I was among those bitterly disappointed when Michigan abruptly cancelled their home-and-home series with us a couple of years ago. After all, we’d only played Michigan once (losing to the future GOAT Tom Brady in the Capitol 1 Bowl following the 1998 season), and never at either “The Big House”, or in the state or Arkansas. By then - or, so it was thought - Bielema and company would have recruited/developed a full complement of road graders and the Hogs would be ready to face anyone.
Fast forward to today, and it’s a blessing that Michigan dumped us to pick up a home-and home with one of their on again/off again rivals: Notre Dame. Instead, Arkansas will now play an FCS team (E. Illinois) that they have a much better chance of defeating in a season where wins will likely be hard to find. And, by 2020 (when, ironically, the Razorbacks will start a home-and-home series with Notre Dame as well), perhaps the Hogs will be ready to compete with them.