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Three Arkansas football players were arrested Saturday and charged with burglarizing dorm rooms.

University police arrested wide receivers Marquel Wade and Maudrecus Humphrey, and tight end Andrew Peterson after security video showed the players allegedly walked into rooms where items had been taken. The police report valued the stolen property, including computers and textbooks, at almost $5,000.

Arkansas coach John L. Smith indefinitely suspended the three:

"We have high standards for our student-athletes, and I expect them to conduct themselves appropriately. Poor conduct and misbehavior will not be tolerated and is not what we expect from the University of Arkansas football program."

The video that police viewed showed the three players walking the hallways, checking doors and entering rooms inside the dormitory. Police said a witness saw Peterson and Humphrey opening doors, and that another witness identified Peterson as having been in her room.

Some of the stolen items were recovered from a bookstore near campus and in Peterson's room. The report also said a store clerk identified the three as regularly selling used items.

Wade was charged with a felony count of burglary, while Humphrey and Peterson were both charged with nine felony counts of burglary.

Since March, six Arkansas players have been arrested, making 2012 even harder for the football program. Stack those arrests on top of Bobby Petrino's embarrassing exit, and this has been far from the start that Arkansas wanted.

Before the Petrino situation rocked the program, the Razorbacks were expected to be a team that contended for the SEC championship and maybe even the national championship. Since then, the road to multiple title for Arkansas seems to be a little muddier.

Saturday's arrests certainly don't help. Wade only caught eight passes for 62 yards in 2011, but the expectations are for him to be a major contributor in the passing game, especially with the departure of receivers Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright. Wade was also dynamic in the return game, averaging 25.6 yards per kickoff return and returning one kick 85 yards for a touchdown.

Smith was brought in to make the transition to the season easier for players after Petrino's firing. The thought was that this team would be lost if an outsider was brought in, so athletic director Jeff Long went with a very familiar face in Smith, who spent the past three seasons as Arkansas' special teams coach.

This isn't exactly rallying around your new coach. It's having no regard for him or your team. This incident is something a new coach doesn't want to deal with and shouldn't have to deal with. Obviously, Smith will have to see how things play out legally, but losing a player like Wade could put a wrench in Arkansas' plans this fall.

So once again, this team is left trying to pick itself up after yet another boneheaded incident that's brought more embarrassment. Players will no doubt say the right things and scold the wrongdoers, but this act has to be tiring in Fayetteville.

If this team really wants to show that its success isn't going to be all about the coach, it has to make sure the players are more focused going forward. Six arrests doesn't mean players have gotten out of hand, but it isn't a great number to have on your spring résumé. They also stand as more distractions.

And Arkansas doesn't need anymore distractions going forward.

No college football season ever turns out exactly the way you thought it would.

There are always surprises -- good and bad.

I’ll tackle my biggest surprises in the SEC’s Western Division this season, and Edward will unveil his biggest surprises in the Eastern Division later today.

We’ll do it by teams:

ALABAMA

Struggles in the kicking game: It wasn’t all bad. Marquis Maze was one of the top kickoff and punt returners in the SEC, but Alabama was ninth in the SEC in net punting and 11^th in kickoff coverage. What’s more, the Crimson Tide missed 11 field goals this season. And while nobody in Tuscaloosa needs to be reminded, four of those misses came in the LSU game.

Anthony Steen: The 6-foot-3, 303-pound sophomore was one of the Crimson Tide’s most pleasant surprises in the preseason, and he wound up starting nine games at right guard. He was a big part of Alabama’s bruising running game, which topped the SEC with an average of 219.8 yards per game.

ARKANSAS

Defensive turnover: This was supposed to be Arkansas’ best defense under Bobby Petrino. The Hogs had depth and experience, but wound up ninth in the SEC in total defense and gave up 28 or more points in six games. Petrino fired defensive coordinator Willy Robinson and brought in Paul Haynes from Ohio State as the Hogs’ new defensive coordinator.

Greg Childs: After tearing the patella tendon in his right knee during the 2010 season, Childs never returned to his All-SEC form. He just wasn’t the same physically this season and finished with 16 catches in 10 games and no touchdowns.

AUBURN

Defensive decline: Everybody on the Plains expected some drop-off on defense after losing so many veteran players from the national championship team. But the Tigers were torched for more than 1,600 total yards in their first three games in a sign of things to come. They wound up giving up 29.3 points per game and 405.8 yards per game, and defensive coordinator Ted Roof left for the UCF defensive coordinator’s job when the regular season ended.

Gus Malzahn leaving for Arkansas State: Most in and around the Auburn program had a feeling that Malzahn was poised to leave for a head job. After all, he turned down $3 million per year at Vanderbilt last year. But nobody would have guessed that he would leave for the Arkansas State head job.

LSU

No quarterback controversy: With the way LSU’s quarterback situation has played out, it’s a minor miracle there hasn’t been a quarterback controversy. But, then, it’s been that kind of season for the Tigers. Still, you can’t help but wonder what Jarrett Lee’s true thoughts are right now.

The Honey Badger: It was obvious from Tyrann Mathieu’s freshman season that he was a very good football player. But who knew he would blossom into one of the best all-around players in the country this season? He scored four touchdowns and didn’t play a snap on offense.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

No signature wins: After the Bulldogs racked up nine wins in 2010, the expectations in Starkville were off the charts. In retrospect, maybe too much was expected. Either way, Mississippi State lost all five of its games to nationally ranked foes and only beat one Western Division opponent (Ole Miss).

Cameron Lawrence: In his first season as a starter, Lawrence collected 114 total tackles to rank third in the SEC. Everybody was wondering coming into the season what the Bulldogs were going to do at linebacker after losing all three starters. Lawrence, who played quarterback in high school, stepped right in and anchored a unit that was solid all season.

