Arkansas Razorbacks football

The Arkansas Razorbacks football program represents the University of Arkansas in the sport of American football. The Razorbacks compete in the
Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as a member of the Southeastern Conference. Home games are played at stadiums on or near the two largest campuses of the University of Arkansas System: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
The program began in 1894 and has compiled an all-time record of 740–539–40, for a .576 winning percentage. The Razorbacks have won 13 conference championships and have had 58 players honored as All-Americans. Arkansas claims one national championship awarded by the Football Writers Association of America.

Conference affiliations

Arkansas has been affiliated with the following conferences.

Championships

National championships

Arkansas has been named College football national championships in [NCAA Division I FBS|national champion] twice by NCAA-designated major selectors. Arkansas claims the 1964 championship but does not claim the co-national championship the program was awarded in 1977 by the Rothman (FACT) poll after the Razorbacks finished the season with an 11–1 record and defeated #2 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, 31–6.
In 1964, the Razorbacks finished the season as the only major team with an undefeated and untied record after No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama] lost to Texas Longhorns football team|Texas] in the Orange Bowl. However, the AP and Coaches Polls became final before the bowl games were played, leaving one-loss Alabama as the AP and UPI national champion. The Football Writers Association of America and Helms Athletic Foundation conducted their final polling after the bowl games and selected Arkansas as the national champion.

1964

Billingsley, Football Research, FWAA, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Poling System, Sagarin, Sagarin

11–0

Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]

No. 2

Conference championships

Arkansas has won 13 conference championships, all during their tenure in the Southwest Conference.

1936	SWC	Fred Thomsen	7–3	5–1
1946†	SWC	John Barnhill	6–3–2	5–1
1954	SWC	Bowden Wyatt	8–3	5–1
1959†	SWC	Frank Broyles	9–2	5–1
1960	SWC	Frank Broyles	8–3	6–1
1961†	SWC	Frank Broyles	8–3	6–1
1964	SWC	Frank Broyles	11–0	7–0
1965	SWC	Frank Broyles	10–1	7–0
1968†	SWC	Frank Broyles	10–1	6–1
1975†	SWC	Frank Broyles	10–2	6–1
1979†	SWC	Lou Holtz	10–2	7–1
1988	SWC	Ken Hatfield	10–2	7–0
1989	SWC	Ken Hatfield	10–2	7–1

† Co-champions

Division championships

Arkansas has won four division championships, all within the SEC Western Division. Arkansas has made three appearances in the SEC Championship Game as winner of the SEC Western Division but are 0–3 in those appearances. Arkansas was also the SEC Western Division co-champions in 1998 with Mississippi State but lost to the Bulldogs during the regular season, resulting in Mississippi State representing the West in the SEC Championship Game. In 2002, Alabama had the best conference record in the West with a 6–2 mark, but was on probation by the NCAA and was barred from post season play. Arkansas played in the SEC Championship Game due to winning the tiebreaker for a three-way tie with Auburn and LSU, both of whom Arkansas defeated during the regular season.
† - Co-champions

Head coaches

There have been 36 head coaches of Arkansas. Barry Lunney Jr. became the interim head coach on November 11, 2019, after the firing of Chad Morris.

