Arkansas Football: Ranking the 2012 Schedule from Easiest to Toughest

With the month of June rapidly coming to an end, we are really just two months away from the college football season kicking off. It is almost that time again, ladies and gentlemen.

The Arkansas Razorbacks have had a difficult offseason with their coach getting fired, but this is still a team that has a BCS bowl and SEC title on its mind. The Razorbacks return 13 starters, including seven on offense, and believe that the talent is in place to compete with the big boys in 2012.

For the most part, Arkansas got off lucky by SEC standards, but there are still a few matchups that could prevent its dreams from becoming a reality. 

With the season only a couple of months away, here are the easiest and most difficult opponents for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2012.

12. Vs. Jacksonville State

Last year's record: 7-4

Returning starters: N/A

Most teams start off the season with a program the casual football fan has never heard of. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks fit the bill for Arkansas.

The Razorbacks will cruise to an easy victory and start the season 1-0.

11. At Louisiana-Monroe

Last year's record: 4-8

Returning starters: 14

The Warhawks weren't even good against other Sun Belt teams last season, losing to teams such as Western Kentucky, FIU and Arkansas State.

I highly doubt that Arkansas will have a problem with Louisiana-Monroe in Week 2 of the regular season.

10. Vs. Kentucky

Last year's record: 5-7

Returning starters: 12

Surprisingly, the Razorbacks are 2-4 against the Wildcats all-time, losing the last two meetings.

I think it's safe to say that Kentucky will be the team on the losing end of the stick this season. We are talking about one of the most potent offenses in the country matching up against a team that ranked 117th in points scored. 

9. Vs. Tulsa

Last year's record: 8-5

Returning starters: 13

Tulsa has been a high-scoring team the last few years, which you would think is good when having to play Arkansas.

But there are a few things that don't exactly help the Golden Hurricane, such as Tulsa being 1-7 against ranked teams in the last three years and losing the last 17 meetings against Arkansas.

8. Vs. Ole Miss

Last year's record: 2-10

Returning starters: 15

Despite having 10 more penalties and being out-gained by 68 yards, Ole Miss only lost last year's meeting by five points.

With that said, it would still be foolish to pick the Rebels in this matchup. Arkansas is without question the more talented team, has won six of the last eight meetings, and the game takes place at War Memorial Stadium.

7. Vs. Rutgers

Last year's record: 9-4

Returning starters: 14

Rutgers may be a team in the Big East, but it is a team that returns eight starters from a defense that only allowed 18 points per game.

Will the Scarlet Knights be able to slow down a high-scoring attack such as Arkansas? Only time will tell, but this is a tough-minded group that won't shy away from the big lights in Fayetteville.

6. At Mississippi State

Last year's record: 7-6

Returning starters: 12

Arkansas gave Mississippi State a beatdown last season, as it has now won 12 of the last 13 meetings against the Bulldogs.

Even with an impressive track record, winning in Starkville is never easy. The Bulldogs also have discovered a few weapons on offense that could make for an interesting season in the SEC.

5. At Auburn

Last year's record: 8-5

Returning starters: 17

Auburn should be better than it was last season, returning a majority of last year's young squad.

Still, the Tigers must find a starting quarterback and fix a horrible defense before they can be taken seriously this season.

Arkansas has won four of the last six meetings against Auburn.

4. At Texas A&M

Last year's record: 7-6

Returning starters: 15

Many are not quite sure how this Texas A&M team will respond in its first season in the SEC. But the Aggies do have two things going for them—a defense that led the country in sacks a year ago and an offensive line that only allowed nine sacks.

If you can win in the trenches, you will win a lot of football games in this conference. Not to mention that playing in College Station is no cakewalk for any team.

3. Vs. LSU

Last year's record: 13-1

Returning starters: 12

Arkansas lost by 24 points in last year's meeting, but this time, the Razorbacks will have running back Knile Davis healthy and the home crowd in Fayetteville cheering them on.

While the playing field has evened out a little bit, LSU is still one of the better teams in all of college football and may have gotten even better with quarterback Zach Mettenberger taking over.

2. Vs. Alabama

Last year's record: 12-1

Returning starters: 11

Similar to the previous slide with LSU, Alabama destroyed the Razorbacks last season. But this game will be in Fayetteville, and Arkansas has a healthy Heisman candidate.

It is still going to take a hell of a game from the Razorbacks if they expect to knock off Nick Saban's club. The Crimson Tide has won six of the last seven meetings against Arkansas.

1. At South Carolina

Last year's record: 11-2 

Returning starters: 13

How is this game more difficult than the matchups against LSU and Alabama?

Simple—this game takes place in Williams-Brice Stadium, where the Gamecocks are 19-4 in the last three seasons.

South Carolina returns six starters from a defense that was ranked third in the country and will also get a healthy Marcus Lattimore in the backfield.

Winning against top-notch opponents is tough as it is, but doing so on the road is what really makes things difficult in the SEC.