To qualify for a bowl, the Auburn game is a must-win for Arkansas

Sitting at 2-4, coming off the bye week and facing a division rival at home, Arkansas understands the importance of this weekend's game. A 2-5 record with road trips to LSU and Ole Miss would be a ridiculous mountain to climb for any team. 

“We’re a 2-4 football team, but the four teams we’ve lost to have an unbelievable record,” Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema said this week. “It’s not like they’re getting their tail kicked into an oblivion. We aren’t where we wanted to be at the end of game six going into our bye week.

“So it’s been very apparent to me that our guys have been locked into nothing but Auburn preparation. That’s all they’ve talked about and that’s all they want.”

However, wanting it and taking it are two entirely different things. It starts with defending its home turf and beating Auburn this week. One advantage the Razorbacks could have against the Tigers is the weather, as the forecast is calling for potentially heavy rain. 

"I think one of the things we tell our kids is embrace whatever the situation is. We have played well in the rain," Bielema said. "Both LSU and Ole Miss we had rain. The Alabama game last year we didn't win, but we played well."

Lose this game and Arkansas' bowl hopes will be on life support. Missing out on a bowl game a season after a winning a bowl game over rival Texas would be tough for Razorback Nation to swallow. 

All the momentum gained from the end of the 2014 season is in jeopardy this Saturday. How will the team respond?