In 2012, Arkansas and Tennessee both found themselves in coaching searches following disappointing seasons.

The Razorbacks went 4-8 (2-6 SEC) under first-year coach John L. Smith, one year after finishing 11-2 (6-2) under Bobby Petrino — who was fired for inappropriate off-field behavior.

Tennessee fired Derek Dooley, who ended his tenure in Knoxville with a 15-21 record. Dooley went 4-7 (0-7) in his final season and was let go before the Vols’ final game.

Arkansas hired Bret Bielema, who led Wisconsin to three consecutive Rose Bowl appearances and a 68-24 (37-19 Big Ten) record. Tennessee went with former Cincinnati coach Butch Jones, the 2011 Big East Coach of the Year, who led the Bearcats to back-to-back conference championships.

Both coaches struggled in year one, with Jones’ Vols finishing 5-7 (2-6) and Bielema’s Razorbacks ending at 3-9 (0-8). In 2014, both programs have already seen noticeable improvement, despite facing disappointing starts.

Tennessee entered November with a 3-5 record and was winless in conference games. But the Vols won two of their last three games and are one win shy of securing bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010.

Arkansas improved its record with back-to-back wins against LSU and Ole Miss, ending Bielema’s 13-game losing streak in conference games. The Razorbacks secured bowl eligibility last Saturday in a 30-0 win over the Rebels.

Both programs are rising and should become contenders in the SEC. However, the Vols have the easier road to Atlanta.

During last Saturday’s broadcast of “SEC Now,” Paul Finebaum called Tennessee the “hottest program in the SEC” and predicted it would make an SEC Championship Game appearance by 2016. The SEC East is wide open and the Vols could contend in 2015 with gained experienced.

Tennessee started seven true freshmen in Saturday’s loss to Missouri. The Vols have played 23 true freshman since Week 1 and will rely on those players to see bigger roles next season. Tennessee has also dominated the recruiting trail. The Vols finished with a top-5 class in 2014 and are expected to continue that success in 2015.

Arkansas finds itself at the bottom of the SEC West standings, despite a solid record. The division is stacked with talent and the Razorbacks need to continue improving before dethroning the West’s top teams. The Razorbacks ranked No. 29 overall and currently rank No. 20 for 2015.

Arkansas looks like the better team at present day. However, Tennessee has the best chance to become a contender long-term and should make a leap next season. The Vols have a better chance of taking the SEC by storm in 2015.