If you’re a Razorbacks fan, you know the drill. It’s never just a game; it’s a full-blown emotional event that usually involves a lot of yelling at the TV and maybe a little bit of heartbreak. Looking back at the u of arkansas football schedule 2024, it’s clear this wasn't your run-of-the-mill season. It was a chaotic, 7-6 journey that somehow felt both like a massive step forward and a frustrating "what if" story all at once.
Honestly, the 2024 season was defined by one of the most brutal schedules in the country. That's just the reality of life in the SEC these days. Between welcoming old rivals like Texas back into the fold and traveling to hostile environments like Stillwater, Sam Pittman’s squad was put through the absolute wringer.
The Schedule That Almost Broke the Internet (and the Fans)
Early on, everyone was circling the Oklahoma State game. It was Week 2, and the Hogs headed to Stillwater for a matchup that felt like a throwback to the old days. Arkansas basically dominated that game for three quarters. They had over 600 yards of offense. But, in classic Hogs fashion, a few critical mistakes led to a 39-31 loss in double overtime. It was the kind of loss that makes you want to hide under a porch for a week.
But then, things got interesting.
The middle of the u of arkansas football schedule 2024 featured a moment that Fayetteville won’t forget for a long time: the upset over No. 4 Tennessee. The goalposts didn't stand a chance.
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Key Matchups and Final Scores
The season was a literal seesaw. One week you’re beating a top-five team, and the next you’re struggling to keep pace with LSU. Here is how the most pivotal games shook out:
- UAPB: A 70-0 blowout that had everyone feeling maybe too optimistic.
- at Auburn: A massive 24-14 road win that showed the defense had some real teeth.
- Tennessee: The 19-14 home win that effectively saved the vibe of the season.
- at Mississippi State: A 58-25 offensive explosion where Taylen Green looked like a superstar.
- Texas: The return of the rivalry. A 20-10 loss that was closer than the score suggested, but still stung.
The Bobby Petrino Factor
You can’t talk about the 2024 schedule without mentioning the return of Bobby Petrino as the offensive coordinator. It was a "kinda weird, but also exciting" reunion for the fans. The offense was night and day compared to the previous year. Arkansas averaged over 30 points a game, which is a huge leap from the struggles of 2023.
Taylen Green, the transfer quarterback from Boise State, was the engine. He had games where he looked like an NFL first-rounder and others where the growing pains were obvious. He finished the season with a lot of yards, but the 36 sacks the team allowed showed that the offensive line is still a work in progress.
Why the Liberty Bowl Mattered
By the time the regular season wrapped up with a tough loss to Missouri (the Battle Line Rivalry is still a thorn in our side), Arkansas sat at 6-6. They headed to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl to face Texas Tech.
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Winning that game 39-26 was huge. It gave the program its third bowl win in four years under Pittman. It also pushed the final record to 7-6, which, while not elite, is a heck of a lot better than the 4-8 disaster we saw the year before. It basically cooled down Sam Pittman’s seat—at least for a few months.
Breaking Down the Stats (The Good and the Ugly)
If you look at the numbers, Arkansas was actually a top-25 team in terms of total offense for much of the year. They were putting up over 450 yards per game. The problem? Turnovers and red zone efficiency.
"We played well enough to win almost every game on our schedule, but we didn't always finish. That's the SEC for you." — Common sentiment among the coaching staff.
The defense, led by Travis Williams, was actually pretty solid against the run but got torched in a few games by elite passing attacks (looking at you, Ole Miss). Giving up 63 points to the Rebels was a low point that showed just how far the secondary still has to go to compete with the top tier of the conference.
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What Most People Get Wrong About 2024
A lot of national media looked at the 7-6 record and thought, "Oh, Arkansas is just mid." But if you actually watched the games, you'd see they were a few plays away from being a 9-win or even a 10-win team. The loss to Oklahoma State and the narrow defeat against Texas A&M in Arlington were games Arkansas controlled for long stretches.
The u of arkansas football schedule 2024 wasn't just about the wins; it was about the program proving it could punch up. Beating Tennessee wasn't a fluke. It was a testament to the talent on the roster.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're already looking ahead to how the program builds off this 2024 foundation, here is what you should be watching:
- Monitor the Portal: With over 40 players entering the portal across the landscape, Arkansas needs to keep their core intact while finding O-line help.
- Spring Game Intel: Watch for Taylen Green’s development in year two under Petrino. If the chemistry improves, the 2025 ceiling is much higher.
- Ticket Renewals: Attendance was a bit of a rollercoaster in 2024; getting the home-field advantage back to "Tennessee-game levels" is priority one for the athletic department.
The 2024 season is in the books. It was loud, it was stressful, and it was uniquely Arkansas. Now, we wait to see if this 7-6 foundation is a floor or a ceiling.