1	John Futrall	1894–1896	3	5–2		—
2	B. N. Wilson	1897–1898	2	4–1–1		—
3	Colbert Searles	1899–1900	2	5–2–2		—
4	Charles Thomas	1901–1902	2	9–8		—
5	D. A. McDaniel	1903	1	3–4		—
6	A. D. Brown	1904–1905	2	6–9		—
7	Frank Longman	1906–1907	2	5–8–3		—
8	Hugo Bezdek	1908–1912	5	29–13–1		—
9	T. Pickering">Tackle (gridiron football position)">T. Pickering	1913–1914	2	11–7		—
10	T. T. McConnell	1915–1916	2	8–6–1		—
11	Norman Paine	1917–1918	2	8–3–1		—
12	J. B. Craig	1919	1	3–4		—
13	George McLaren	1920–1921	2	8–5–3		—
14	Francis Schmidt	1922–1928	7	42–20–3		—
15	Fred Thomsen	1929–1941	13	56–61–10		0–0–1
16	George Cole	1942	1	3–7		—
17	John Tomlin	1943	1	2–7		—
18	Glen Rose	1944–1945	2	8–12–1		—
19	John Barnhill	1946–1949	4	22–17–3		1–0–1
20	Otis Douglas	1950–1952	3	9–21		—
21	Bowden Wyatt	1953–1954	2	11–10		0–1
22	Jack Mitchell	1955–1957	3	17–12–1		—
23	Frank Broyles	1958–1976	19	144–58–5		4–6
24	Lou Holtz	1977–1983	7	60–21–2		3–2–1
25	Ken Hatfield	1984–1989	6	55–17–1		1–6
26	Jack Crowe	1990–1992	3	9–15		0–1
27	Joe Kines †	1992	1	3–6–1		—
28	Danny Ford	1993–1997	5	26–30–1		0–1
29	Houston Nutt	1998–2007	10	75–46		2–5
30	Reggie Herring †	2007	1	0–1		0–1
31	Bobby Petrino	2008–2011	4	34–17		2–1
32	John L. Smith †	2012	1	4–8		—
33	Bret Bielema	2013–2017	5	29–34		2–1
34	Paul Rhoads †	2017	1	—	—	—
35	Chad Morris	2018–2019	2	4–18		—
36	Barry Lunney Jr. †	2019	1	0–2		—
37	Sam Pittman	2020–2025	6	32–34		3–0
38	Bobby Petrino†	2025	1	0–7		—
39	Ryan Silverfield	2026—Present	—	—	—	—

† Interim head coach

Bowl games

The Razorbacks have appeared in 45 bowl games with an overall record of 18–24–3.

