Sports

Bielema, Arkansas try to keep spirits high following third straight loss

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Florida head coach Will Muschamp, left, greets Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema at midfield before an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (The Associated Press)

Florida coach Will Muschamp, left, greets Arkansas coach Bret Bielema on the field after an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. Florida defeated Arkansas 30-10. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (The Associated Press)

Bret Bielema is doing his best to keep the momentum alive at Arkansas after he was hired last December.

It's a job that's become increasingly difficult after the Razorbacks (3-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) lost their third straight game last week at Florida. Arkansas is now 7-11 in its last 18 games, dating to last season's 4-8 collapse in the wake of Bobby Petrino's firing.

The Razorbacks face their third straight ranked opponent this week when they host No. 14 South Carolina (4-1, 2-1), and they travel to No. 1 Alabama next week.

Bielema has lost four games in a row once in his career as a head coach, coming during the 2008 season when he lost five of six while in his third season at Wisconsin.