FAYETTEVILLE -  Saturday’s 11 a.m (CST), ESPN2 televised Outback Bowl clash of the SEC’s Arkansas Razorbacks, 8-4,  and the Big Ten’s Penn State Nittany Lions, 7-5 looks vastly pre-kickoff different vs. Dec. 5 when the Outback opponents were New Year’s Day  assigned to play in Tampa, Fla.

Treylon Burks, the Razorbacks’ first-team All-SEC receiver and best player opted out of the game to stay healthy for his projected first-round choice NFL draft.

Defensive end Tre Williams,  Arkansas’ best pass rusher, also opted to prepare for the draft.

Meanwhile Penn State has lost six starters declared turning pro early and opting out of the bowl.  Jahan Dotson, Penn State’s best receiver, and defensive starting linebackers Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks, defensive end Arnold Ebikete,  defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo and  safety Jaquan Brisker all have opted out preparing for the draft.

Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman and Penn State Coach James Franklin were asked what to make of it all during Wednesday’s Outback Bowl press conference.

“If we played in the regular season the teams would be different,” Pittman said.  “They’re just different because we’ve had a couple leaving  for the NFL.   He (Franklin) has had several over there at Penn State.  The teams are different.  That’s just what it is.”

Franklin concurs.

“We’ve (to this extent throughout bowl games) have never seen this in college football,” Franklin said.  “It happened a little bit last year.  We thought we were done with it but it’s happening again this year.  I’ve been fortunate enough to have been a head coach for 12 years and never had an opt out (until his five now).  They (Arkansas) have had a little of it.  We’ve had more.  It’s challenging.”

Certainly knowing their culpability in changing jobs even as their teams play in bowls, coaches can’t  knock those turning pro guys whose accomplishments helped their teams get to the bowls, bowls since diminished by the be all-end all 4-team national championship playoff.

So you just say good bye and good luck to those parting and put everything into the guys you’ve got.

“I’m focused on the guys that are in our locker room,” Franklin said.  “That  doesn’t mean that I’m not happy and supportive of the guys who are not. But I’m excited about the guys that are going to have bigger roles.”

For timing, the Hogs quickly after the season’s end knew Burks’ decision and adjusted personnel accordingly.

Williams’ decision became instantly obvious as a recent DWI charge likely would have suspended the grad transfer from his last game, anyway.

Penn State linebackers Smith and Brooks  and defensive end Ebikete declared right after the regular season,  but Brisker, Dotson and Tangelo  didn’t officially withdraw until after the Nittany Lions officially arrived in Tampa.

Regardless who moves on, the show, barring an always feared covid outbreak, goes on.

“Once you wrap your mind around that teams are different,” Pittman said, “you’re going to field a different football team.  You’re probably going to find surprises both ways from who’s out there.”

Penn State’s defensive tradition  is such that “Next,” generally applies to a defensive backup stepping up without drop-off to replace a starter gone down.

Offensively losing Dotson and his 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns makes a huge difference to Penn State’s game plan just as Arkansas losing Burks, 66 catches, 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns and revises Arkansas’ game plan.

Both teams do sport capable alternate wide receivers and big-time tight ends and running backs by committee.

Most importantly both still have the quarterbacks, Arkansas’ KJ Jefferson and Penn State’s Sean Clifford, who have led them all year mostly behind the same line blocking for them all year.

Jefferson, 6-2, 245, is Arkansas’ second-leading rusher 126 carries for  554 yards and five touchdowns, and  impressively passed 184 of 275 for 2,578 yards and 21 touchdowns against three interceptions, one pick a half-ending Hail Mary.

Clifford has completed 247 of 396 for 2,912 yards and 20 touchdowns vs. six picks.

“I think it starts with their quarterback,” Franklin said of Jefferson.  “Big, physical mature guy.  To me it starts and ends with their running game and they do enough of the other things to keep you honest.  The play-action passes and RPOs and all of that can be challenging.”

Pittman sees Penn State senior Clifford as the captain who can steady the ship minus Dotson.

“Well I love their quarterback Clifford,”  Pittman said,  He’s the leader.”

Grant Morgan, Arkansas’ bonus senior linebacker playing his Razorbacks finale as the Brandon Burlsworth Award winner, knows a winner when he sees one.

‘“Sean Clifford makes plays,” Morgan said. “He’s a good quarterback and knows how to make the play continue a little bit longer or he can just put it in a spot where his receivers can go get it. Their receivers are really good. (Parker) Washington (now Penn State’ leading receiver with 57 catches for 722 yards)  is probably going to step up and have a good game.  They have really good athletes.” 

The Hogs feel they do too  with receivers Tyson Morris, De’Vion Warren, Warren Thompson and Ketron Jackson and tight ends Blake Kern, Hudson Henry and Trey Knox among those counted upon to emerge in Burks’ absence.