Could Arkansas' 2016 Quarterback Competition Get Started Against UT-Martin?

If the Arkansas-UT-Martin game is the blowout Hog fans are expecting and hoping for, it could be kind of a boring game. But it doesn't have to be.

Last year during Arkansas' late-October non-conference game against UAB, Bret Bielema let offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola throw a touchdown pass, which was arguably the most fun moment of the season up to that point.

Bielema may have something else up his sleeve that might go similarly viral, but there's also the possibility of something much more substantial happening.

In the event Arkansas builds a substantial lead, especially if they do so in the first half, plenty of people will openly wonder when he'll let Brandon Allen call it a day and let Austin Allen and/or Rafe Peavey get in the game.

Essentially, it could be the first public preview of Arkansas' much-anticipated quarterback competition of 2016. Allen has only barely seen the field this season, attempting just two passes against UTEP in the season opener, and Peavey has yet to make his debut in actual game action for the Razorbacks. Ty Storey and Ricky Town are both redshirting this season.

Austin will have the edge over the others in terms of experience. As a redshirt sophomore, he's actually played in five games, including major minutes in last year's game against Ole Miss although he's never had to do too much (he only threw five passes in that game). If Arkansas does get a big lead, it would be surprising if we didn't see Austin at some point.

Peavey is the more intriguing possibility. He's third on the depth chart and short of injuries (which absolutely never happen to the Razorbacks this year) this is likely the only chance he could conceivably have of playing this season. Fans have seen Peavey in scrimmages and spring games, but always in a green jersey situation. Peavey is easily the most mobile of Arkansas' quarterbacks, and every time I've seen him play, whistles quickly follow him around when he starts to move even though defenders haven't been allowed to hit him. Seeing him in a live game situation where he could move around until he gets tackled would be very interesting.

Since this would probably be the only action they see prior to spring practice, however either or both of them play will likely be overblown. This won't be a full audition if it happens. It would be more of a trailer.

These types of games, especially since it's homecoming, often serve as stages for the entire roster to get a chance to play. The normal starting lineups will take the field and hopefully pad some stats (Brandon Allen must average 2.5 TD passes the rest of the season including a bowl game to tie Ryan Mallett's career record - long shot but it's on the table).

It would be fun to see the younger quarterbacks get an opportunity. It would give us a bit of a different topic of converstation for a brief moment. Of course, Arkansas would have to get to the point in the game where it could happen. UT-Martin is no Nicholls State. They're a pretty solid FCS team, Ole Miss score notwithstanding.