College Football

No. 11 Gators insist they won't overlook Arkansas

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

With the calendar turning to November, Florida is in position to win the Southeastern Conference's East Division for a second consecutive season.

But first, the Gators (6-1, 4-1 SEC) must survive a stretch of tough road games, beginning Saturday at Arkansas. The Gators and Razorbacks (5-3, 1-3) meet at 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS) at Donald W. Reynolds-Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Florida was ranked 11th on Tuesday in the first College Football Playoff standings. Arkansas did not make the Top 25.

Though the Razorbacks haven't beaten the Gators since joining the SEC in 1992, Florida coach Jim McElwain says Arkansas has established a physical identity under fourth-year coach Bret Bielema.

"Bret's done an outstanding job with that program, and what they've done as a program in November, take a look at that," McElwain said. "They have finished and really closed every year that he's been there.

"For our guys going into that environment, I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to our guys experiencing that. That's what playing at a place like Florida is all about, for those opportunities to go in and match yourself in an uncomfortable place."

Florida will enter the matchup with confidence after posting a 24-10 win over rival Georgia in Jacksonville. That win, combined with Tennessee's loss to South Carolina, puts Florida two games up on the Vols and a half-game up on Kentucky in the SEC East.

The Gators can clinch the SEC East title with two wins in their last three conference games, which includes a home game against South Carolina on Nov. 12 and a road game at LSU on Nov. 19.

"We have to win out," Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio said. "It's not like we have any breathing room."

Arkansas is coming off a bye after a 56-3 loss at Auburn on Oct. 22. However, the Razorbacks have proven capable of rising to the occasion against quality opponents, posting a 41-38 overtime win at TCU on Sept. 10.

"Everybody points to what happened in the Auburn game," McElwain said. "I think that was an anomaly a little bit. It got out of hand ... and took them out of their normal game. But I will say this, they're physical.

"They understand what they want to do and how to do it. They've very sound on both sides of the football, and for us, we have to be right."

Del Rio was not overwhelming against Georgia, but he did what he did to do to win. He finished the game completing 15 of 25 passes for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked three times. For the season, Del Rio has thrown for 1,128 yards with eight TDs and six interceptions.

Wide receiver Antonio Callaway amassed only 42 yards on four receptions but scored on a 4-yard rush to become the first Gator to score in five different ways -- with a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, a punt return for a touchdown , kickoff return for a touchdown and a pass for a touchdown. For the season, Callaway has a team-high 441 receiving yards on 27 catches.

Arkansas is coming off a bye week that came at a good time. Quarterback Austin Allen should be able to play despite injuring his right knee against Auburn. Though he spent much of the bye week on the sideline, Allen was back in practice by Sunday.

Others have benefited from the break as well. Tight end Jeremy Sprinkle didn't practice during the bye week to rest his injured ankle, and he should be much improved for the break.

Offensive guard Jake Raulerson also got a week off to rest his ankle and should be fine for Florida. Defensive end Deatrich Wise has a hand and shoulder injury but expects to play.

However, Arkansas right tackle Brian Wallace remains questionable. If he can't go, the likely replacement would be redshirt freshman Colton Jackson, who has struggled this season.

The contest is big for Arkansas for bowl positioning. The schedule doesn't get any easier, with a home game against No. 15 LSU and road trips to Mississippi State on the horizon. This week could mean the difference between weighing attractive postseason destinations or simply hoping to qualify to play anywhere at all.