HOOVER, Ala. — CBS Sports announced Monday it had chosen the Alabama at Arkansas game Sept. 15 for its 2:30 p.m. Central time slot.

The Razorbacks will be playing the defending BCS national champion at Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the second time in three years.

CBS Sports will broadcast the Alabama-Arkansas game for a fourth consecutive season.

Arkansas also announced its season opening game against Jacksonville State on Sept. 1 will kick off at 6 p.m. as a pay-per-view broadcast. The following week, the Razorbacks will face Louisiana-Monroe on ESPNU with a 6 p.m. kickoff.

The only other kickoff time that has been set for the Razorbacks is their 1:30 p.m. game on CBS against LSU on Nov. 23.

Early start

The Arkansas basketbal lteam, which is playing in Italy this summer, will open practice July 31, Coach Mike Anderson said Monday.

The practices,which begin 10 days before the Razorbacks depart for Italy, will start before the Arkansas football team opens its fall camp Aug. 2.

Manning list

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson was named Monday as one of five SEC quarterbacks on the watch list for the Manning Award, given to the top quarterback in the nation as chosen by the Sugar Bowl committee. Wilson, a Manning Award finalist last year, led the SEC with 3,638 passing yards last season.

Wilson averaged 1 interception in every 73 passes, third-best in SEC history with a minimum of 300 attempts.

Other SEC quarterbacks on the 25-member watch list are Alabama’s AJ McCarron, Georgia’s Aaron Murray, Tennessee’s Tyler Bray and Missouri’s James Franklin.

The list of 10 finalists will be released Nov. 26 and the winner will be announced Jan. 9.

Highsmith on list

Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith was named Monday as one of 51 players on the watch list for the Butkus Award.

Highsmith, a junior college transfer last season, ranked third on the team with 80 tackles and 10th in the SEC with 12 1/2 tackles for loss.

The Butkus Award, named for Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, is given to the nation’s top linebacker. The award, chosen by a 51-member panel, will announce its semifinalists Oct. 22 and its finalists Nov. 20.

Lombardi watch

Arkansas offensive guard Alvin Bailey was named Monday to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, which is presented to the college lineman of the year.

Bailey, an All-America selection by Pro Football Weekly last year, has started all 26 games of his college career. Bailey was named earlier this summer to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, given to the top interior lineman, along with teammate Travis Swanson.

Named for legendary Coach Vince Lombardi, the Rotary Lombardi Award is presented by the Rotary Club of Houston.

Sports, Pages 17 on 07/17/2012