OLE MISS

Houston Nutt’s ouster: Nutt had been the ultimate survivor in the SEC, and when his back was to the wall, he usually produced some of his best results. It wasn’t to be this season, though, as the Rebels saw their SEC losing streak reach 14 straight games. Following the loss to Kentucky on Nov. 5, the university announced that Nutt wouldn’t be back next season.

Quick trigger for Brunetti: One of the more puzzling things about the season for Ole Miss was how Barry Brunetti could win the starting quarterback job during the preseason, then get benched in the opener and never really be heard from again until the very end of the season.

Welcome to another themed game for LSU.

First, we had “The Game,” which was all about defense. Heading in, we expected two sledgehammers to furiously crash into each other in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and that’s exactly what we got with only field goals as scores.

This week, with the SEC and possibly the national championship on the line, the top-ranked Tigers (11-0, 7-0) are involved in another name game with No. 3 Arkansas (10-1, 6-1).

LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo labeled this “The Game: Part 2,” but the Offense-Defense Bowl might be more appropriate.

Everywhere you look, pure speed drives the hearts of these two teams.

“The first thing I would say about this game is that there are a lot of athletes on the field,” LSU linebacker Ryan Baker said.

“I look at it like it’s the battle of the athletes.”

LSU sports a track team in its secondary with the likes of Morris Claiborne (a Thorpe Award finalist) and Tyrann Mathieu (a Bednarik Trophy finalist) patrolling the field, along with Ron Brooks or Brandon Taylor.

And if Eric Reid (thigh) is healthy enough, the Tigers will have more than enough speed to keep up with Arkansas’ electrifying passing game.

Entering Friday’s super showdown in Baton Rouge, La., LSU ranks third in the SEC in passing defense, allowing 158 yards a game and has given up a league-low five touchdowns through the air.

Equipped with his talented quartet of receivers, Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson can get five touchdowns in a single game.

Joe Adams, who is still spinning and cutting past Tennessee defenders, might have more moves than any other receiver in the league when he’s in space. Jarius Wright has been the league’s most consistent receiver and always looks a step faster than the competition.

Both rank in the top eight in the SEC in receiving.

When healthy, Greg Childs is every bit the deep threat as his above partners, and Cobi Hamilton has a tendency to sneak past defenses.

“We’re certainly concerned about big plays in any secondary,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “You want to cover and make sure those receivers are covered. Then you like to get in his backfield just as often as you can. The good thing is that we think we have guys that can do that.”

Wilson, who is the SEC’s leader in passing (292.3 yards per game), has his offense running better than ever. With the Razorbacks right in the middle of BCS talks, Wilson has averaged 296 yards and has thrown eight touchdowns to two interceptions in his last three games.

During that span, Arkansas’ offense has generated nearly 500 yards of total offense a contest. And for a team that has been more popular for its passing game, the Hogs have actually generated a respectable running game as well.

This looks like the offense we expected to see at the beginning of the year and now it must take on one of the nation’s best defenses. In 44 quarters, LSU’s defense has held opponents without a touchdown in 35 of them, including the last seven.

Excuse the cliché, but something truly has to give Friday.

To prepare for Arkansas’ offense, Baker said the defense has reviewed film from the Oregon game. The Ducks, who were overwhelmed by the Tigers in the season opener, have similar speed despite offensive differences.

Baker knows Arkansas is at its best right now, but LSU isn’t intimidated.

“It doesn’t put a strain on the defense at all,” he said. “Guys are looking forward to the occasion. We’ve been known to rush the passer and play pretty good coverage downfield (at the same time). Playing a team like this, we have to rise to the occasion to prove that we can handle an offense like this.”

Maybe it’s the Hogs who should be nervous.

Last time Arkansas tangled with a highly rated defense, the Hogs went flat. Against Alabama, Arkansas was held to just 226 yards and had two turnovers.

To Baker, getting to Wilson and eliminating the running game are key. It helps that LSU’s front seven can move as well. There are some track star candidates up front too that ready for the chase.

“Our defense does not allow an opponent to go down the field routinely,” Miles said.

Baker said that Arkansas’ up-tempo look is a challenge, but the Tigers have aspirations that stretch beyond stopping the Hogs. An SEC title and a national title are on the line. It’s that idea that fuels this defense.

“This makes the résumé look good, but in the long run our thoughts are further down the road and guys are really focused on that,” he said.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Greetings from Hog country.

It's a beautiful day here in Fayetteville and the fans are starting to pile into Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The players are out on the field for warmups. Contrary to rumors floating around Dickson Street, Arkansas did not come out in black uniforms, yet.

The weather is a bit nippy over here, so people are bundled up in the stands. From what I've been told, once the sun goes down in Arkansas it gets mighty cold.

Both teams enter the game as two of the most criticized 7-1 teams out there. Arkansas has had to hear about its slow starts for weeks, while South Carolina's slow offense has been put on blast.

Arkansas is also hearing a lot of negativity surrounding its defense. The Razorbacks enter the game ranking seventh or worse in every defensive category in the SEC. And it appears as if the Razorbacks will again be without one of their top defenders tonight.

Defensive end Tenarius Wright is still out with a broken arm. He's closer to healing, but Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said this week he still isn't game-ready.

One player who could be game-ready is wide receiver Greg Childs. Childs was held out of the Vanderbilt game with a tweaked knee, but he is down here running around and warming up with the wide receivers.

As for South Carolina, it looks like spur Antonio Allen is out for today's game. He suffered a neck injury during practice this week and wasn't warming up before the game. Allen leads South Carolina with 62 tackles and has 6.5 tackles for loss. He also has six takeaways on the season for the Gamecocks.

By the time Jarius Wright got to his cell phone Saturday afternoon, it had blown up.

Well, not literally, but “blown up” in the same sense that Wright did earlier in the day at Cowboys Stadium in a record-breaking performance.

“I think everybody in the state of Arkansas had sent me some kind of message,” Wright joked.

It was a memorable day for Wright and the Hogs.

