{"id":159,"date":"2025-10-13T13:05:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/159\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T13:05:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:05:07","slug":"5-things-to-know-about-arkansas-razorbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/159\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things to know about Arkansas Razorbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

COLLEGE STATION \u2014 After seven weeks of the season,\u00a0Texas A&M football<\/a> looks like one of the top teams in the nation. However, it faces another SEC challenge in Week 8. After the Aggies beat the Florida Gators 34-17<\/a> in Week 7,\u00a0they are preparing to face the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Ark., for the first time since 2013. <\/p>\n

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Arkansas fired head coach Sam Pittman <\/a>two weeks ago after starting 2-3. In their first game since the coaching change, Arkansas lost\u00a034-31 to No. 12 Tennessee. <\/p>\n

The Razorbacks (2-4, 0-2) lost against A&M last season.<\/p>\n

The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and will be televised on ESPN.<\/p>\n

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Here are five things to know about the Arkansas Razorbacks ahead of Week 8:<\/p>\n

\"ARLINGTON,<\/p>\n

ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 28: Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Dalton Brooks (25) makes a tackle in the Southwest Classic between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas A&M Aggies on September 28, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. (Photo by John Bunch\/Icon\u00a0Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Icon Sportswire\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n

MORE: Aggies put Gators away late in 34-17 win<\/a><\/p>\n

Arkansas football: 5 things to know about the Razorbacks<\/p>\n

1. Razorbacks struggling defensively<\/p>\n

Arkansas’ defense has been a major reason for its struggles, and possibly a key factor in why it replaced its head coach during the season. Through six games, the Razorbacks rank last in the SEC in total defense and run defense, allowing 435 yards and 184 yards per game, respectively.\u00a0 Arkansas is giving up 22.5 points, which is 14th in the conference. Its pass defense is 15th, allowing 251 yards per game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The Razorbacks have allowed more than 30 points in three games, including 56 against Notre Dame, which was\u00a0Pittman’s last game.\u00a0Meanwhile, A&M has been held under 30 points just once.<\/p>\n

2. Bobby Petrino coaching vs former team<\/p>\n

Before A&M hired head coach Mike Elko to lead the program, the Aggies were guided by Jimbo Fisher.\u00a0Arkansas’s new interim head coach, Bobby Petrino, was on Fisher’s staff. Petrino served as A&M’s offensive coordinator in 2024. During his time with the Aggies, Petrino\u2019s offense averaged 34.2 points (25th in\u00a0FBS, fifth in SEC) while gaining an average of 403.8 yards.<\/p>\n

With more than 14 years of head coaching experience,\u00a0Petrino has a combined 119-57 record while leading Louisville, Western Kentucky and Arkansas. During his tenure with Arkansas (2008-11) he was 3-0 against Texas A&M.<\/p>\n

3. All-time record vs A&M<\/p>\n

The A&M and Arkansas rivalry has a long, rich history. The first meeting between the Aggies and Razorbacks dates back to 1927. The two programs have played 80 times, including 13 SEC matchups since A&M joined the conference in 2012. The Aggies trail 36-41-3 in the all-time series but have dominated recently.\u00a0A&M is 12-1 in the last 13 meetings, with the only loss\u00a0in 2021.<\/p>\n

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4. Rivalry headed back home<\/p>\n

Every year since 2014, the “Southwest Classic” has been held at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. However, that changes this year, as the two rivals shift to a home-and-home schedule, with the first game in Arkansas before returning to College Station in 2026. In the\u00a0pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the game was played at Kyle Field.<\/p>\n

Fayetteville, Ark., has traditionally been unkind to\u00a0A&M, as the Aggies are 10-21-2 on the road in this series. At Kyle Field, the\u00a0Hogs hold an\u00a0edge, but only slightly at 16-15-1.<\/p>\n

5. History behind the Razorbacks’ nickname<\/p>\n

According to Arkansas, the school adopted its nickname after football coach Hugo Bezdek called his players a\u00a0“wild band of Razorback hogs”<\/a> following their\u00a0win over\u00a0LSU in 1909. Originally, Arkansas athletic teams were known as the Cardinals, but the student body voted in 1910 to change the official mascot to the Razorback to reflect this new and popular name. <\/p>\n

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Arkansas has a live mascot named Tusk VI, a Russian boar.<\/p>\n

Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at Anthony.Catalina@statesman.com. Follow the American-Statesman on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0X<\/a> for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access\u00a0all of our best content<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0this tremendous offer<\/a>.<\/p>\n