If you’ve been refreshing your phone looking for the latest Arkansas State University Red Wolves football score, you probably know by now that the 2025 season didn't just end with a whimper. It ended with a trophy. Honestly, looking at the mid-season slump where the Red Wolves dropped four straight games, nobody—and I mean nobody—expected Butch Jones to be lifting the Xbox Bowl trophy in Frisco, Texas, come December.
The Red Wolves capped off their year with a thrilling 34-28 victory over Missouri State on December 18, 2025.
It was a weird, wild ride of a season. One week they’re getting hammered by the Arkansas Razorbacks 56-14 in Little Rock, and a few weeks later, they’re pulling off a one-point miracle against South Alabama. That’s Red Wolves football for you. It's heart-attack territory almost every Saturday.
The 2025 Arkansas State Red Wolves Scoreboard: A Game-by-Game Reality Check
To understand that final score in the bowl game, you've gotta look at how they even got there. The season was basically a tale of three different teams. We had the "Early Hope" team, the "October Collapse," and finally, the "November Resurgence."
Here is how the scores shook out across the 2025 campaign:
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- Aug 30: A-State 42, Southeast Missouri State 24 (The "Maybe we’re good?" game)
- Sept 6: Arkansas 56, A-State 14 (A reality check in Little Rock)
- Sept 13: Iowa State 24, A-State 16 (Tougher than the score looks)
- Sept 20: Kennesaw State 28, A-State 21 (The one that really hurt)
- Sept 27: ULM 28, A-State 16 (Panic officially sets in)
- Oct 4: A-State 31, Texas State 30 (The season-saver)
- Oct 14: A-State 15, South Alabama 14 (Pure defensive grit)
- Oct 25: A-State 34, Georgia Southern 24 (Homecoming magic)
- Nov 1: A-State 23, Troy 10 (Dominating the defending champs)
- Nov 8: Southern Miss 27, A-State 21 (A frustrating step back)
- Nov 20: Louisiana 34, A-State 30 (A midweek heartbreaker)
- Nov 29: A-State 30, Appalachian State 29 (The "Clutch" factor in Boone)
- Dec 18: A-State 34, Missouri State 28 (Xbox Bowl Champions)
The win against Appalachian State to close the regular season was probably the most "Arkansas State" thing ever. Winning by one point on the road in Boone? That just doesn't happen often. That 30-29 victory pushed them to 7-6 overall and secured a winning record that felt impossible back in September.
The Jaylen Raynor Factor
You can't talk about the Arkansas State University Red Wolves football score without talking about Jaylen Raynor. The junior quarterback was basically the engine, the transmission, and the wheels of this offense. He finished the year with over 3,000 passing yards and led the team in several rushing categories during the most critical stretches.
In the bowl game against Missouri State, Raynor was the difference. He didn't just throw for yardage; he managed the clock when the Bears started mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter. When the score was stuck at 27-21, Raynor's ability to scramble and find Corey Rucker—who had a monster 866-yard season—kept the chains moving.
Why the South Alabama Win Changed Everything
If you ask fans what the most important Arkansas State University Red Wolves football score was this year, most will point to the bowl game. I disagree.
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The real turning point was October 14th in Mobile.
Arkansas State went into Hancock Whitney Stadium with a losing record and a lot of questions. The final score was a measly 15-14. It wasn't pretty. It was actually kinda ugly to watch if you like high-flying offense. But that win proved this team could win with defense. It stopped the bleeding after a four-game losing streak and gave them the confidence to go on a four-game winning tear. Without that 15-14 result, Butch Jones might be on a much hotter seat right now.
Defensive Standouts
While the offense gets the headlines, the 4-3 defense under first-year coordinator Griff McCarley eventually found its footing. They were giving up way too many yards early in the season (looking at you, Arkansas and ULM), but by the time they hit the Troy game in November, they were only surrendering 10 points to a very capable Troy offense.
- Bryan Whitehead was a force on the edge, living up to his preseason All-Sun Belt billing.
- The secondary, while shaky at times, came up with massive interceptions in the Appalachian State game.
- The red zone defense improved significantly, forcing field goals instead of touchdowns during the November stretch.
Breaking Down the Xbox Bowl Victory
The final Arkansas State University Red Wolves football score of 34-28 in the Xbox Bowl felt like a fitting tribute to the season. It was close, it was stressful, and it required some late-game heroics.
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Missouri State wasn't a pushover. They came to play. But A-State’s special teams, led by Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Year Clune Van Andel, were perfect. Van Andel’s consistency throughout the season meant that whenever the offense stalled, the Red Wolves usually came away with three points. In a six-point bowl win, those early field goals were the literal margin of victory.
What’s Next for the Red Wolves?
The 7-6 finish is a huge step up. Butch Jones has now established a baseline of "winning season and bowl victory." The focus now shifts to the transfer portal and the 2026 recruiting class. With Raynor likely returning for his senior year, the expectations in Jonesboro are going to be sky-high.
If you’re looking to follow the team during the off-season, keep an eye on the defensive line recruitment. They lose some senior depth there, and if they want to compete with the likes of James Madison (who went 12-2) or Louisiana next year, they need more "big uglies" in the trenches.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Rewatch the Highlights: If you missed the App State game or the Xbox Bowl, go back and watch the fourth quarters. Those are masterclasses in situational football.
- Check the Portal: The transfer portal is already humming. Follow the A-State beat writers to see who is coming in to bolster the secondary.
- Season Tickets: After a bowl win, Centennial Bank Stadium is going to be rocking in 2026. If you’re a local, now is the time to lock in your seats before the hype train fully leaves the station.
The 2025 season proved that the Arkansas State University Red Wolves football score is never settled until the clock hits zero. This team has a "never say die" attitude that has finally started to result in hardware.
The Red Wolves finished the 2025 season as Xbox Bowl Champions with a 7-6 record, marking a significant upward trend for the program under Butch Jones. Fans should expect a high-intensity 2026 season with veteran leadership returning at the quarterback position.