Well, that didn’t go as planned.

 

And as the state continues to sit in bewilderment in the aftermath of the Hogs’ shocking loss to San Jose State, we’ve got one thing going for us. We absolutely, with a doubt, know the status of the program’s progress in year two of the Chad Morris era. Sadly, we haven’t – progressed, that is.

 

Even though the Spartans compete in the Mountain West, generally considered the No. 2 conference in the Group of Five (non-Power 5) hierarchy, they’ve been bad of late. Four-wins-over-the-past-two-seasons bad. But San Jose looked the part of the SEC team on Saturday. I’m still working out in my mind how that’s even possible. Hog players were outplayed, and Hog coaches out-schemed.

 

In many ways, a perfect storm brewed over Fayetteville on Saturday: The Spartans had an off week to prepare, game plan and study our weaknesses (of which there remain plenty); Razorbacks, both of the player and coach variety, had their sites set on A&M this weekend; the Hogs probably unintentionally provided bulletin-board material, and Nick Starkel had a career bad day. Like, a careerbad day.

 

But Power 5 teams in the nation’s elite conference should be able to survive storms the likes of San Jose.

 

It would be so “Arkansas” for the Hogs to answer such a flop with an inspired showing. And I think we’ll be close for a while before the Aggies pull away. The offense has young talent, and the medium risk/high reward Starkel, despite his nightmare of a game Saturday, will make some plays and the perhaps even the difference a time or two down the road this season.

 

But as much as it pains me to type, the Aggies almost suredly will extend their winning streak against the good guys. Get your licks in while you can. Aggies, 41-17.

 

READ MORE: 2020 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Schedule Released