1	1933	Fred Thomsen	Dixie Classic	Centenary Gentlemen football team\|Centenary]	T 7–7
2	1946	John Barnhill	Cotton Bowl Classic	1946 [LSU Tigers football team\|LSU]	T 0–0
3	1947	John Barnhill	Dixie Bowl	1947 [William & Mary Indians football team\|William & Mary]	W 21–19
4	1954	Bowden Wyatt	Cotton Bowl Classic	1954 [Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team\|Georgia Tech]	L 6–14
5	1959	Frank Broyles	Gator Bowl (January)\|Gator Bowl]	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team\|Georgia Tech]	W 14–7
6	1960	Frank Broyles	Cotton Bowl Classic	Duke Blue Devils football team\|Duke]	L 6–7
7	1961	Frank Broyles	Sugar Bowl	Alabama	L 3–10
8	1962	Frank Broyles	Sugar Bowl	Ole Miss Rebels football team\|Ole Miss]	L 13–17
9	1964	Frank Broyles	Cotton Bowl Classic	Nebraska	W 10–7
10	1965	Frank Broyles	Cotton Bowl Classic (January)\|Cotton Bowl Classic]	Tigers football team\|LSU]	L 7–14
11	1968	Frank Broyles	Sugar Bowl	Georgia Bulldogs football team\|Georgia]	W 16–2
12	1969	Frank Broyles	Sugar Bowl	Ole Miss	L 22–27
13	1971	Frank Broyles	Liberty Bowl	Tennessee Volunteers football team\|Tennessee]	L 13–14
14	1975	Frank Broyles	Cotton Bowl Classic	Georgia	W 31–10
15	1977	Lou Holtz	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma	W 31–6
16	1978	Lou Holtz	Fiesta Bowl	UCLA Bruins football team\|UCLA]	T 10–10
17	1979	Lou Holtz	Sugar Bowl	Alabama	L 9–24
18	1980	Lou Holtz	Hall of Fame Classic	Tulane Green Wave football team\|Tulane]	W 34–15
19	1981	Lou Holtz	Gator Bowl	1981 [North Carolina Tar Heels football team\|North Carolina]	L 27–31
20	1982	Lou Holtz	Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl	Florida Gators football team\|Florida]	W 28–24
21	1984	Ken Hatfield	Liberty Bowl	Auburn	L 15–21
22	1985	Ken Hatfield	Holiday Bowl	1985 [Arizona State Sun Devils football team\|Arizona State]	W 18–17
23	1986	Ken Hatfield	Orange Bowl	Oklahoma	L 8–42
24	1987	Ken Hatfield	Liberty Bowl	Georgia	L 17–20
25	1988	Ken Hatfield	Cotton Bowl Classic	UCLA	L 3–17
26	1989	Ken Hatfield	Cotton Bowl Classic	Tennessee	L 27–31
27	1991	Jack Crowe	Independence Bowl\|Independence]	Georgia	L 15–24
28	1995	Danny Ford	Carquest Bowl (December)\|Carquest Bowl]	North Carolina Tar Heels football team\|North Carolina]	L 10–20
29	1998	Houston Nutt	Florida Citrus Bowl	Michigan Wolverines football team\|Michigan]	L 31–45
30	1999	Houston Nutt	Cotton Bowl Classic	Texas	W 27–6
31	2000	Houston Nutt	Las Vegas Bowl	UNLV Rebels football team\|UNLV]	L 14–31
32	2001	Houston Nutt	Cotton Bowl Classic	Oklahoma	L 3–10
33	2002	Houston Nutt	Music City Bowl	Minnesota Golden Gophers football team\|Minnesota]	L 14–29
34	2003	Houston Nutt	Independence Bowl	Missouri Tigers football team\|Missouri]	W 27–14
35	2006	Houston Nutt	Capital One Bowl	Wisconsin Badgers football team\|Wisconsin]	L 14–17
36	2007	Reggie Herring	Cotton Bowl Classic	Missouri	L 7–38
37	2009	Bobby Petrino	Liberty Bowl (January)\|Liberty Bowl]	East Carolina Pirates football team\|East Carolina]	W 20–17
38	2010	Bobby Petrino	Sugar Bowl	Ohio State Buckeyes football team\|Ohio State]	L 26–31
39	2011	Bobby Petrino	Cotton Bowl Classic	Kansas State Wildcats football team\|Kansas State]	W 29–16
40	2014	Bret Bielema	Texas Bowl	Texas	W 31–7
41	2015	Bret Bielema	Liberty Bowl	Kansas State Wildcats football team\|Kansas State]	W 45–23
42	2016	Bret Bielema	Belk Bowl	Virginia Tech Hokies football team\|Virginia Tech]	L 24–35
43	2021	Sam Pittman	Outback Bowl	2021 [Penn State Nittany Lions football team\|Penn State]	W 24–10
44	2022	Sam Pittman	Liberty Bowl	Kansas	W 55–53 3OT
45	2024	Sam Pittman	Liberty Bowl	2024 [Texas Tech Red Raiders football team\|Texas Tech]	W 39–26

Arkansas has been invited to multiple Cotton Bowl Classics, Sugar Bowls, and Liberty Bowls. Arkansas has faced current or future fellow SEC members in multiple bowl games as follows: Georgia ; Oklahoma ; and Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas. Arkansas has faced current or future out of conference opponents Georgia Tech, Kansas State, North Carolina, and UCLA in two bowl games each.

