Where Hogs now rank in ESPN's Football Power Index rankings

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As the dust settled from a field rush following Arkansas' 19-14 victory over Tennessee on Saturday, ESPN adjusted its Football Power Index ratings and added the Razorbacks at No. 24.

The Razorbacks controlled the offensive line on both sides of the ball en route to a thrilling victory that could have changed the direction of Arkansas' season. Turnovers and mental breakdowns against Oklahoma State and Texas A&M were a thorn in the Razorback's side in losses.

The Aggies' fortunes benefit Arkansas in some ways, as the Razorbacks now have a 92 percent chance of achieving bowl eligibility with a projected record of 7-5. With the playoff outlook looking bleak after the loss to Texas A&M, the Razorbacks now have a 4 percent chance of making the playoffs.

Arkansas bounced back strongly from another bitter loss to Texas A&M, which perhaps said more about both teams given both teams' wins over top-10 teams. The Aggies rose to No. 12 in ESPN's ratings with a commanding win over No. 9 Missouri and are now projected to finish at 9-3 and have a 33% chance of making the College Football Playoff.

Tennessee didn't suffer too much after its crash Saturday night in Fayetteville, falling one spot to No. 6 in the ESPN rankings. The Volunteers have just a 47 percent chance of making the field of 12, with a projected overall record of 9-3.

After falling behind in several analytical polls from various media outlets, Arkansas rapidly increased its ratings to 4-2 (2-1 SEC). Before the season, the Razorbacks were ranked 44th overall due to the strength of the conference and continued to move up despite a loss to Oklahoma State.

A win Saturday over Tennessee is everything anyone in the athletic department, including coaches and players, could want. This is the kind of win that can accelerate Arkansas' trajectory to 2021 and 2022 levels, and even the computers agree.

• Twist of fate: Arkansas finally gives fans a good home game

• The Hogs' defense actually put Tennessee's offense to sleep

• While Calipari is a great recruiter, he is also a teacher at heart

• The Razorbacks' bowl odds just increased significantly

• As the countdown begins, Hogs fans should keep an eye on the Kansas game

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