He tied the Arkansas record with 13 catches and broke the school record with 281 receiving yards. In fact, he’d already eclipsed the record for receiving yards by halftime.

If you’re wondering how Wright’s performance stacks up all-time in the SEC, it’s the second-best day ever in terms of receiving yards in a game. The only one better was turned in by LSU’s Josh Reed in 2001, when he had 293 receiving yards against Alabama.

It’s one of those games that nobody will soon forget. Wright put up incredible numbers and so did quarterback Tyler Wilson, who passed for a school-record 510 yards.

But the number that Wright is fixated on is four, because it was the Hogs’ fourth win and a win they badly needed after being flattened by Alabama the week before.

And the way they won is what means the most to Wright. The Hogs charged back from an 18-point halftime deficit to beat Texas A&M 42-38.

“It shows the kind of composure we have as a team and that we’re going to keep our heads and stick together no matter what,” said Wright, who now leads the SEC in catches (28) and receiving yards (478). “It’s the kind of win we can build on moving forward.”

As for it being a statement game for Wright, he said he doesn’t really see it that way.

The Hogs entered this season with a collection of receivers widely regarded as the best in college football.

Greg Childs was probably the most highly regarded by NFL scouts. Joe Adams was the guy everyone feared after the catch, and Cobi Hamilton was the up-and-comer of the group.

Wright was sort of the other guy. Everybody knew he had great speed, but could he be the go-to guy?

It’s safe to say that the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior has answered that question emphatically this season. He’s easily been the most consistent of the Arkansas receivers, and he’s a leader in every sense.

What’s more, he’s never been caught up in where he ranks in any pecking order.

“I don’t ever get into the argument about who’s the best receiver in the SEC,” Wright said. “That doesn’t matter to me as much as winning. I just want to win. That’s the first priority, and stats come second.

“As long as we win the game, I’m going to be happy.”

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino could tell back in the offseason that Wright was poised for a big year.

“Jarius started this off in the winter with his best season of training, his fastest 40 time, weighed the most he’s ever weighed, lifted the most he’s ever lifted and really, really dedicated himself to having a great senior year,” Petrino said. “He’s been the leader of that receiving corps now for three years and gives us great energy and great play.”

Wright, who ran a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash back in March, has put that speed to good use this season after the catch.

“He’s a great route-runner. He’s extremely fast and catches the ball well in his hands,” Petrino said. “I think what he’s added to his game this year is the ability to run after the catch, and the yards he’s made after catching the ball have really increased from the previous three years.”

The added attention Wright may receive from opposing defenses the rest of the way may also increase.

Adams injured his ribs last week, but is expected to play this Saturday against Auburn. Childs is still working his way back from last season’s torn patellar tendon.

But don’t be fooled, Wright warned.

“We have a lot of weapons, and if you shadow me, then that’s going to leave Joe or Greg or Cobi or one of the younger guys open,” Wright said. “If you want to do that, go ahead.”

After the first month of the season, we’re starting to get some answers to our preseason questions.

Here’s a look at what we learned in Week 4 in the SEC:

1. Alabama and LSU reign: It looked like the Big Two from the time this season began. Now, we can say with certainty that it’s the Big Two. You’ve got Alabama and LSU, and then you’ve got everybody else in the SEC. The Crimson Tide and Tigers are clearly the class of this league and on a collision course that culminates on Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa. LSU has accomplished more than anybody in the country to this point with its three wins over Top 25 teams away from home and deserves to be the No. 1 team in the polls, but Alabama is right there in that same elite group. After that, it’s hard to say that there is an elite team in the SEC. That’s also not to say that Alabama or LSU won’t slip up somewhere along the way. To think that a team will come out of this league unbeaten for a third straight season is probably against the odds. But then you watch Alabama and LSU play and think, “The only team strong enough to beat either of these teams is the other one.”

2. Defending LSU’s defense: The numbers weren’t pretty Saturday in Morgantown, but you can’t argue with the results. LSU’s defense, which had been dominant coming into the game, was shredded by West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith to the tune of 463 passing yards. Smith also wasn’t sacked in the game. No defense ever wants to give up more than 500 total yards in a game, but one thing to keep in mind is that West Virginia threw the ball 65 times. Moreover, Smith is going to light up a lot of defenses this season, especially when he’s putting the ball in the air that much. LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is a terrific cornerback and had the kickoff return for a touchdown to send the Mountaineers packing. But it wasn’t one of his better nights in coverage. Really, it wasn’t one of LSU’s better nights as a whole defensively, particularly in the third quarter. But the bottom line is that the Tigers held West Virginia to 21 points on the road with the Mountaineers throwing the ball on virtually every down. If that’s as bad as it gets for LSU’s defense, then this team is going to win a bunch of games this season.

3. Arkansas’ not the same team: The Hogs have been here before under Bobby Petrino. They rebounded last season from their loss to Alabama and went on to play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. They may very well do the same thing this season, although it doesn’t get any easier this week against Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas. What’s clear coming out of Saturday’s 38-14 loss at Alabama is that this is not the same team as a year ago and not the same team the Hogs thought they were going to have when preseason camp opened in August. You take away a premier running back like Knile Davis and one of your best players and best leaders on defense like Jake Bequette, and there’s going to be a drop-off. That drop-off was glaring Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The Hogs hope to get Bequette back from a hamstring injury against Texas A&M, but it’s apparently a nasty one. It’s not just the loss of Davis and Bequette that’s holding back Arkansas, either. Receiver Greg Childs clearly isn’t the same player he was before tearing his patellar tendon last season, and there’s still a lot of work to do at offensive tackle. Give credit to Willy Robinson’s defense for hanging in there against Alabama and keeping Arkansas in the game in the first half. But if the Hogs can’t run the ball against some of the better defenses, they’re going to have a difficult time matching last season’s record.

