Razorbacks' Toughest Quarters Coming Up This Season

Breaking schedule down by quarters shows minefields, breaks in lineup

Arkansas Razorbacks running back Raheim Sanders (5) carries against the Auburn Tigers during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. (John Reed / USA TODAY Sports)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — If you're looking for a projected final record of how Arkansas will finish this year in football, early July is a little too soon for that because there are too many questions with Sam Pittman's team right now.

Predicting how they  will win or lose each game is pure folly because we can't account for injuries and the million other things that can affect a team week to week. Plus, there are simply too many new faces to have any idea of the skill set this team brings into the season. I've found over the years for that to be a ridiculous exercise. Right now, we're breaking the 12 games into four three-game stretches, which I learned a long time ago is the way a lot of coaches view the schedule. No game predictions ... yet.

Q1

Sept. 2, Western Carolina (in Little Rock), 3 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+

The Razorbacks can't struggle in this one for long or the fan base will over-hype that like crazy. It will be hot beyond belief on those metal bleachers in that dilapidated old relic, so folks that don't know how to work the whole online thing will probably be figuring it out pretty quick.

(Walt Beazley / Arkansas Communications)

Sept. 9, Kent State, 3 p.m., SEC Network

Maybe the biggest celebration over this game will be to introduce a new bar in the North End Zone for fans. It will probably be miserably hot, so there will be plenty of beverages consumed. As far as the game, the Hogs better win it or there will be some upset folks or there will be long post-game walks with video cameras questioning the status of the program. I probably would be, too.

Sept. 16, BYU, 6:30 p.m., ESPN 2

The Razorbacks had a little bit of a challenge with this game last year in Provo, Utah, before settling this in the second half behind some big plays by Jefferson. Fans will expect another big win, but let's see what develops in those first pair of games before making any bold predictions.

Final analysis: This is a quarter the Hogs should win handily for the expected start to the season, No reason to make it tougher than it should be because this is the type schedule any coach except one in the last 60 years could manage.

Q2

Sept. 23: @ LSU, TBA, TBA

Why will it be surprising if this is anything but a night game in Tiger Stadium? Nothing's a must-win game at this point of the season, but it could be one that sets up the tone for the first half of the season against a team that's probably going to be highly ranked.

Arkansas Razorbacks kicker Cam Little (29) and holder Reid Bauer (30) watch the kick attempt of Little during the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at AT&T Stadium. (Jerome Miron / USA TODAY Sports)

Sept 30: Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas, TBA, TBA

The Aggies pulled out a miracle win last season because Cam Little's field goal landed on the top of the right upright at the end of the game. The result was the Hogs couldn't beat the worst Texas A&M team seen in awhile and it is expected to be different this year with former Razorback coach Bobby Petrino allegedly calling plays for Jimbo Fisher

Oct. 7: @ Ole Miss, TBA, TBA

Fans assume this will be a win for the Hogs, but don't start planning celebrations just yet. Last year has absolutely nothing to do with this year and the script could completely flip or be repeated. Let's see how both teams are doing at that point because we'll have a better idea then.

Final analysis: If the Hogs pull an 0-for, this could be a long season. They need to come out of here at least 1-2, preferably flipping that to 2-1. It doesn't get any easier for awhile and all three of these games are played away from Razorback Stadium, so you can add that to the mix as well.

Q3

Oct. 14: @ Alabama, TBA, TBA

This game is never easy and it's the last shot for the Hogs to get a win over the Crimson Tide until at least 2025 because they aren't there in 2024. Some fans would just as soon not see them back on the schedule for a few years because they haven't won in this series since 2006. In that time, some games were close, but more were just flat blowouts with the Hogs on the short side of that. Anything could happen, but that's probably just a little much to ask for.

(Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports)

Oct. 21: Mississippi State, TBA, TBA

After Mike Leach's sudden passing, a lot of Hog fans already have this game in the win column. You might want to hold off on that and let's see how it plays out right now, but there's no hard lean either way at this point.

Nov. 4: @ Florida, TBA, TBA

Let's be honest about it, you don't know what the Gators are going to have in Billy Napier's second year and I don't, either. About the only thing to know for certain is it hasn't gone particularly well for the Hogs in Gainesville over the years with officials nearly getting fired but the Hogs ended up with a loss just the same.

Final analysis: This is kind of a repeat of the second quarter. Getting a win in there somewhere would be nice, but winning two is probably key to a really big season. Obviously, a sweep would mean start checking out some of the better bowl destinations.

4Q

Nov. 11: Auburn, TBA, TBA

A long stretch of finishing the season strong begins with the Tigers and new coach Hugh Freeze, who brought a Liberty team to Fayetteville last year and coming away with a win. Most fans have this one in the win column, but then the last time Freeze had a team in his first year as coach, he beat the Hogs in Little Rock.

Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson goes down during a 49-26 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Oct. 1, 2022, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. (Ted McClenning / allHOGS Images)

Nov. 18: Florida International, TBA, TBA

No matter how you slice it, this has to be a big win for the Hog fans to keep any hope at all for a big season. It's a game they could probably rest some key starters if needed and still come away with a win to satisfy or anyone ... or nobody. By this point, you never really know what's going to happen.

Nov. 24: Missouri, TBA, TBA

In a series that hasn't gone the way Hog fans expected since the Tigers joined the league in 2012, winning this year may be as critical as ever. Bowl implications will be riding on this game with a national television audience and unpredictable weather and the day after a holiday, finishing strong is key.

Final analysis: This likely could be a sweep. It probably has to be at least two wins. Going 2-3 could be devastating to the sesaon.

There you have it. A strong start and a strong finish are always wanted by everyone, but this year it will be absolutely critical with a stretch in the middle that could end up being pretty brutal.

Yes, there are all sorts of ways to try and spin it good and bad, but it's July so there won't be any score-picking going on here. Too much can happen along the way every single week. But there are questions galore for everyone. We simply don't even know what to really question right now, so anybody giving an answer is just guessing.

But the answers at wide receiver, in the offensive line and entire defense may determine postseason plans. You can probably throw the punting game in there, too, because that had some spectacular hits and misses last year.

But it's what we all love. Just a reminder, that first game in Little Rock against Western Carolina will not be televised and available only online.

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