Arkansas running back Trelon Smith (22) is sandwiched by Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) and Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner (15) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. — Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Why Alabama is Playing Arkansas Again for Homecoming in 2023

The Razorbacks will again be the Crimson Tide's homecoming opponent, but possibly for the last time in quite a while.

Author:
Christopher Walsh
Publish date:
May 15, 2023 7:06 PM EDT

In this story:

The University of Alabama announced that the Oct. 14 football game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium will serve as homecoming for the 2023 season.

It'll be the fourth time in eight years that the Razorbacks will be the homecoming opponent. Alabama won 48-7 in 2019, 41-9 in 2017, and 27-14 in 2015, part of its 15-game winning streak in the series. Before Arkansas joined the SEC, Alabama had never hosted it for homecoming.

Due to the way the SEC schedule has been devised lately, Alabama has had few homecoming options in terms of opponents. October is considered the ideal month for holding the annual celebration, however, the last week has become a traditional bye weekend for the Crimson Tide under Nick Saban, plus there's always the Third Weekend game against Tennessee. Facing a strong rival as part of homecoming obviously isn't desirable unless there really isn't much of an option.

The Crimson Tide did host the Volunteers for homecoming in 2021, after not having a homecoming celebration in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously one had to go all the way back to 1930 for the last time Alabama hosted Tennessee for homecoming.

Last year, Alabama defeated Mississippi State for homecoming, 30-6, improving the Crimson Tide’s all-time record on homecoming to 87-13-1 (.866). Overall, the Crimson Tide has an active 19-game winning streak on homecoming. The last loss was 35-21 to LSU on Nov. 3, 2001.

Although Arkansas has become a regular homecoming opponent of late for Alabama, the odds of the trend continuing aren't very good. With Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC it 2024, the league is expected to do away with divisions.