4. The wild, wild East: Who’s the best team in the East? Through four weeks, Florida probably has as strong a claim as anyone. But as soon you start thinking the Gators might win the division, you glance over their schedule. They get Alabama at home this coming Saturday and also have to play at LSU and at South Carolina, not to mention their annual game against Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla. Speaking of the Bulldogs, they’ve got the easiest schedule the rest of the way and are getting better on defense every week. South Carolina may be the biggest mystery in the East. The Gamecocks are talented. They make big plays, but they also may be the sloppiest team in the division. Good luck to the Head Ball Coach in figuring out that quarterback situation, because right now, Stephen Garcia looks more like a true freshman than he does a fifth-year senior, and sophomore Connor Shaw still doesn’t look quite ready. Don’t forget about Tennessee and Vanderbilt, either, although the Vols lost a lot of their punch when Justin Hunter went down and the Commodores have zero punch on offense.

5. Riding Rainey and Demps: First-year Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis promised when he arrived in Gainesville that he’d find more than a few ways to get the football to Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. Weis said he’d never had that kind of speed at running back before at any level and was going to make sure he used it to the max. So far, he’s been true to his word. Rainey and Demps have already left several vapor trails out on the field this season, and they both rushed for more than 100 yards in the 48-10 battering of Kentucky on Saturday. The Gators rushed for 405 yards in that game, and even though Rainey and Demps aren’t the biggest guys, they’re finding their way into open spaces with regularity. And when they get a step on you, it’s goodbye. They’re easily the most dynamic running back combination in the SEC to this point. They’ve combined for nine touchdowns, and each has a scoring play of 80-plus yards. You better not blink when either of these guys touches the ball.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It’s a picture-perfect day at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The sun’s out. There’s a little breeze in the air, and here in a little bit we find out a lot about Alabama and Arkansas’ football teams.

If Arkansas is going to win this game, the Hogs will almost certainly have to hit some big plays in the passing game. Alabama’s defense is too good to expect a lot of long scoring drives. The Crimson Tide lead the country with 21 three-and-outs.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said this week that Arkansas’ top four receivers were the best set of receivers on any one team in college football.

You talk to a lot of people around the league, and there's a growing feeling that Arkansas’ Joe Adams is perhaps the SEC's best playmaker in the open field since Florida’s Percy Harvin.

The Hogs will certainly make every effort to get the ball to Adams in space today, and he’s also returned two punts for touchdowns this season.

The jury is still out on how far back Greg Childs is after missing the last part of last season with a torn patellar tendon. He missed last week’s game because of the death of his grandmother and was pretty quiet in the first two games.

Childs is a stretch-the-field guy, and the Hogs could also use a big game from him to help soften up that Alabama defense.

This is also a prove-it-to-me game for Alabama’s secondary, which was a liability at times last season because of inexperience, but has been one of the most improved units on the team so far this season.

Teams are completing just 38.5 percent of their passes against Alabama’s defense, which leads the country.

Alabama junior cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, whose improved consistency has mirrored that of the entire secondary, knows what’s coming Saturday.

“This is one of those games where as a kid you dreamed of having the ball thrown your way,” Kirkpatrick said. “I know they’re going to try me, and they have great receivers. But I’m going to be ready for whatever they throw at me.”

There’s a clear Big Two right now in the SEC’s Western Division, and everybody knows who those two are.

LSU is ranked No. 2 this week in the Associated Press poll, and Alabama is ranked No. 3.

The date of their game (Nov. 5) has been circled on everybody in this league’s calendar since last season ended.

If the SEC is indeed going to make it six national championships in a row, it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t think it will be either Alabama or LSU hoisting that crystal trophy in New Orleans come January.

But the SEC also has another streak going. Four different teams from the league have won the last four national titles.

Arkansas would love to be the fifth, and the Hogs get their chance on Saturday in Tuscaloosa to prove that the Big Two in the West is really the Big Three.

This is what Bobby Petrino and the Hogs have been building toward ever since he arrived four years ago. They got a taste of it last season with their Allstate Sugar Bowl appearance and won 10 games.

But they judge you in this league by championships, and Saturday’s showdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium would be a perfect stage for the Hogs to prove that they belong in the same elite status as both Alabama and LSU.

Are they ready?

We’re going to find out, but they seem to be more equipped than they have been under Petrino to win a game of this magnitude.

For one, it’s the best defense Arkansas has fielded under Petrino. The Hogs are deep and athletic up front, and it’s also a veteran unit. Defensive end Jake Bequette, linebacker Jerry Franklin, linebacker Jerico Nelson and safety Tramain Thomas have all been playing since they were freshmen and sophomores.

If this is a fourth-quarter game similar to a year ago, the Hogs shouldn't be overwhelmed by the pressure.

“We’ve got a lot of experience on our defense,” Thomas said. “We know we’re more than capable of getting a ‘W’ out there. We’re going to come out there focused and confident and take it from there.”

One of the concerns for the Hogs on defense is Bequette’s health. They’re hopeful he’ll be able to play and will be close to 100 percent, but hamstring injuries can be tricky. Arkansas isn't the same without him, either, with his ability to both rush the passer and play the run.

On offense, the Hogs clearly have enough playmakers to stretch that Alabama offense and give the Crimson Tide their first real test of the season.

Even though Penn State is a tough place to play, the Nittany Lions weren’t good enough offensively to seriously challenge the Crimson Tide. The Hogs are.

They’re also getting receivers Jarius Wright and Greg Childs back for this game. Wright was held out of last week’s 38-28 win over Troy with a knee strain, while Childs missed the game after the death of his grandmother.

“We feel like we have the best receiving corps in the country, so that’s going to help out a lot, having more playmakers on the field,” said Arkansas running back Ronnie Wingo, who’s stepped in for Knile Davis. “It’s just going to make it harder for Alabama to stop the whole offense and look on film and say, ‘What are they going to do here and there with so many weapons?’ ”

Ultimately, what it’s going to come down to for the Hogs is whether they can protect quarterback Tyler Wilson and whether they can run the ball at least a little bit on first and second down to avoid a glut of third-and-long situations.

