Honestly, looking back at the arkansas football 2024 schedule, it feels like a fever dream. If you just look at the 7-6 final record, you’re missing the actual story. It was a year of "what ifs" that could have easily swung toward a 10-win season or a total collapse.
Sam Pittman entered the year on one of the hottest seats in the country. To save his job, he didn't just need wins; he needed to prove that the Razorbacks weren't the SEC’s punching bag anymore. Bringing Bobby Petrino back as the offensive coordinator was a gamble that felt like something out of a movie. Did it work? Sorta. It definitely made things interesting.
Surviving the Brutal Arkansas Football 2024 Schedule
The season started with a 70-0 demolition of UAPB at War Memorial Stadium. It was a "get right" game, but the real test came immediately after. Most fans point to that Week 2 trip to Stillwater as the moment the season shifted. Arkansas absolutely dominated Oklahoma State for three quarters. They had nearly double the yardage. Then, the wheels came off.
Losing 39-31 in double overtime was a gut-punch. It set a pattern for the year: look elite for 45 minutes, then leave everyone wondering what happened in the final 15.
That Massive Tennessee Upset
If you want to know why Pittman is still the coach, look at October 5th. Arkansas hosted No. 4 Tennessee in Fayetteville. Nobody—and I mean basically nobody—picked the Hogs to win that game. The defense was inspired, holding one of the most explosive offenses in the nation to just 14 points.
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Winning 19-14 under the lights at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium was the peak of the arkansas football 2024 schedule. It felt like 2021 all over again. Malachi Singleton, the backup QB, had to come in for an injured Taylen Green and score the go-ahead touchdown. It was pure chaos, the kind of stuff that only happens in the SEC.
The Results and Reality Check
Let's talk about the cold, hard numbers. The Razorbacks finished 3-5 in conference play. That sounds mediocre until you realize they played four teams ranked in the top 10 at the time of the game.
- The Good: Beats against Tennessee, Auburn, and a blowout 58-25 win over Mississippi State.
- The Bad: Getting throttled 63-31 by Ole Miss at home. Jaxson Dart basically had a career day before halftime.
- The Heartbreak: A 21-17 loss to Texas A&M in Arlington. Another game where Arkansas led late and just couldn't close the door.
The return of the Texas rivalry on November 16th was supposed to be the highlight of the year. Instead, it was a 20-10 defensive slog. The Hogs' defense actually played well enough to win, but the offense just couldn't find the end zone. It was a reminder that while Petrino improved the unit, they weren't quite back to "elite" status yet.
Key Players Who Carried the Weight
You can't talk about this season without mentioning Andrew Armstrong. The guy was a vacuum. He finished with 78 catches for 1,140 yards. Think about that—over 1,100 yards with a rotating door at quarterback due to injuries. He earned second-team All-SEC honors and was basically the only consistent threat on the perimeter.
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Then there’s Landon Jackson on the edge. He’s a freak of nature. 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss don't even tell the full story of how much he disrupted opposing backfields. When he was on, the whole defense looked different.
Why the Liberty Bowl Mattered
By the time the regular season ended with a loss to Missouri (the "Battle Line Rivalry" that still feels a bit forced to some fans), the Hogs were 6-6. They headed to Memphis for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Texas Tech.
Winning that game 39-26 was huge. It gave them a winning record (7-6) and a bit of momentum heading into the off-season. Taylen Green showed why he was the starter, throwing with confidence and using his legs to keep drives alive. He finished the season with over 3,100 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, plus another 8 scores on the ground. He’s a project, for sure, but the ceiling is high.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
So, where does this leave Arkansas? The arkansas football 2024 schedule proved they can play with anyone. It also proved they are prone to mental lapses that kill seasons.
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If you're a fan or a bettor looking at this team, the takeaway is simple: the talent gap is closing, but the "finish" gap is still there. They need more depth in the secondary and a more consistent run game when Ja'Quinden Jackson isn't at 100 percent. Jackson was a beast early on (15 rushing TDs!), but the drop-off after him was noticeable.
Actionable Insights for the Off-Season:
- Watch the Transfer Portal: Arkansas needs defensive tackle depth immediately. They got pushed around in the second half of several SEC games.
- Taylen Green’s Accuracy: If Green can jump from a 60% completion rate to 65% in 2025, this offense becomes top-20 in the country.
- The Kicking Game: It was a rollercoaster. Finding a reliable leg is a priority because three of their losses were by one possession.
The 2024 season wasn't a failure, but it was a missed opportunity. Every Razorback fan knows they were three plays away from being 9-3. That’s the beauty and the curse of football in the Ozarks.