Arkansas busted a 17-game SEC losing streak in a major way, crushing LSU and Ole Miss by a combined 47-0.

The Razorbacks dominated old rival Texas in a bowl game and came oh-so-close to knocking off Alabama at home, among other nail-biting losses.

RELATED: Best-case scenario — Bielema completes turnaround with 10-win season

The 2015 team is essentially the same, as much of a carbon copy as you’ll see in the SEC from year to year. (The big names on defense are gone, but their replacements should more or less approximate their style and production.)

Both due to the team’s unique, over-the-top, outsized physical style on both sides of the ball, and the teetering on the edge of great and decidedly mediocre (the team finished 7-6 last year), Arkansas is a very interesting team to predict this preseason.

WHAT THE MAGAZINES ARE SAYING

ESPN: “Despite playing eight games against top-20 teams, Arkansas won four of its last six, shutting out LSU and Ole Miss after 17 straight SEC losses. The Hogs have a top O-line, and they’ve improved defensively under DC Robb Smith.”

Lindy’s Sports: “It’s easy to see the progress and talent of the program, but an SEC schedule that includes only three home games might not be conducive to great strides. On the other hand, Arkansas will be a very tough out.”

The Sporting News: “To emerge as a legitimate contender in the rough-and-tumble SEC West, the Hogs must find a way to win on the road in league play (something they haven’t done since October 2012) and learn how to win close games (they haven’t won an SEC game decided by a touchdown or less since October 2011).”

Athlon Sports: “Arkansas’ 7-6 record is a modest achievement at face value. But it’s the way the Razorbacks won and the relief of emerging from the double-barreled embarrassment and discouragement of the Bobby Petrino and John L. Smith eras that has Arkansas fans fired up.”

Phil Steele: “(Arkansas plays) Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss all on the road and (draws) 2 of the top 3 out of the East (Tennessee and Missouri) but in the 3rd year of Bielema’s systems will still be a legitimate contender in the rugged SEC West.”

BEST PLAYERS

  • RB Jonathan Williams
  • TE Hunter Henry
  • G Sebastian Tretola
  • OT Denver Kirkland
  • LB Brooks Ellis
  • DT Taiwan Johnson

WHAT WE LEARNED

  • Arkansas completed just 29 passes of 20 or more yards last season, 98th in the FBS according to ESPN. Keon Hatcher, the No. 1 option at receiver, and tight end Hunter Henry are reliable, consistent players, but they aren’t game breakers. The Hogs need one or two players from the group of Dominique Reed, Jojo Robinson or Eric Hawkins to provide that dynamic.
  • The Razorbacks may need to rely on 5-foot-10 walk-on Josh Harris as a rotational player at linebacker, which speaks to the team’s lack of depth at the position.
  • Despite a few of the team’s offensive linemen dropping weight — including a significant amount by LG Sebastian Tretola — the average weight among the 10 players listed at the position at the end of spring was 319.2 pounds, according to Athlon Sports.
  • You probably knew that Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins each rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. But this was a surprise to me: no other FBS team shared that distinction. Arkansas claimed the only pair of 1,000-yard rushers in one backfield in ’14, according to Athlon Sports.

BIGGEST AGREEMENT

Athlon Sports seemed to hold the most positive outlook on the Razorbacks defense for 2015:

“Second-year coordinator Robb Smith re-upped with a handsome raise and is confident the Razorbacks can plug rising stars into the system and remain productive despite the loss of key players such as Trey Flowers, Darius Philon, Martrell Spaight and Alan Turner.”

Some of the national publications aren’t as confident Arkansas will reload on defense. I’ve already predicted that the Razorbacks will be just as good on that side of the ball despite losing four starters to the NFL.

It helps that Arkansas led the SEC in time of possession last season, as the defense will have plenty of time to rest. The defensive line also can rotate eight very good bodies, and Brooks Ellis has a chance to replicate Spaight’s production at weakside linebacker.

There are depth concerns with the linebackers, and the defensive backs must prove they’re above average. But those expecting the defense to see a major regression should be surprised.

BIGGEST DISAGREEMENT

The majority of the national media has ascribed blame for the team’s weakness in the passing game to Arkansas’ deficiency of playmakers at receiver. The characterizations of Brandon Allen were mostly positive (ESPN, Lindy’s Sports, Athlon Sports) or neutral (Phil Steele).

While I agree that the team’s receivers are inexperienced, modest in talent or both, I’m not sold on Allen as an above-average SEC starting quarterback. The Sporting News did imply an agreement with my line of thinking, writing that the team’s pair of 1,000-yard running backs “take the heat off senior quarterback Brandon Allen … who was a modest 10th in SEC passing efficiency.”

When healthy, Allen does one thing very well: he takes care of the football. (At least until the fourth quarter when the Razorbacks are trailing and need to make uncharacteristic plays, but that’s another story.)

Especially with the number of safe throws available to him, and such a strong offensive line to protect him, and teams selling out to stop the run, Allen should be able to a) improve his completion percentage on play-action throws to his tight ends and backs, and b) find some mismatches or blown coverages downfield.

The team doesn’t need him to win games very often, but if Arkansas wants to be a legitimate contender in the SEC West, that means winning 10+ games, and some of those will require the quarterback to make plays downfield in tight games. I’d be concerned about whether Allen can do that.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Biggest Remaining Question: Who will earn punting and placekicking duties in fall camp?
Consensus Projection: 5th place, SEC West
Impact Newcomers: DE Jeremiah Ledbetter Jr., WR Dominique Reed