Alabama’s defense specializes in getting teams in third-and-long.

Petrino has said over and over again that nobody does a better job than Alabama of hitting your quarterback.

Wilson was sacked three times last week against Troy, and the Hogs are playing a true freshman, Mitch Smothers, at one of their offensive tackle spots. The Hogs will need an "A" game from their offensive line and an "A" game from their running game in general.

This year is a little different for Arkansas in that the Hogs had three nonconference games prior to the Alabama game. Petrino said earlier this week that Arkansas used an entire week in the preseason to prepare for Alabama.

The Hogs typically do that for their SEC opener, according to Petrino, but last season that opener was against Georgia. So you can bet that Arkansas’ players have already seen plenty of Alabama tape.

Last season’s loss to the Tide still stings, too, especially the way the Hogs failed to finish the game at home after leading 20-7.

“Pretty much since last season’s game, we’ve been wanting to get back at these guys, and now we have the opportunity,” Thomas said. “We have to seize the opportunity.”

It’s noteworthy that both of Arkansas’ games against Alabama and LSU are on the road this season. So losing this first one would really put the Hogs in a hole.

Petrino has lost three in a row to Alabama and Nick Saban. In fact, Alabama is the only team that Petrino has lost to three times, period, as a college head coach.

It’s also a team Arkansas has to beat if the Hogs are going to step up in class and make it the Big Three in the West.

“For our program and our football team, it’s a win that we need,” Petrino said. “We have not beat Alabama yet, and we certainly need to do that. More importantly, we need to start off the conference with a victory.”

It’s our weekly look at who and what are hot around the SEC and who and what aren’t so hot:

GLOWING EMBERS

Mark Richt’s seat: Yes, I know this is a predictable one, and I don’t necessarily agree with it, but there’s no getting around the fact that Richt is in the deepest hole of his head-coaching career. The one thing the Bulldogs couldn’t do to start this season was go 0-2. At least that was the thinking coming in. Well, they’re 0-2 and banged-up at linebacker. The schedule is really pretty manageable the rest of the way, and what’s going to be critical for Richt is winning some games that count. In other words, he doesn’t need to lose to Florida, doesn’t need to lose to Tennessee and doesn’t need to lose to Auburn. What’s encouraging for the Bulldogs is that they played much better on defense this past Saturday in their 45-42 loss to South Carolina, and freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell is a guy they can ride on offense. Richt has his work cut out, no question, and he’s given the fans who want him out even more ammunition with a 0-2 start. But we’ve only played two games. Can we at least see how the entire season plays out before we start sending moving fans to the guy's house? I think he’s earned that.

HOT

Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray: The concern last season as a freshman was his completion percentage. Well, he’s completing 78.5 percent of his passes in his first two games this season with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s now thrown 22 touchdown passes in his last seven games dating back to a year ago.

NOT

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley’s orange pants: If you get anywhere near them, make sure you have your sunglasses. They rate right up there with some of those outlandish trousers Rodney Dangerfield wore in “Caddyshack.”

HOT

Florida’s defense: In two games, the Gators have allowed just one field goal and are holding opponents to an average of 174.5 total yards. The Gators haven’t had to show much, either, on defense in their first two games, but you can bet Will Muschamp will break out a few new blitzes and such this week when Tennessee comes to town.

NOT

Arkansas receiver Greg Childs: He’s not going to stay this quiet for long. He’s too good of a player. But Childs has caught just two passes for 29 yards and no touchdowns the first two weeks. He’s coming off that torn patellar tendon from a year ago, so it may be a while before we see him all the way back.

HOT

Mississippi State running back Vick Ballard: He’s running like a guy who feels like he has a lot to prove. Ballard was overshadowed by some of the backs in this league last season. But not anymore. He leads the SEC in rushing with 301 yards and has scored four touchdowns.

NOT

NCAA: The NCAA gets a lot of unwarranted heat, but it’s time that some of these punishments it's handing down to players are at least consistent. Don’t suspend a kid like Sharrif Floyd for two games when he’s just trying to find a place to sleep at night and then let others play on just because there’s a loophole in the rules … or a big bowl game coming up.

HOT

Vanderbilt defensive tackle Rob Lohr: He was a one-man wrecking crew in the middle for the Commodores in their 24-21 win over Connecticut. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound junior had four tackles for loss and a pass deflection and was a big reason UConn managed just 193 yards of total offense.

NOT

Auburn’s defense: Auburn has flirted with giving up 1,000 yards on defense in two games. The Tigers are ranked 111^th nationally in total defense, giving up an average of 489.5 yards per game. They’re giving up yards in chunks and making critical errors. Yet, somehow, the defending champs have managed to win.

FREEZER BURN

Kentucky’s passing game: It’s been a rocky start for junior quarterback Morgan Newton, but he hasn’t gotten a lot of help, either. The Wildcats are ranked 115^th nationally in passing offense through the first two weeks. They’re averaging just 105.5 passing yards per game, and Newton is completing just 44.4 percent of his passes. He’s thrown four interceptions and two touchdowns. The other part of this story is his receivers, who’ve had a serious case of the dropsies. Dropped passes were a problem in the spring. They were a problem in the preseason, and they’ve been a problem the first two games. The Wildcats also haven’t protected as well as they did a year ago and have given up six sacks after giving up just 19 in 13 games in 2010. It’s a fact that Kentucky is 2-0. It’s also a fact that the Wildcats need to get a lot better in the passing game if they’re going to extend their bowl streak.

The Pony Express Award preseason watch list came out earlier this week and included some talented combos from the SEC.

But who’s the best combo in the league?

Taking it a step further, how would you rank the top 10 two-player combos in the league?

