This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.
We're back with Week 2 of this season's Pressbox Roundtable, and our national guest this week is Russ Mitchell, lead SEC columnist for College Football News (Twitter: @russmitchellcfb). Also, we welcome back our ace prognosticator (Look out, Vegas), regular contributor and ArkansasExpats.com editor Doc Harper, as well as Mickey Ryan, sports-talk host on KNEA in Jonesboro as well as TV host of the new "Gus Malzahn Show."
Oh, and The Buzz' Justin Acri has shown up, too. Sit yourself down. Thanks for bringing the donuts.
Readers, join with the panel. Let us know what you think in the comments section at the bottom of the feature. What are some topics you'd like us to address next week in the Pressbox Roundtable? And away we go:
Jim Harris (@jimharris360): Let’s look at the Top 5 of Southern Cal, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Oregon. Which were more impressive in their season openers? Do any deserve a revised ranking?
Russ Mitchell, CFN: Oregon. ’Bama was supposed to handle Michigan they way they did, although the first quarter was especially fun for an SEC fan to watch. LSU, the same thing — although the Tigers struggled some in the second quarter to score in the Red Zone. Hawaii is in major rebuilding mode, yet still managed to rack up close to 300 yards against a USC defense that is dangerously similar to the Wolverines. And with that banged up offensive line, Oklahoma is a pretender.
But Oregon whipped an Arkansas State team that should compete for another Sun Belt Conference crown. It's not so much putting up 50 points in the first half that impressed me, it was the first- and second-team defense holding a Gus Malzahn offense to just 10 points. With three returning defensive linemen and a good secondary, there was a preseason feeling that Oregon might have a special defense in 2012. Still, this showing Saturday should have turned some heads — particularly down in L.A.
Harris: Remember who outscored Arkansas State in the 2010 opener and went on to win it all. Auburn. I can see history repeating.
Mickey Ryan: Alabama destroyed a Top 10 team on national television. I thought they should have opened at No. 1.
Doc Harper (listen to Doc and ArkansasSports360.com editor Chris Bahn on the weekly Hog Slobber podcast): Alabama's the only one that played a real opponent and they beat Michigan like they were a cupcake. And remember that logic exercise they gave to kids where they'd line up four circles and a square and you had to point out which one didn't fit? Oklahoma reminds me of the square on that list. Send them down the rankings.
Harris: I concur. UTEP was in that game way too late. OU seems to have been a bit star-crossed the past two years. Stoops’ ceiling may have been reached. At least he’s still got the weak Big 12 to beat up.
Justin Acri: Well, OU was LEAST impressive. But I'm sure they will look better in week two. Alabama dominated a team that is one-dimensional offensively, as did USC, but Michigan is a Top 10 team. Or was. So I will give it to the Tide.
Harris: Will we have a wide open chase to the national championship, or do we just let Alabama keep the title another year?
Arkansas Business Presents the 40 Under 40 Class of 2013 
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