The 66th edition of the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, will match stripped-down versions of the Texas Tech football team and Arkansas.
Tech (8-4) is without quarterback Behren Morton (shoulder surgery) and wide receiver Josh Kelly (opt out), both top 10 in the FBS in major statistical categories. Dalton Merryman and Ty Buchanan, part-time starters at tackle, have committed to new teams via the NCAA transfer portal.
On top of that, Tech’s offensive and defensive coordinators the past three seasons are gone, replaced for the bowl game on an interim basis by position coaches Justin “Juice” Johnson and C.J. Ah You.
Arkansas (6-6) has had four players declare for the NFL draft, including rushing leader Ja’Quinden Jackson, receiving leader Andrew Armstrong and sacks leader Landon Jackson. Since the transfer portal opened Dec. 9, the Razorbacks have had seven starters go in and five others in the two-deep.
The Razorbacks are 1 1/2-point favorites. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Friday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
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Two-time 1,500-yard rusher Tahj Brooks started the week in Memphis, though neither he nor Tech coach Joey McGuire had said at the time whether Brooks will play. If Brooks opts out, true freshmen Cameron Dickey (26 carries, 151 yards, one touchdown) and J’Koby Williams (26-113-1) become focal points. Arkansas boasts the FBS’ 32nd-ranked rushing defense and still has its top three tacklers: linebackers Xavian Sorey (89 tackles, nine tackles for loss) and Stephen Dix Jr. (65 tackles) and nickel back Doneiko Slaughter (76 tackles).
Advantage: Texas Tech if Brooks plays; Arkansas if he doesn’t.
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True freshmen Will Hammond and Jacob Ponton are set for their first career starts at quarterback and left tackle, respectively. The presence of WRs Caleb Douglas (55 catches, 762 yards, six TDs) and Coy Eakin (45-605-6) and TE Jalin Conyers (29-308-5) should help Hammond settle in. Arkansas ranks last in the SEC in pass defense and has lost its top two in sacks and S T.J. Metcalf (57 tackles, team highs of three interceptions, seven pass breakups).
Advantage: Texas Tech
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Without Ja’Quinden Jackson (149-790-15), Arkansas’ most dangerous run-game option could be QB Taylen Green (141-521-7). Freshman RB Braylen Russell (47-304-2) has had his name in and out of the portal twice each, but Arkansas lists sophomore Rodney Hill (20-103-2) as its starter. The Razorbacks’ 41st-ranked rush offense is further diminished by the portal departures of three starting offensive linemen. A Tech defense led by LBs Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts hasn’t lost a lot in the portal.
Advantage: Texas Tech
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Gone are WRs Armstrong (78-1,140-1) and Isaiah Sategna (37-491-1) and TE Luke Hasz (26-324-4). WR Isaac TeSlaa (25-438-3) is the only player on the Razorbacks’ bowl depth chart with at least 200 yards receiving. It’s a matchup of resistible force vs. movable object with Tech’s pass defense next to last in the FBS, despite five sacks from Rodriguez and four interceptions from S C.J. Baskerville. Green’s the SEC’s fourth-leading passer with 2,813 yards.
Advantage: Arkansas
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Tech K Gino Garcia (18 of 19 field goals) and KR Drae McCray (26.4-yard average) stack up with most of the nation’s best in their categories, and P Jack Burgess (42.0-yard average) has been solid. Arkansas P Devin Bale (44.9-yard average) ranks fifth in the SEC, but PR Sategna returned all punts for the Razorbacks this year and was one of the transfer-portal departures.
Advantage: Texas Tech
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Bottom line: Arkansas, with its proximity to Memphis, could have more fans, but the Razorbacks also have suffered more attrition by key players. Texas Tech is set up to win a bowl for the fourth year in a row and third in that time against an SEC opponent.