Here’s what we came up with:

1. RB Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina: Is there a more explosive combo anywhere in college football? They combined for 28 touchdowns last season and 3,126 combined rushing and receiving yards. Key on one of them, and the other one will torch you.

2. LB Dont’a Hightower and LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama: They’re the two best linebackers in the league, and both are big-play performers. They had a combined 18 tackles for loss last season, and Hightower’s more than a year removed now from his knee injury. On passing downs, they’ll line up as edge rushers.

3. WR Greg Childs and WR Joe Adams, Arkansas: The only problem with the Hogs is picking just two receivers. Jarius Wright is a star in his own right. Childs still has to prove he’s all the way back from his injury, but the Childs-Adams combination is a nightmare for any secondary.

4. RB Mike Dyer and RB Onterio McCalebb, Auburn: They form the best one-two punch at running back in the league. Dyer is a human bowling ball who wears down defenses. McCalebb is one of the SEC’s premier breakaway threats. They averaged a combined 6.9 yards per carry last season.

5. S Mark Barron and S Robert Lester, Alabama: Lester burst onto the scene last season with an SEC-leading eight interceptions. Barron has 10 picks in his last two seasons and hits like a linebacker. Good luck in finding a better safety combo in college football.

6. DE Devin Taylor and DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina: Before it’s over, freshman phenom Jadeveon Clowney might be a part of this club. All three can go get the passer. Taylor and Ingram combined for 16.5 sacks last season, and Ingram is versatile enough to also play inside some.

7. CB Morris Claiborne and NB Tyrann Mathieu, LSU: The Tigers are going to use Mathieu at the nickelback position this season, which is perfect. He’s a magnet to the football. Claiborne is one of the top cover cornerbacks in the game. Together, they’re going to make a ton of plays.

8. C William Vlachos and OG Barrett Jones, Alabama: The only thing that could break up this combination is if Jones moves to left tackle permanently. If he stays put, the Crimson Tide will be rock-solid up the middle with a pair of guys who’ve started 25 games alongside each other.

9. QB Aaron Murray and TE Orson Charles, Georgia: Murray accounted for 28 touchdowns last season in his first tour through the SEC. Look for a few more of those touchdowns to go Charles’ way this season. The Bulldogs are going to see to it that he gets the ball.

10. OG Larry Warford and OG Stuart Hines, Kentucky: The Wildcats enter the 2011 season with four starters back on the offensive line, a group that should be the strength of the team. One of the reasons why is the Warford-Hines combo at guard. They’re road-graders in the run game, but equally good in pass protection.

Now is the time in which we find out who this Arkansas team really is.

The loss of running back Knile Davis is a major blow to the Razorbacks and their chances to make not only a run for the SEC title but a national championship one as well.

But Arkansas’ season is far from over and this is what coach Bobby Petrino has been building toward -- a team that doesn’t revolve around just one player. He has the pieces in place to still make the Hogs very competitive in the West, but now is the time for those pieces to step up.

Fellow SEC blogger Chris Low discussed how the limelight is now on running backs Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo.

In a cruel, twisted way, this is an opportunity for Johnson, who missed most of the 2010 season with a bowel injury last year, to show the league the kind of player he is and it’s a chance for him to lead the Hogs once again.

But the burden doesn’t just fall on the running backs. New quarterback Tyler Wilson will be feeling more of the heat, along with his tremendous trio of wide receivers in Greg Childs, Joe Adams and Jarius Wright, who combined for 138 catches for 2,260 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2010. Add speedster Cobi Hamilton, who grabbed 32 catches for 630 yards and six touchdowns, and the Razorbacks have plenty of weapons to rely on in the passing game.

“The speed we have at our skilled positions, particularly on offense, at wide receiver and running back, give us an opportunity to be a special offense,” Petrino said at SEC media days.

Wilson has played very little, but his coaches and teammates have rallied around him, making him a captain for the upcoming season, so if he wants to be a championship quarterback, he’d better squash those internal butterflies early.

But what of that offensive line? The Razorbacks lost three starters from a season ago, and having Davis behind them would have helped to overshadow some of their mistakes. Now, the developmental processes must be accelerated up front in order to make things easier for Johnson and Wingo.

However, the area that most figure will separate the Hogs from a championship team and just a talented SEC team is the defense.

A unit offenses have drooled over facing is supposedly faster, stronger and more intimidating. Petrino thinks he has the best defense he’s had in Fayetteville, with a line that features power in the middle and speed on the outside with Jake Bequette and Tenarius Wright. He expects Jerry Franklin and Jerico Nelson to be terrors in the box, while Tramain Thomas and Isaac Madison should have most of the secondary covered.

OK defense, it's time to make your coach proud.

True championship teams overcome adversity and find ways to win. Just ask Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Arkansas was dealt a cruel hand Thursday night, but that’s why you recruit and Petrino feels like he he’s done well enough in that area that one missing part won‘t derail championship hopes.

Now is the time to see if he’s right.

Now that preseason camp is in full swing and several of the teams have gone through scrimmages, we roll out our preseason All-SEC team today.

There were some tough calls, but that's always the case in a league that has this much talent.

