24-team College Football Playoff gives Arkansas something to shoot for

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No one will get caught saying that Arkansas is just a few years or a great recruiting class away from being a true College Football Playoff contender. Arkansas football needs a ton of work. This is not a quick fix situation. A lot of things need to be done before Arkansas can even begin to change its fortunes. This program isn't in position to even consider a run at the playoff in 2027 or 2028. Let's put it this way: Arkansas can't think about the playoff until the necessary changes and improvements occur. Right now, the work of building and restructuring the program has to begin in earnest. The playoff is not the focus at the moment – in the long term, but not in the short term. It can't be the center of the conversation in 2026. It's the goal for the program, but bottom-tier SEC programs have to worry about moving up to the middle tier before they can even think of making the top tier, the one which makes the playoff. It will take some doing just for Arkansas to reach that middle echelon of the SEC. UA doesn't have a Curt Cignetti or a Bob Chesney as head coach, so this is a multi-stage journey back to relevance.

All of this having been said, the move to a 24-team College Football Playoff instantly does give Arkansas and a lot of other struggling programs the hope that if everything can eventually be lined up properly – if the structure and alignment of the program are improved to a considerable degree – playoff participation is a lot more attainable and realistic.

Before the move to 24, a 10-2 record was the basic requirement for playoff qualification. Occasionally, a three-loss team will get in, but teams cannot count on making the playoff with three losses. Even 10-2 Vanderbilt didn't get in last year, and 10-2 BYU didn't make the field, either. Arkansas won't get the benefit of the doubt the way Alabama does (and has), so until now, 10-2 was the target a school such as Arkansas had to hit to make the CFP.

Now, with 24 teams, Arkansas can realistically expect to make the field with a 9-3 record. Obviously, as we all know, Arkansas isn't ready to be a 9-3 program. It will take some time. However, the bar has been lowered to the point that the goal is closer and more realistic if the sufficient amount of high-level development is produced in Fayetteville. 

It might not seem like a big deal now, with Arkansas down in the dumps, but it gives this program something to shoot for. Maybe it will give administrators the kick in the pants they need to make the changes crucial to reviving Razorback football. 

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