Rivalries

LSU

Since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1992, the Razorbacks have developed a rivalry with the LSU Tigers. The game was played annually the day after Thanksgiving and was televised on CBS until 2014 when LSU played Texas A&M on Thanksgiving and Arkansas played Missouri that week. The winner of the game has taken home the "Golden Boot", which is a 24-karat gold trophy in the shape of the two states, since its creation in 1996.
In 2002, the rivalry gained some momentum as the game winner would represent the Western Division in the SEC Championship Game. The game was won by Arkansas on a last second touchdown pass by Matt Jones. In 2006, the Tigers snapped the SEC West champion Razorbacks' 10-game winning streak when they beat Arkansas in Little Rock, 31–26. In 2007, Arkansas stunned top-ranked LSU in triple overtime, 50–48, giving them their first win in Baton Rouge since 1993, and their first victory over a top-ranked team since beating Texas in 1981, winning back the Golden Boot trophy in the process. In 2008, the Razorbacks defended the trophy, winning 31–30 on a last minute touchdown drive. As of 2025, LSU leads the series 44–23–2. Beginning in 2026, the rivalry game will again be played on Thanksgiving weekend.

Missouri

Arkansas and Missouri first met in 1906 in Columbia, Missouri, and played each other a total of five times prior to Missouri joining the SEC in 2012, and then becoming Arkansas' permanent cross-division rival in 2014. The annual meeting was dubbed the Battle Line Rivalry by the SEC. On November 23, 2015, a new rivalry trophy was unveiled for the annual game. Missouri leads the series 12–4 as of the conclusion of the 2025 season. Beginning in the 2026 season, the game will no longer be played on Thanksgiving weekend.

Ole Miss

The Razorbacks first played the Rebels in 1908. In addition to several occasional years of playing each other, the two teams played each other from 1940 to 1947 and 1952–62 on an annual basis. The Razorbacks and Rebels also met twice in the Sugar Bowl, played in New Orleans, in 1963 and 1970. Since 1981, the two teams have played each other annually in football. In 2001, Arkansas and Ole Miss played a then-NCAA record seven-overtime game in Oxford, Mississippi; Arkansas won by a final score of 58–56. When Houston Nutt resigned in 2007 after ten years as Arkansas' head coach to take the same job at Ole Miss, it only added to and heightened the long-standing rivalry between the schools. Nutt was at Ole Miss for four years and went 2–2 versus Arkansas. Arkansas had played Ole Miss more total times than any other SEC opponent until Texas A&M joined the conference in 2012. Arkansas leads the series, 37–29–1, per its records, but only leads 36–30–1 per Ole Miss.

Texas

The Arkansas-Texas game has not been regularly played since Arkansas's departure from the Southwest Conference in 1991, and this has dulled the intensity of the rivalry. There were many classic games, including the result of the 1969 Game of the Century, which eventually led to the Longhorns' 1969 national championship. One of Arkansas' biggest victories over Texas came in 1981, when the Razorbacks defeated the No. 1 ranked Longhorns in Fayetteville, 42–11. Arkansas and Texas have played only six times since 1991, with the Razorbacks winning the 2000 Cotton Bowl, a 2003 game in Austin, and the 2014 Texas Bowl. The Longhorns won the 2004 meeting in Fayetteville and a game in Austin in 2008. However, these games have not served to reignite the once intense rivalry between the two schools. The teams played again in Fayetteville in 2021, where the game ended with the Arkansas Razorbacks winning by a score of 40–21; this victory put them in the AP Poll for the first time in 5 years. As of the end of the 2025 season, Texas leads the series 58–23. In the 2024 season, Texas and Oklahoma became members of the SEC. Beginning in 2026, each member of the SEC will play 9 conference games, with 3 permanent conference opponents. Arkansas' permanent SEC opponents will be Texas, LSU, and Missouri. Many Razorback fans are hopeful that an annual game versus the Longhorns will rekindle the rivalry between the Hogs and the Horns.

