So where is Arkansas headed for the holidays?

Will the Cotton Bowl welcome the Razorbacks back to its second home for the second time this year despite a 7-5 record, which includes 3-5 in the SEC after the regular season? Will the Liberty Bowl reintroduce the Hogs to its game, setting Arkansas in line for a matchup with either East Carolina or Houston? Or could the Razorbacks even end up in like the Music City Bowl or the Independence Bowl?

We may know sooner than later, according to Steve Ehrhart, the executive director of the Liberty Bowl.

I just got off the phone with Ehrhart, who said the SEC bowls are hoping to get things ironed earlier than next Sunday. It’s clear that if the BCS can ensure both Florida and Alabama have earned places in BCS games (which is a foregone conclusion), the rest of the order will start taking shape. The Capital One Bowl could formally make its choice (which is probably LSU). Then the Outback and Cotton Bowls will make their selections.

Arkansas is hopeful it can book its trip to the Cotton Bowl trip after closing the season strong. It’s primary competition is Ole Miss and a couple of national prognosticators have hinted that Tennessee has a shot to slip into the Cotton Bowl as well.

What does Arkansas’ resume look like? The pros: It has won four of its final five games, will bring fans in droves to the game, and has quarterback Ryan Mallett. The cons: The Razorbacks are 7-5, they are sub-.500 in the SEC, and lost a head-to-head matchup with the Rebels in late October.

If the Cotton doesn’t select the Hogs, Ehrhart obviously said the Liberty Bowl would be thrilled to have them in Memphis. He said Arkansas has been on the bowl’s radar ever since it reconnected with the Southeastern Conference and added there are other “signs.” Like the fact Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino led his Louisville team to a thrilling Liberty Bowl victory against Boise State in a game that pitted two top 10 teams back in 2004.

But Ehrhart made it clear he wasn’t committing to anyone, yet. Ole Miss, Auburn and, potentially, Tennessee remain in consideration.

I’ll have much more on the bowl picture in tomorrow’s papers.