LSU-Arkansas lacks usual luster this year

With his team out of bowl contention and one game remaining, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino stole a line from an NFL coach.

"I can't remember who exactly said it, but you play to win the game," Petrino said.

It was Herm Edwards who uttered that line, but Petrino has every reason to use it now. The Razorbacks host LSU today in the traditional post-Thanksgiving matchup, and there isn't much buzz surrounding this one. Neither team is ranked, and a pair of freshmen are expected to start at quarterback.

For the first time since 2004, somebody other than LSU or Arkansas will represent the SEC West in the conference title game. The Razorbacks (4-7, 1-6) have been rebuilding after losing running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to the NFL. LSU (7-4, 3-4) has struggled while defending its national championship. The Tigers have lost four games for the first time since 2002.

The Razorbacks and Tigers will play for pride and the Golden Boot trophy. The Hogs won it last year in dramatic fashion -- a 50-48, triple-overtime victory.

Redshirt freshman Nathan Dick took the starting job away from older brother Casey and threw for 333 yards in Arkansas' loss to Mississippi State last weekend. Freshman Jordan Jefferson will make his first start for the Tigers.

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With the exit of Phillip Fulmer as Vols coach, the man known to colleagues and players as "Chief" likely will be out of a job as well.

"When I was hired by Coach [Johnny] Majors 20 years ago, there were about two lines in the newspaper about the hiring. That's me. I like it better that way."