Here goes:

OFFENSE

• TE -- Orson Charles, Jr., Georgia
• OL -- Barrett Jones, Jr., Alabama
• OL -- Cordy Glenn, Sr., Georgia
• OL -- Bradley Sowell, Sr., Ole Miss
• OL -- Larry Warford, Jr., Kentucky
• C -- William Vlachos, Sr., Alabama
• WR -- Alshon Jeffery, Jr., South Carolina
• WR -- Greg Childs, Sr., Arkansas
• QB -- Aaron Murray, So., Georgia
• RB -- Trent Richardson, Jr., Alabama
• RB -- Marcus Lattimore, So., South Carolina

DEFENSE

• DL -- Devin Taylor, Jr., South Carolina
• DL -- Jaye Howard, Sr., Florida
• DL -- Jake Bequette, Sr., Arkansas
• DL -- Malik Jackson, Sr., Tennessee
• LB -- Dont’a Hightower, Jr., Alabama
• LB -- Courtney Upshaw, Sr., Alabama
• LB -- Danny Trevathan, Sr., Kentucky
• DB -- Morris Claiborne, Jr., LSU
• DB -- Stephon Gilmore, Jr., South Carolina
• DB -- Mark Barron, Sr., Alabama
• DB -- Casey Hayward, Sr., Vanderbilt

SPECIALISTS

• PK -- Blair Walsh, Sr., Georgia
• P -- Drew Butler, Sr., Georgia
• RS -- Brandon Boykin, Sr., Georgia
• AP -- Joe Adams, Sr., Arkansas

HOOVER, Ala. -- It is so easy for coaches and players to bring the redundant coach speak for media days.

Most don't want to ruffle feathers or provide bulletin board material.

But not Arkansas' crew.

The Razorbacks are embracing their high expectations. In fact, they're sprinting right toward them.

Entering his fourth year at Arkansas, Bobby Petrino has a team poised to make not only a run at the SEC title, but he sees a team ready to compete for the big one -- the national title.

"I'm not afraid of high expectations," Petrino said. "I'm excited with the fact that two years in a row now we have very high expectations. No. 1, our players have high expectations. Certainly our coaching staff does. Our fans in the state of Arkansas do. Our administration does.

"It's fun to approach the year that way, that, 'Hey, we're going to go out and be a contender, be a good football team, see what we can do to win ourselves a championship.' I think it motivates you throughout the offseason, througout spring ball, throughout the summertime."

What has Petrino and the rest of the Razorback faithful so confident? Well, for starters, the Hogs return a high-powered offense that features three senior receivers in Jarius Wright, Greg Childs and Joe Adams, and arguably one of the league's most complete running backs in Knile Davis.

Together, the foursome manufactured 3,582 yards of offense and 30 touchdowns in 2010.

Defensively, Arkansas figures to have its best group of players that it's had under Petrino, with veterans littering that side of the ball.

Ryan Mallett and his cannon of a throwing arm might have departed for the NFL, but both the players and coaches have full confidence that Tyler Wilson will fill Mallet's spot nicely and should create his own special path.

"He's not going to be a Ryan Mallett. He's going to be a Tyler Wilson," Davis said. "He has his own identity and he's going to do great things for us."

The Razorbacks can read. They appreciate the preseason respect, but they also see the praise for Alabama and LSU. More often than not, the Hogs are seeing their names penciled in below those traditional SEC giants.

They're cool with that, but their goals don't involve sitting behind those schools. The Razorbacks envision themselves sitting and posing with the league trophy in Atlanta.

"The team as a whole is very confident," Davis said. "Since coach Petrino got here, we've gotten a lot better every year and made improvements. We feel like setting big goals is the only way for us to get to the SEC championship. We have the players to do it. We just don't see why we can't."

The SEC is stockpiled with receiving talent, but that should come to no one's surprise.

Unlike the team rankings, we decided to split up the wide receivers and tight ends. Remember, these rankings are based on season projections, skill level and body of work.

We sparked a lot of debate with the running backs Wednesday, so I image the receivers will get similar attention as well.

Here's what we came up with:

1. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, Jr.: It would be hard to find a better receiver than Jeffery in the league. He might not be the fastest or most explosive player out there, but his 6-foot-4, 233-pound frame makes him tough for any defender to cover. He was nearly impossible to contain in one-on-one situations last year, and he led the SEC with 88 receptions for 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns.

2. Greg Childs, Arkansas, Sr.: Assuming he’s back to full health after his knee injury in 2010, Childs is the Razorbacks’ best option at receiver. He’s big, fast and tremendous after the catch. Before his season-ending injury during the eighth game of the season, Childs registered 46 catches for 659 yards and six touchdowns.

3. Marquis Maze, Alabama, Sr.: Maze is no Julio Jones, but he’s no slouch either. He’ll be the Crimson Tide’s top option at receiver this fall and caught 38 passes for 557 yards and three touchdowns last season. Maze has the speed to elude defenders and proved last year that he’s got the strength to shed tackles as well.

4. Joe Adams, Arkansas, Sr.: Adams made solid gains last year and was the Razorbacks’ leading receiver. He’s another physical wideout who is most dangerous after he catches the ball. Adams will man the slot and won’t be intimidated by making plays over the middle of the field.

5. Jarius Wright, Arkansas, Sr.: Another Arkansas receiver makes the list because this team thrives on the deep ball. Wright is the fastest of the Hogs’ wideouts. He proved as much when he ran a sub-4.3 40 during the offseason. Wright has the potential to move up on this list if he can continue to show he can regularly shake tackles.

6. Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State, Jr.: Bumphis should be higher on this list with the skill he possesses, but he’s yet to put it all together. Bumphis is extremely athletic and will lineup all over the field, but he’s got to be more consistent. Quarterback Chris Relf has improved his passing skills, so Bumphis will have plenty of opportunities to take his game to the next level.

7. Rueben Randle, LSU, Jr.: The Tigers have a lot of talent at the position and Randle could be the one who takes over as LSU’s top receiver. Last year, he caught 33 passes for 544 yards and three touchdowns and showed throughout the season that he can be a reliable playmaker in the offense. He’s talented enough to go across the middle and be a deep threat.

8. Justin Hunter, Tennessee, So.: Hunter only caught 16 passes in 2010, but seven of them went for touchdowns and he racked up more than 400 receiving yards. He’s certainly got a nose for the end zone and should be quarterback Tyler Bray’s top receiving option.

9. Tavarres King, Georgia, Jr.: He’s not A.J. Green, but he did a good job filling in for him at the flanker spot this spring. King not only had a solid spring, he is also no stranger to the offense, catching 27 passes for 504 yards last fall. He’s got some burning ability as well.

