Second-year Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema announced over the weekend he’d suspended safety Rohan Gaines and cornerback Carroll Washington for the Razorbacks’ bowl game vs. Texas on Dec. 29 in Houston.

Those losses — especially Gaines’ absence — could loom large for Arkansas. The junior has been productive from his safety spot this season, ranking fifth on the team in tackles with 59. His lone interception was a 100-yard pick-six against Ole Miss.

The turnaround first-year defensive coordinator Robb Smith orchestrated in Fayetteville led the Razorbacks to six wins this season, just one year after the Hogs consistently gave up big plays. The Razorbacks under Chris Ash allowed 30 points or more seven times last season.

Smith’s defense led by Gaines in the secondary, and complimented Washington from his backup corner position, surrendered 30 points or more just three times in 2014.

Arkansas faces a Texas offense built upon balance. The Longhorns average 22.6 points per game, 211.8 passing yards per game and 148.7 yards per game. Offensive coordinator Joe Wickline vehemently preaches balance when discussing his offense, almost to a point where you forget he helped coordinate an Oklahoma State offense that averaged 41 points per game and 485 yards per game during the past five seasons.

Wickline has learned from some of the brightest offensive minds in the game including North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgerson. Despite the spread attacks Fedora and Holgerson run, Wickline has insisted on making the Texas offense elite through balance.

“It’s about balance in down and distance. Balance in run-pass,” Wickline told ESPN.com this past spring. “When we run, inside-outside. It’s about balance on types of runs, speed, tempo.”

It’s not flashy, but Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray have combined to rush for more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns while signal-caller Tyrone Swoopes has thrown for 2,352 yards and 13 scores. The Longhorns have been turnover prone this season, and Gaines’ ability to play the ball in the defensive backfield is a huge break for Swoopes who has thrown 10 interceptions this season.

The front seven has been the strength of the Arkansas defense this season. Brown and Gray will have tough sledding trying to run between the tackles against the Razorbacks.

Wickline’s Texas offense in no way resembles his Oklahoma State units. The Longhorns aren’t explosive enough to put up points in bunches. If Arkansas makes Texas one-dimensional by taking away the run game, Swoopes will have to shoulder the game plan, and face a Razorbacks secondary that has been beaten over the top.

Gaines’ absence takes away valuable experience and knowledge of the scheme. The Bainbridge, Ga., native quarterbacks the secondary. Swoopes will be facing a youthful (even more so than it already is) Arkansas secondary. If Texas is going to have a shot to win, it will come on his arm.

Bielema said Gaines will have an opportunity to earn his way back to the program this offseason, should he decide to return for his senior season.

His suspension will have a huge impact on the Texas Bowl in the short term. If Swoopes and the Longhorns are victorious, they can thank Gaines.