Texas A&M

The Razorbacks first played the Texas A&M Aggies in 1903. From 1934 to 1991, the two had played annually as Southwest Conference members. However, the series ceased in 1991 when Arkansas left the SWC to join the Southeastern Conference. Two of the biggest victories for Arkansas over A&M came in 1975 and 1986. Arkansas manhandled undefeated #2 Texas A&M 31–6 in Little Rock in 1975 to win a share of that year's SWC championship and earn the right to play in the 1976 Cotton Bowl Classic. In 1986, Arkansas again beat Texas A&M in Little Rock, this time 14–10, handing the #7 Aggies their only conference loss of the season.
The series resumed in 2009 played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, a neutral field, with Arkansas winning 47–19. The initial agreement between the two schools allowed the game to be played for at least 10 years, followed by 5 consecutive, 4-year rollover options, allowing the game to be played for a total of 30 consecutive seasons.
Following A&M's move to the SEC, the 2012 game was played at Kyle Field, and the 2013 game was played at Arkansas, and thereafter resumed at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Beginning in the 2025 season, the series will move back to each team's home-field stadiums.
Arkansas' 20–10 victory during the 2021 season broke a 9-game A&M win streak against Arkansas. The Aggies won the 2022 matchup 23–21. As of the end of the 2022 season, the Razorbacks lead the all-time series 42–34–3.

All-time records against SEC teams

Records as of December 28, 2023

Alabama	7–27
Auburn	13–20–1
Florida	3–10
Georgia	4–12
Kentucky	3–5
LSU	23–44–2
Mississippi State	19–15–1
Missouri	4–12
Oklahoma	4–10-1
Ole Miss	37–33–1
South Carolina	14–10
Tennessee	7–13
Texas	23–57–0
Texas A&M	42–35–3
Vanderbilt	7–3

Awards and honors

All-Americans

Every year, players are selected by several publications to be placed on their All-American team for that season. The NCAA officially recognizes five All-American lists which include AP, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. A consensus All-American is determined using a point system; three points if the player was selected for the first team, two points for the second team, and one point for the third team. Arkansas has had 58 All-Americans in its history.

Name	Position	Years at Arkansas	AFCA	AP	FWAA	TSN	WCFF
Joe Adams	PR			2011	2011	2011	2011
Lance Alworth	B	1959–1961			1961
Shawn Andrews†	OT	2001–2003	2002; 2003	2003	2002; 2003	2002; 2003	2003
Jim Barnes†	OG	1966–1968		1968
Jim Benton	E	1935–1937		1937
Martine Bercher	S	1962–1966			1966
Rodney Brand†	C			1969	1969		1969
Bud Brooks†	OG/DT		1954	1954	1954		1954
Dick Bumpas†	DT	1968–1970		1970
Brandon Burlsworth	OG	1995–1998		1998
Ronnie Caveness	LB		1964	1964	1964	1964
Tony Cherico	NG	1984–1987	1987
Bobby Crockett	E				1965
Chuck Dicus†	WR	1968–1970	1969; 1970	1970			1970
Ron Faurot	DE	1980–1983
Robert Felton	OG	2003–2007		2007
Cobi Hamilton	WR			2012
Ken Hamlin	FS	1999–2002
Dan Hampton	DT	1975–1978	1978
Leotis Harris†	OG	1974–1977	1977	1977			1977
Wayne Harris	LB	1958–1960			1960
Hunter Henry†	TE	2013–2015	2015	2015	2015	2015	2015
Glen Ray Hines†	T		1965	1965	1965		1965
Greg Horne	P	1983–1986	1986
Bruce James	DE	1968–1970			1970
Felix Jones	TB/KR	2005–2007	2007				2007
Kenoy Kennedy	FS	1996–1999		1999
Greg Kolenda†	OT	1976–1979	1979	1979	1979		1979
Steve Korte†	OG		1982	1982	1982	1982
Bruce Lahay	K/P				1981
Steve Little†	K/P	1974–1977	1976	1977	1977	1977
Anthony Lucas	SE	1996–1999		1999
Jonathan Luigs†	C	2004–2008		2006; 2007	2007	2007	2007
Jim Mabry†	OT	1986–1989	1989	1989			1989
Wayne Martin†	DT	1985–1988		1988	1988	1988
Bill McClard	K	1969–1971	1970		1971	1971
Darren McFadden†	RB	2005–2007	2006; 2007	2006; 2007	2007	2007	2007
Billy Moore	QB				1962
Jim Mooty	B			1959
Stephen Parker	OG	2003–2006				2006
Jermaine Petty†	LB	1998–2001	2001
Loyd Phillips†	T		1965; 1966	1965; 1966	1966	1966	1965: 1966
Cliff Powell	LB	1967–1969	1969
Wear Schoonover	E	1927–1929		1929
Clyde Scott†	TB	1944–1948	1948	1948
Billy Ray Smith, Jr.†	DE	1979–1982	1981; 1982	1981; 1982	1981; 1982	1981; 1982	1981; 1982
Travis Swanson	C					2013
Kendall Trainor†	K	1985–1988	1988	1988		1988	1988
Tony Ugoh	OG	2002–2006		2006
Jimmy Walker	DT	1975–1978			1978
D.J. Williams	TE			2010

