincinnati, which is ranked No. 23 in the preseason poll and finished 4th in the final AP Top 25 last year.
Monday’s rankings are the second preseason poll to include the Razorbacks. The team was ranked No. 23 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, which was released last week.
2022 AP Top 25 preseason poll rankings, released Monday, Aug. 15, 2022
