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McFadden, Arkansas try to run past Troy

Sep 1, 2007 - 12:10 PM Troy at No. 21 Arkansas 7:00 pm EDT

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (Ticker) -- After a tumultuous offseason, Houston Nutt doubtless is pleased Arkansas finally will be taking the field this weekend.

Nutt's 21st-ranked Razorbacks start their season Saturday by hosting Troy.

Nutt likely figured he'd have a positive offseason after Arkansas won the Southeastern Conference West Division title and 10 games in 2006.

But highly acclaimed true freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain transferred after being benched for the inconsistent Casey Dick and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn - Mustain's high school coach - left for Tulsa after one season.

Making matters worse, Nutt's personal life was scrutinized after a Freedom of Information Act request by a Razorbacks fan revealed the married coach had made hundreds of text messages to a female television reporter.

Fortunately for Nutt, the Razorbacks should have another strong team, led by running back Darren McFadden - the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite after rushing for 1,647 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore.

McFadden and fellow tailback Felix Jones, who ran for 1,168 yards in 2006, have had their way with opposing defenses in the rugged SEC and should rack up the yards against Troy, which plays in the Sun Belt Conference - the weakest of the 11 leagues in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A).

The Trojans, who went 8-5 last year and won the Sun Belt for the first time, are led by senior quarterback Omar Haugabook, one of 35 players on the watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Haugabook threw four touchdowns in Troy's New Orleans Bowl triumph over Rice - the program's first bowl win.