When I clicked on The Sporting News’ “Early 2015 Top 10” in mid-January, I rubbed my eyes and figured I needed to get some sleep and recover from the season.

My brain must not be comprehending what’s on my screen, I thought. Matt Hayes, a respected national writer, ranked the teams like this: defending national champion Ohio State, a pair of high-flying Big 12 teams who just missed the inaugural College Football Playoff … and Arkansas.

The Razorbacks haven’t come close to a fourth-place finish in the SEC West in recent years, much less in the entire country.

Hayes cited Arkansas’ strength along the line of scrimmage on offense and defense as well as the tailback tandem of Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins. Those are fair points.

Still, fourth? Despite road games against Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU? When I realized I’d interpreted my screen correctly, I thought maybe it was Hayes who had a crazy night at the inaugural College Football Playoff, the same evening he released the rankings.

Then ESPN followed by ranking Arkansas at No. 21. Then Athlon Sports slotted the Razorbacks at No. 16. CBS picked Arkansas to win at least nine games in the regular season.

Now it’s official: Arkansas is the dark-horse program in the SEC West in 2015. At least from a national media perspective.

I suspect part of the trend is due to Bret Bielema’s consistent success at Wisconsin, where he led the Badgers to three consecutive Rose Bowl appearances. Playing Alabama and Mississippi State to one-possession losses last season, during which both the Tide and Bulldogs ranked No. 1 for multiple weeks, is another reason.

The fact that the team’s offensive line could get even better — and the defensive line won’t drop off like many may suspect — gives even more credence to the theory. The team will take the field with a third-year starter at quarterback in Brandon Allen. It could be more efficient on offense with the arrival of coordinator Dan Enos.

Personally, I still believe the Razorbacks are going to have difficulty climbing very far up the SEC West pecking order in 2015 until the offense proves it can move the ball when trailing late in tight ballgames against good defenses. The team went 0-5 last season in one-possession games.

But clearly Bielema has put Arkansas back onto the map within the national college football landscape. People are paying attention to Razorbacks football once again, and that will only increase if the team can live up to those lofty expectations this fall.