† Consensus All-American

Facilities

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is the on-campus and primary home stadium for the Razorbacks located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks began playing football at Razorback Stadium in 1938, where they beat Oklahoma A&M 27–7. The stadium was dedicated to Donald W. Reynolds for the $20 million donation from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to help finance the major expansion in 2001, which raised the seating capacity from 51,000 to 76,000. The playing field was dedicated to former head coach and athletic director Frank Broyles in 2007 and is now called the Frank Broyles Field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

War Memorial Stadium

War Memorial Stadium is the secondary home stadium for the Razorbacks. War Memorial Stadium is located in Little Rock, Arkansas, with a seating capacity of 53,727. War Memorial Stadium used to host either two or three Razorback football games per season. Beginning in 2014, Arkansas will only play one home game per season in Little Rock.

Willard and Pat Walker Pavilion

The Willard and Pat Walker Pavilion was built in 1998 and is the indoor practice facility for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame

Arkansas has 15 inductees to the College Football Hall of Fame with ties to the school.

1954	Hugo Bezdek	Coach	1908–1912
1967	Wear Schoonover	End	1927–1929
1971	Clyde Scott	HB	1944–1948
1971	Francis Schmidt	Coach	1922–1928
1984	Lance Alworth	Back	1959–1961
1983	Frank Broyles	Coach	1958–1976
1992	Loyd Phillips	T	1964–1966
1997	Bowden Wyatt	Coach	1953–1954
1999	Chuck Dicus	WR	1968–1970
2000	Billy Ray Smith, Jr.	DE	1979–1982
2004	Wayne Harris	LB	1958–1960
2008	Lou Holtz	Coach	1977–1983
2010	Ronnie Caveness	LB	1962–1964
2019	Darren McFadden	RB	2005–2007
2024	Dan Hampton	DT	1975–1978

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Arkansas has five inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as of 2020.

1978	Lance Alworth	WR	1959–1961
2002	Dan Hampton	DL	1975–1978
2017	Jerry Jones	Team owner/Dallas Cowboys	1961–1964
2020	Jimmy Johnson	Coach	1961–1964
2020	Steve Atwater	S	1985–1988

Future opponents

Conference opponents

From 1992 to 2023, Arkansas played in the West Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the East Division. The SEC will expand the conference to 16 teams and will eliminate its two divisions in 2024, causing a new scheduling format for the Razorbacks to play against the other members of the conference. Only the 2024 conference schedule was announced on June 14, 2023, while the conference still considers a new format for the future.

Non-conference opponents

Announced non-conference schedules as of December 11, 2025.

North Alabama	at Tulsa	Memphis	Tulsa	vs Texas Tech¹	Texas Tech	at Oklahoma State	Oklahoma State	at Texas Tech
at Utah	Oklahoma State	at Notre Dame	Utah	Memphis
Tulsa

Vegas Kickoff Classic, Las Vegas, Nevada