FAYETTEVILLE – It’s hard, if not impossible, to find a team with more pundits talking it up than Arkansas. The Razorbacks, who two years ago didn’t win a single SEC game, have been called a legit – if long-shot – contender for the league title.

Read that again: a team with zero conference wins less than two calendar years ago is a dark-horse SEC contender.

It’s weird. And it takes something of a stretch to believe. The Razorbacks aren’t likely to win the SEC title. In fact, they’re more likely to finish dead last in the West than to finish first. But consider four of the team’s six conference losses came by seven points or less. Arkansas wasn’t far from a 10-2 record instead of 6-6.

Splitting the difference is the hard part. It’s still a team with warts. It’s still a team with upside. Here are some of each.

Strengths

An Overrated, But Still Top 10 Offensive Line

Sometimes there’s a tendency to think “overrated” means bad. It doesn’t. That’s especially true with the Razorbacks offensive line.

The crew got marks last year for being the biggest offensive line the country. Literally, the country. NFL included. A massive line like that would suggest fantastic run-blocking numbers. That wasn’t the case. The run blocking was good (26th in yards per game in FBS). The pass blocking was good (13th in fewest sacks allowed). A next step needs to occur for Hogs to make that jump.

It’s a next step that’s quite likely with the return of four starters and a part-timer.

An Underrated and Deep Defensive Line

Challenge even the most ardent SEC fans outside the Natural State to name the Razorbacks expected starters along the line and you’ll likely encounter a bunch of “Uh, Trey Flowers?”

Flowers and teammate Darius Philon are gone. And, yes, Arkansas doesn’t have anyone nearly as individually talented as either of them. Right now.

But those two played with maybe four other guys total along the four spots on the line last year. There was almost no depth to speak of. Now the Razorbacks can legitimately roll 10 players out there with almost no drop off. That number could reach 11.

There is no star and it might be a year or two until one develops (watch for Hjalte Froholdt and Tevin Beanum), but the group is on the come.

Somewhere In The Middle

Just as an extra tidbit: The Arkansas running attack was going to be called a strength, probably the top strength, before the loss of No. 1 Jonathan Williams to season-ending foot surgery.

The group is still strong, headlined by Alex Collins, a 1,000-yard rusher and former five-star recruit. But the two behind him, while with high expectations, are wholly unproven. Freshman Rawleigh Williams hasn’t even had two weeks worth of practices. Junior Kody Walker has 58 career carries.

Call the Hogs running game to-be-determined.

Weaknesses

Limited Talent, Limited Depth

The good news is Brooks Ellis is nearly as good as any linebacker in the SEC. He isn’t top tier, but he’s among that second group.

The bad news is there isn’t a single linebacker on the rest of the roster right now who even comes close.

Ellis is shifting from his spot in the middle last year to the weakside in 2015, replacing last year’s SEC-leading tackler Martrell Spaight. In Ellis’ stead in the middle was initially Josh Williams (the man who replaced him when Ellis went down for a game last year). That didn’t last as coaches decided Williams and the stronside linebacker Khalia Hackett should swap. Even in the spring behind them were mere pieces. The best back-up, Randy Ramsey, has since been dismissed.

Now Hackett is a disappointment. So far, anyway. He’s fighting to hold off 5-foot-10 walk-on Josh Harris. The reserves are better than they were in spring, but they’re freshmen. Not redshirt freshmen. Freshmen. An SEC team with a sub-6-foot walk-on starter at middle linebacker would certainly be called a weakness.

Passing Game Playmakers

The season does not hinge on quarterback Brandon Allen. The Razorbacks can win eight games without the fifth-year senior throwing 35 touchdowns.

Making those dark-horse SEC title dreams come true, however, yeah, that depends on Allen. And Keon Hatcher. And Dominique Reed. And Jared Cornelius. And any of the other host of receivers the Arkansas staff will give a whirl.

The passing game isn’t bad. Allen threw just five interceptions last year. But it isn’t good enough to win games.

There is almost no faith the Razorbacks could come from behind with limited time left in the fourth quarter. Part of that is Allen — is he good enough? Does he have a strong enough arm? Does he make enough plays? Part of it is the wide receiver corps — Hatcher is a possession target. Reed has potential but is a junior-college transfer. Cornelius is a No. 2.

It’s one of the most unexciting passing offenses in the country. Or was a year ago. If Allen, the wideouts and new offensive coordinator Dan Enos bring a spark, though, you can move it up to the other list.