Arkansas

Interestingly, Arkansas's history in the UCFC is tied to Alabama's history in a very unique way. The Razorbacks have an all-time record of 24-13-2 in UCFC games. Seventeen of Arkansas's wins game during a single stretch from 1964 to 1965. The Razorbacks, who were in the old Southwest Conference back then, took the title from Texas (the 1963 national champions) with a 14-13 victory on October 17, 1964 -- and then went undefeated for the rest of the season. But Alabama was also undefeated, and at the end of the regular season the AP picked Alabama over Arkansas as the National Champions. Alabama subsequently lost to Texas in the Orange Bowl, while Arkansas beat Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. But the AP did not have another poll after the bowl games, so Arkansas had to be content with the UCFC -- the national title went to the Crimson Tide.

The next year, Arkansas defended the UCFC title for the entire regular season -- the Razorbacks' second consecutive year with a perfect record. Once again, however, the Razorbacks finished the season ranked number 2 -- this time they were behind Michigan State. But this time the AP decided that it would hold its final vote after the bowl games. On New Years' Day 1966, Michigan State lost the Rose Bowl to UCLA (in a stunning upset) by the score of 14-12. At the same time, Arkansas's long winning streak finally ended, as they lost the Cotton Bowl (and the UCFC) to LSU by 14-7. That meant the Orange Bowl (between #3 Nebraska and #4 Alabama was effectively for the national title. The Tide romped home, 39-28, and took its second straight crown. Both years, the AP's voting system helped Alabama and hurt Arkansas. But because of Arkansas's long winning streak, neither of Alabama's great teams in 1964 or 1965 ever had the chance to play for the UCFC.

Arkansas has only played for the UCFC seven times since the 1966 Cotton Bowl, and the Razorbacks have a record of 1-6 in those games. Their only victory was on November 23, 2007, when they ended the regular season with a stunning 50-48 victory over LSU in triple overtime. LSU came back to win the national title, while Arkansas lost the UCFC in their very first defense -- they were crushed by Missouri 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl.