Because of Arkansas’ bye in Week 3, the Razorbacks have eight straight regular-season games to close out the 2017 season.

Arkansas is 2-2 and 0-1 in the SEC and will face South Carolina on Saturday in Williams-Brice Stadium. I wasn’t surprised by the record thus far. TCU came into Fayetteville with revenge on its mind and the Razorbacks blow the Texas A&M meeting year after year. Before the season, I picked them to lose both of those games.

Arkansas is still vying to play in a bowl game. There is a level of uneasiness from most about how it will finish out this season. One coach, among the 65 head coaches who make up the Amway Coaches Poll, believe the Razorbacks are worthy of a Top 25 ranking.

Besides that vote of confidence, here are 10 things that have surprised me about Arkansas’ 2-2 start.

1. Offensive line didn’t get any better

Last season, the Razorbacks allowed 35 sacks, tied for 106th in the country. Right now, Arkansas is averaging 2.75 per game compared to 2.69 it averaged last season. The Razorbacks gave up six to Texas A&M in 2017. Sheesh.

Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema had glowing words of encouragement about offensive line coach Kurt Anderson when he hired him in 2016, saying he would have a “tremendous impact” on the team. So far, most of the impact since Anderson arrived has been negative.

It’s not just the sacks. Austin Allen has been under duress during many of the throws he has made this season and in 2016. That takes a toll on a quarterback.

2. Lost to A&M in overtime again…

Even though I said Arkansas would lose by a touchdown in overtime to Texas A&M, it was still incredibly bizarre watching it play out almost exactly like it did in 2014 and 2015.

The Razorbacks had a lead, and let it slip away from them once again. Then, Arkansas couldn’t score in overtime, which was deja vu for most fans.

The Allen brothers went 0-5 against the Aggies as starters. Not games they will want to remember. “Surrender Cobra” was in full effect from bystanders 2017.

3. Cole Kelley has a role?

Not many saw Kelley being a featured cog in the Razorback offense unless Austin Allen went down with an injury. Offensive coordinator Dan Enos has played him in situations similar to Tim Tebow his freshman season at Florida and former Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell — as a bruiser willing to get the tough yards.

After playing the Aggies, Enos didn’t hold back about the confidence he has in the Louisiana native.

“We feel very comfortable calling our entire offense with him in there.” he said.

Enos should be. Kelley has picked up a number of first downs in close yardage situations. He also opens up the red zone offense with defenses worried about his feet.

4. Blown out at home to TCU

Let me say first, TCU has a good chance to win the Big 12 this season and is a great football team. It dominated Oklahoma State on the road in Stillwater, Okla., which is not easy to do.

The Arkansas wide receivers have picked it up a little bit, but they were awful in Week 2. Allen had no one to throw the ball too and was constantly under pressure or in the dirt. The offense wasn’t the only guilty party. The Razorbacks’ defense was mauled on the ground, giving up almost 200 yards rushing.

Even though the Horned Frogs are a good team, Arkansas has no excuse for playing as badly as it did.

Credit: Joey Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

“We’ve got to be the most-improved football team in the country from this next week until we play A&M,” Bielema said after the loss.

They weren’t and lost to the Aggies in Week 4.

5. Jonathan Nance, where did you come from?

Jonathan Nance is the Arkansas leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receptions per game. Last year, he played at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Now, he’s Arkansas’ best receiver.

He scored the only touchdown against TCU and made several big plays against Texas A&M. His explosiveness gives Allen someone to target, especially going deep.

It remains to be seen if Nance can have the same impact against quality defenses such as Alabama, Auburn and LSU.

6. David Williams, getcha some

David Williams has been a helpful piece for the Razorbacks’ offense. Four rushing touchdowns along with over 200 rushing yards games isn’t a bad start for a senior transfer. He’s 37 yards from the passing the total amount he had on the ground last season with South Carolina.

He has been steady, with Devwah Whaley struggling and Chase Hayden lacking pass protection skills as a true freshman. Even his old coach misses him.

7. Austin Allen hasn’t picked up the slack

The gif above is a pretty good depiction of how Allen’s season has gone. His offensive line hasn’t improved, plus he lost his best receiver, Jared Cornelius, to injury.

Austin Allen is ninth in the SEC in completion percentage (58.07) and eighth in yards per attempt (8.24).

While Allen’s protection hasn’t been great by any means, Bielema said at the SEC teleconference Wednesday that some of the sacks are on his senior quarterback.

“Austin needs to be aware,” he said. “There are a couple of them that he may have held that ball a little longer than he needed.”

Allen lost a lot of weapons from last year’s team and his play suffered. His completion percentage, yards per attempt, and rating all all down from 2016. He has also thrown a couple of questionable interceptions — see the ending of Texas A&M game.

8. No dynamic special teams player

I would think by Year 5, Bielema would have found at least one dynamite player to change the game on special teams. He hasn’t. Dennis Johnson, Joe Adams, Felix Jones and others made Arkansas’ special teams fun to watch. Those days are long gone.

Enjoy this Adams highlight, folks, and remember the good old days.

9. The defense isn’t much better

Giving up 27 points per game isn’t great, but that’s not the main problem. I haven’t seen defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads bring much more pressure than Robb Smith did.

The Razorbacks are only averaging 1.75 sacks per game. Last season, they averaged 2.08. Re-watch the games against Texas A&M and TCU. Kellen Mond and Kenny Hill had all day to throw.

Here is something to ponder.

10. Cole Hedlund got worse

Once a kicker loses confidence, it’s over. Cole Hedlund started the season 0-for-2, with two bad misses in the TCU game. It’s not like the attempts were long, only 20 and 23 yards.

The Razorbacks didn’t attempt a field goal in Weeks 4 and 5. Bielema is likely to go for it more times on fourth down for the rest of the season. Connor Limpert looks like the guy moving forward if Bielema decides to go back to the kicking game