Watch The Sugar Bowl Live Online
On the field, the quarterbacks present a clear contrast in styles. While Mallett is a classic drop-back passer who helped Arkansas rack up 338.4 yards per game through the air – third in the nation – Pryor is a scrambler who gained 639 yards on the ground in addition to throwing for 2,551.
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino sees similarities between Pryor and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who led Auburn to a 65-43 victory over the Razorbacks (10-2) in October.
“Their size and strength and ability to run,” Petrino said. “They’re both tremendous football players, great leaders and had a lot of success in knowing how to win games.”
Pryor has certainly done plenty of winning. The junior has posted a 22-3 record as Ohio State’s full-time starter the last two seasons. He’s led the Buckeyes to victory in 17 of their last 18 games, including a five-game winning streak to end the 2010 regular season.
“It’s great to get victories with these guys,” Pryor said of his teammates after beating Michigan 37-7 in the regular-season finale. “There were lots of ups and downs, but way more ups.”
Petrino loves his teams to put the ball up in the air, and Mallett has done a terrific job. He’s thrown for 7,216 yards and 60 touchdowns in his two seasons in Fayetteville, and had nine 300-yard games in 2010. The TDs over the last two years rank third among players for BCS schools while the passing yards rank second in that span, trailing only Oklahoma’s Landry Jones.
Watch The Sugar BowlTressel needs no introduction to Mallett, who played for the archrival Wolverines in 2007 before joining the Razorbacks.
“We’re very familiar with Ryan Mallett because of course we played against him when he was at the University of Michigan,” Tressel said. “In fact, I was hoping we were done with him when he transferred, and here we are getting him when he’s at the height of his career.
“He is a tremendous football player, lightning-quick release. Smart as a whip, you can tell just through his numbers the way he’s grown into being one of the great, great quarterbacks in all of the country.”
Arkansas and Ohio State have never faced each other, but Mallett still views the Buckeyes as a bitter rival.
“It’s going to be a fun game,” he said. “It’s two great teams. Obviously, I had the traditional rivalry hatred (at Michigan). I’ve still got a little Michigan in me from that. I’ve never really been a big fan (of Ohio State).”
As for exactly how he feels about the Buckeyes, Mallett said, “I don’t know if it’s something you can say on air or in the paper.”
Arkansas is 1-4 in the Sugar Bowl, with all five appearances coming in the pre-BCS era. The Razorbacks last appeared in the Sugar following the 1979 season, losing 24-9 to Alabama.
While this will be the Razorbacks’ debut in a BCS bowl, it won’t be a BCS debut for their coach. Petrino guided Louisville to victory in the Orange Bowl following the 2006 season.
The Sugar Bowl is going to be a really great game so please follow us andWatch The Sugar Bowl Live
About the Author
Please follow this link to Watch The Sugar Bowl