Arkansas announces schedule additions, changes including game with Arkansas State
For the first time ever, Arkansas will play Arkansas State on the gridiron.
The Razorbacks announced that matchup as part of a larger deal with Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. Arkansas will face its in-state rival for the first time in 2025.
It wasn’t that long ago that this seemed like an impossibility. Former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema once said it would ‘never’ happen.
Arkansas also announced a handful of other nonconference games that will take place in Little Rock in future years, including two matchups with Arkansas Pine Bluff and one game vs. Western Carolina. The first game against APB is set for Oct. 23, 2021.
This continues a long tradition of Arkansas playing games in front of fans in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium.
“We are grateful to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and War Memorial Stadium for working with us to be able to host some historic in-state matchups at War Memorial Stadium, while also allowing us to host Southeastern Conference games on our campus,” Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said in a statement. “The Razorback program belongs to our entire state and as we have shown in many of our sports, it is important that we continue to maintain a presence in Central Arkansas. It is also essential we provide our coaching staff the opportunity to showcase our campus during SEC games to potential student-athletes.”
Arkansas will also face UAB in Fayetteville in 2024. Additionally, games against Missouri in 2021 and 2023 will now take place in Fayetteville instead of Little Rock.
The Red Wolves have had success in recent years and are currently transitioning to new head coach Butch Jones. Blake Anderson left Jonesboro after the 2020 season to take the Utah State job.
Arkansas-Arkansas State is scheduled for Sept. 6, 2025.
Never thought I’d live to see the day (and I still might not in 2025) when we play Ark St.
Yuracheck has done great as AD. Thanks!
also great move putting Mizz back in fayettville.
This is a win-win. Keep the Central Arkansas fans happy with the War Memorial non-conference game, keep the NW Ark fans happy with another SEC home game.
I know a lot of fans are groveling about playing A-State, but I think it’s been long enough.
2 games with UAPB? Ugh. Western Carolina? Im not saying schedule Clemson or Ohio St, but can we at least schedule a Sunbelt or C-USA team? Im fine with playing Arkansas St once every 4-5 years.
I’ve been saying only G5 for non-con games for years. And one of the best is right in our area in the Sun Belt. CUSA isnt much to bring up but they are in the neighborhood. Please, no more Western Carolinas and Mercers. And with the SEC being what it is, I dont apologize to anyone if we never schedule top P5s for a non-con. Its tough enough as it is. If they ever go to a 9 game conference schedule (been discussed), no way am I going to schedule an OSU, or Okie or Clemson for a non-con.
If I’m an AD…left that off. Pretty sure they arent going to be calling me to see what I think.
Your last sentence is without a doubt, the most intelligent thing you’ve ever posted. Congratulations.
ESAD, since you are new here, how would you know? And do you have anything worth commenting on or just here in an attempt to be witty.
This is a great decision to finally let this happen and makes Arkansas sports better across the state. Hunter Yurachek’s decisions have been light years ahead of AD Long. It’s a shame we didn’t have him sooner and the football stadium renovation wouldn’t have been botched.
As an outsider, it should have happened years ago and even sooner than 2025. The UAPB game? I am a big fan of all P5 schools only going as far as G5 for non-con games. This FCS stuff is just not interesting. They’ve got their division and it should be left alone. And that A State game will definitely draw more in LR than a Western Carolina. Good lord and we have Mercer. Come on.
Not a fan of this.
Interesting, but why. Arent you tired of seeing ULM or say a Portland State? I dont see that losing somewhere in the future to A State could be worse than losing to San Jose State or Western Kentucky. They will never beat out the Hogs for a recruit because of the conference you are in. I see a packed old, tired stadium in LR instead of 30k. In fact it would be good if the game isnt an annual blowout event.