10. Emory Blake, Auburn, Jr.: If Auburn can find the right quarterback, Blake could move up this list. As a sophomore, he caught 33 passes for 554 yards and eight touchdowns. Blake also has the size to frustrate smaller corners around the league and should win more one-on-one battles.

Today we take a look at the wide receiver/tight end positions in the SEC. This one gets tricky since we’re basing rankings on two different positions.

Let’s take a look at what we came up with:

1. Arkansas: The Razorbacks could have the best wide receiver corps in the country. Making things even better for Arkansas is that each member of its tremendous trio is a senior. First, there’s Greg Childs, who would have taken part in the NFL draft this year had he not suffered a knee injury late in the season. Childs is Arkansas’ best receiver when he’s healthy. Joe Adams really came on strong last year, especially after Childs went down. He’s the best when he gets the ball in open space and will command the slot. Then there’s Jarius Wright, who is the fastest of the three and got even stronger this spring as well. The three have 324 combined career receptions for 5,404 yards and 41 touchdowns.

2. LSU: The Tigers might have lost Terrence Toliver, but they’ll still have weapons at receiver. Junior Rueben Randle is expected to be the go-to guy in LSU’s offense and is coming off a season where he caught 33 passes for 544 yards and three touchdowns. Russell Shepard was right behind him last season, catching the same amount of balls, but only totaled 254 yards and one touchdown. He looked sharper this spring and is looking to break out this fall. Tight end Deangelo Peterson should also get more attention this fall. He only caught 16 passes, but that number should increase.

3. South Carolina: For starters, the Gamecocks have the league’s best receiver in Alshon Jeffery. The 6-foot-4, 233-pound freak snatched just about everything that came his way last fall and registered 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s nearly impossible to stop in one-on-one situations. Senior Jason Barnes didn't make a major impact in 2010, but he does have 60 career receptions under his belt. The smaller Ace Sanders should be even better after bursting onto the scene with 25 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns. D.L. Moore, who caught 17 passes in 2010, should have a more expanded role as well.

4. Georgia: The Bulldogs are still looking for a few playmakers at receiver, but there is definitely talent in Athens. Junior Tavarres King has moved into A.J. Green’s flanker spot and while he’s not Green, he proved this spring that he’s ready to be the Bulldogs' main receiving threat. Tight end Orson Charles is the best at his position and can flex out to receiver if needed. His 26 catches for 422 yards should increase this upcoming season. Marlon Brown also made strides this spring and should be the No. 2 receiver.

5. Tennessee: Neither Justin Hunter nor Da'Rick Rogers had a ton of catches last fall, but that will change with a strong passing game in 2011. Hunter caught 16 passes, but registered 415 yards and seven touchdowns in the process. He’s a solid deep threat and playmaker. Rogers also only caught 16 passes, and while he didn’t have the yardage Hunter had, he made tremendous strides this spring. Tight end Mychal Rivera caught 11 passes in 2010 and with Luke Stocker gone he takes over as the Vols’ weapon at tight end.

6. Alabama: There aren’t a lot of questions surrounding the Crimson Tide, but receiver isn’t Alabama’s best area. Seniors Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks should get the brunt of the catches. They combined for 70 catches for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns last season. There is a long list of other inexperienced players who should grab some catches as well and former Ohio State receiver Duron Carter, who just transferred in, could be a factor this fall.

7. Florida: The Gators have talent at wide receiver, and Florida should have a more pass-friendly offense, but the group is very unproven. Frankie Hammond Jr. could be Florida’s best weapon at receiver with his speed and athleticism. Omarius Hines has the size and speed to be a major mismatch for defenders in the slot and on the outside. Freshman Quinton Dunbar was Florida’s top deep threat this spring and should get ample playing time. At tight end, Jordan Reed was called Florida’s best athlete and could end up being the Gators’ top playmaker. Trey Burton should catch a few more passes as well.

8. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have a ton of depth at receiver, starting with Chad Bumphis. The junior has yet to really break out, but this could be the year he finally puts it together. Alongside him, Mississippi State has Chris Smith, Brandon Heavens and Arceto Clark, who all had solid springs. Those four combined for 115 catches last fall. The Bulldogs also have a host of young receivers who appear ready to compete.

9. Auburn: There is still some talent left on the Plains at receiver. Sure, Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachery are gone, but the Tigers will look to Emory Blake and Trovon Reed to make up for their departures. Blake is the leading returning receiver, while Reed will be used all over the field by Auburn’s coaches. He can be a threat in the slot and on the outside. Philip Lutzenkirchen will be more of a staple in the offense as the Tigers’ trusted H-back.

10. Ole Miss: Athletically, the Rebels are fine. However, this group is very inexperienced and was inconsistent this spring. The incoming freshmen will have every opportunity to take a starting spot and Tobias Singleton could be the best option of Ole Miss’ youngsters. Of the returners, Melvin Harris did the most in 2010, catching 30 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Vincent Sanders will also get a chance to heavily contribute after making strong strides this spring.

11. Vanderbilt: Four of Vanderbilt’s five receiving leaders return, but the group wasn’t tremendously productive last fall. The Commodores didn’t have a receiver go over 320 yards last season and tight end Brandon Barden caught a team-high 34 passes for 425 yards. Vanderbilt's top two wideouts -- John Cole and Jonathan Krause -- are back, but the Commodores might have to turn to their youngsters for help.

12. Kentucky: The Wildcats lost a lot when do-everything Randall Cobb left early for the NFL and things didn’t get any better by losing No. 2 wideout Chris Matthews. Now, it’s back to the drawing board in Lexington. La'Rod King should be the top target for quarterback Morgan Newton, but he disappointed at times this spring. Matt Roark and E.J. Fields will compete for time, but both need vast improvement. The top athlete could be Brian Adams, but he spent spring playing for Kentucky’s baseball team.