No. 8 Arkansas will have a sweet season finale in New Orleans.
The Razorbacks (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) are headed to the Sugar Bowl for their first BCS bowl appearance.
The Hogs will play No. 6 Ohio State (11-1, 7-1 Big 10) Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in their first Sugar Bowl in 30 years. The Razorbacks have never played the Buckeyes, but can record their first 11-win season since 1977 with a victory.
“We’re very very proud to be playing in the Sugar Bowl,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “I’m very proud of our football team. It’s been a great year and we’ve had a lot of fun. It’s been probably one of the most enjoyable I’ve had in coaching simply because the players have demonstrated a very good work ethic, always had a positive attitude toward our preparation and practice. We’ve had great leadership from within the team and that’s what has allowed us to be successful.
“Our players and coaching staff will have a great experience in New Orleans. We’re really looking forward to wrapping up the season by representing our fans in the first BCS game in school history. I’m excited about our preparation for the game and the challenge we’ll have in facing a very, very good Ohio State team. We certainly have a tremendous amount of respect for Ohio State and their program.”
No. 1 Auburn opened the door for the Razorbacks to earn the BCS berth with a 56-17 win over then-No. 19 South Carolina in the SEC Championship game. The Hogs were officially awarded the berth on ESPN’s BCS Selection Show Sunday night.
“We really didn’t root for Auburn yesterday,” Petrino said. “We rooted against South Carolina. That made it easier for us.”
It took Petrino just three seasons to get the Hogs to their first BCS contest.
“Going to a BCS game is a tremendous accomplishment for our football team,” Petrino said. “It’s something that was one of our goals when we came as a staff three years ago. We’re very, very happy to be representing the University of Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.”
Arkansas sold-out it’s Sugar Bowl ticket allotment. The Razorbacks were allotted 17,500 tickets and had 24,000 pre-ordered tickets.
Arkansas will be making its sixth Sugar Bowl appearance. The Razorbacks are 1-4 in the bowl, beating Georgia 16-2 in 1969. The Hogs’ last Sugar Bowl appearance was in 1980, a 24-9 loss against Alabama.
“As a team, we are very excited to be representing the state of Arkansas in the Allstate Sugar Bowl,” junior quarterback Ryan Mallett said in a statement. “Our focus the next few weeks will be to prepare to go play a very good Ohio State team. As I said when I made the decision to come back, we want the Razorbacks to be among the elite teams nationally.
“Everyone knows ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a part of an Arkansas team in a game like this and I’m thrilled for the opportunity. I know our fans will be in New Orleans to support us.”
The Hogs earned the bid by winning four games against ranked opponents and finishing the season on a six-game winning streak.
“We did play a very difficult schedule,” Petrino said. “It’s now all behind us. It’s now all about how we prepare for this game, how we come out and practice and perform. It should be a great matchup and an exciting game.”
Ohio State finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Big 10 with Wisconsin and Michigan State. The Badgers were ranked No. 5 in the BCS, earning the Rose Bowl bid and the Buckeyes were a Sugar Bowl at-large selection.
“Anyone that can go through the SEC and go 10-2 should be awfully proud,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said about Arkansas. “I don’t think you need to know much more than just look at their schedule and see the grind they went through and the fact that here they sit No. 8 playing that schedule.
“I know what we’ll see. We’ll see a great football team.”
Ohio State is 0-9 against SEC opponents in bowl games.
“Whenever you play an SEC team, I don’t care if it’s a bowl game or a regular-season game, you’re playing one of the finest teams in the country,” Tressel said. “Arkansas is, as evidenced by the polls and what they’ve done, one of the best teams in the country. It’s a tremendous challenge and we’re going to have to play our best football.
“That’s one of the things you shoot for when you begin the season.”
Arkansas is 0-3 against Big 10 opponents in bowl games – all three losses came under former coach Houston Nutt. It’s the Razorbacks’ first BCS appearance since the series began in 1998.
“This means everything,” junior defensive end Jake Bequette said. “Our fans are the best in the country and have been with the program through it all. It is an honor to represent them in the first BCS appearance in school history. Playing Ohio State will be a challenge, but we look forward to a great game against a program with such a great tradition.”
Petrino’s brother, Paul, is the offensive coordinator at Illinois. The Buckeyes beat the Illini 24-13 Oct. 2.
“I really haven’t talked to Paul about them yet, but I certainly will,” Petrino said. “Hopefully he can help me out a lot. I’ll try to get as much as I can from Paul. We talk every week and we did throughout the season. They spent an entire week preparing for (Ohio State), but watched them all year.
“You learn a lot about a team when you watch them play the other opponents that you’re trying to prepare for. I’ll try to get him on the phone as long as I possibly can.”
The contest will pit two highly-touted quarterbacks against each other. Mallett has thrown for 3,592 yards and 30 touchdowns. Ohio State junior Terrell Pryor has thrown for 2,551 yards and 25 touchdowns, while rushing for 639 yards and four touchdowns. Pryor is similiar to Auburn quarterback Cam Newton in size, speed and arm strength, Petrino said.
“They know how to win games,” Petrino said.
Mallett started three games as a true freshman at Michigan in 2007 before transferring to Arkansas.
“We are very familiar with Ryan Mallett from his time at Michigan,” Tressel said. “We hoped we were done with him when he transferred and here we are getting him at the height of his career.”