The Hogs head to Little Rock for what could be the final game at War Memorial Stadium, facing in-state opponent Arkansas State. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Both teams won their openers handily, but Arkansas enters the game as the heavy favorite.
Previewing Arkansas State
The Red Wolves are led by head coach Butch Jones, who is no stranger to the SEC. Jones coached at Tennessee from 2013-17 and later served as an offensive analyst at Alabama from 2018-20. Now in his fifth season at Arkansas State, he holds a 20-31 record and is coming off an 8-5 season in 2024.
Junior quarterback Jaylen Raynor leads the Red Wolves’ offense. In last week’s win, Raynor threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns while adding 17 yards on the ground. Entering his third year with the program, Raynor will be key to Arkansas State’s chances.
The Red Wolves suffered a major setback this week when senior running back Ja’Quez Cross sustained an ACL injury in practice. Cross, one of their top rushers and the team’s kick returner, was named the Sun Belt’s Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
Defensively, Arkansas State showed vulnerability against Southeast Missouri State, giving up 364 yards of offense and 24 points, most of which came through the air. Linebacker Nigel Nelson led the team with 10 tackles, while linebacker Terry Kirksey added eight. To keep pace with the Razorbacks, the Red Wolves will need to shore up their defense against a high-powered offense that posted 552 yards and 52 points in its opener.
Previewing the Hogs
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, now in his sixth season, enters with a 31-31 career record. The Razorbacks opened the season with a 52-7 victory over Alabama A&M. After a shaky first quarter in which the Bulldogs scored on their opening drive, Arkansas settled in on both sides of the ball and dominated the rest of the way.
The Hogs piled up more than 350 passing yards and nearly 200 rushing yards in the opener, showing balance and depth on offense. Defensively, they shut down Alabama A&M after the early score, something they will look to replicate against the Red Wolves in their first-ever meeting.
[You may also be interested in 3 ‘Musts’ for Arkansas in Matchup with Arkansas State]
Hogs to Watch
Quarterback Taylen Green
Green looked sharp in the opener, completing 24 of 31 passes for 322 yards and six touchdowns while adding 41 yards on the ground. His dual-threat ability will test an Arkansas State defense that struggled against the pass in Week 1.
Wide Receiver O’Mega Blake
Blake emerged as Green’s go-to target, catching seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. With the Razorbacks replacing much of their receiving production from last season, Blake’s role could continue to expand.
Defensive Back Shakur Smalls
Listed as a backup nickelback last week, Smalls made the most of his snaps, tying for the team lead in tackles while recording a sack, pass breakup and forced fumble. Pittman said Smalls’ performance should earn him more playing time moving forward.
Trends to Watch
Both teams leaned heavily on the passing game in their openers, making secondary play a potential deciding factor. Neither defense generated consistent pressure on the quarterback, so pass coverage will be critical. With Cross out, Arkansas State may rely even more on the passing attack.
This game carries extra significance beyond the matchup itself. Not only is it the first meeting between Arkansas and Arkansas State, but it also could be the last time the Razorbacks play a regular-season game at War Memorial Stadium. Since first playing there in 1948, Arkansas holds a 153-62-4 record in Little Rock. With no future games under contract, Saturday could mark the end of an era.
Broadcast Information
Time: 4 p.m. CST
Date: Sept. 6
Location: War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, Ark.
TV: ESPN+/SECN+
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