Good evening from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, where the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-2, 1-1 SEC) will look to pull off an incredible upset over the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers (4-0, 1-0 SEC).

Game starts at 6:30 and it'll air on ABC. We'll have live stats, commentary, updates and more in this thread. Plenty of postgame coverage to come afterwards as well.

Who scores the first TD for Arkansas?

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Arkansas is looking to lock in its second five-star guard in the 2025 class, and I have logged a Rivals FutureCast for that to happen by projecting Meleek Thomas to become a Razorback.

I initially put a FutureCast in for Thomas to Connecticut, which seemed like a near-done deal over the summer, but recruiting is extremely volatile and things change constantly.

Arkansas benefits from its new coaching staff — which includes head coach John Calipari — having an existing relationship with Thomas, and also because back-to-back national champion UConn is pushing for other 2025 stars in Acaden Lewis and Braylon Mullins.

The latter kept Thomas's recruitment open long enough to schedule and visit Fayetteville over the weekend, when the Arkansas football team defeated No. 4 Tennessee in an electric atmosphere at Razorback Stadium.

Sources have indicated that the visit went very well, with the coaching staff pushing for a commitment from Thomas. Current five-star 2025 Arkansas guard commit Darius Acuff Jr. was also on campus for a visit.

The main reasons for switching my FutureCast to Arkansas have to do with the timeline of events and reading some tea leaves. What sticks out most from the timeline is as follows:

(1) Thomas has been an Arkansas lean for a while.

(2) Sources have indicated that 2025 recruit Kingston Flemings won't be taking his Arkansas visit, which was scheduled for late October.

(3) Past intel has suggested that Arkansas would take the first of whomever committed between Flemings and Thomas.

(4) Thomas had an incredible visit this past weekend, per source.

(5) Bringing Acuff in for a visit on the same weekend as Thomas.

(6) Sources have rumored that Thomas might cancel his upcoming Kansas State visit.

If Thomas does not make the trip to Kansas State, I think all bets are off and that he's likely a Razorback. Even if he keeps that visit, I think the Wildcats' coaching staff has an uphill battle to climb.

I am confident in saying that the Razorbacks are the favorites to land Thomas at this point in time, though recruiting in the high school ranks is incredibly fluid and things can change on a dime at any given moment.

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Rivals national analyst Rob Cassidy posted his regular rumor mill piece and touched on multiple topics, including Meleek Thomas and Arkansas. Here is the excerpt for that:

MAKES SPLASH WITH THOMAS

"Arkansas has long been among the front-runners to land five-star guard Meleek Thomas, and last week's visit seems to have solidified the Razorbacks’ position as one of, if not the, most likely landing spot for the Pittsburgh native.

Thomas recently canceled a visit to Alabama. As of now, a visit to Kansas State remains on the schedule for Oct. 26, but the future of that trip seemed a little up in the air as of Sunday afternoon. A cancellation would be extremely positive news for Arkansas fans, as K-State has the financial support and relationships in place to become a threat.

Should Thomas set foot in Manhattan as scheduled, there could be some white knuckle moments in Fayetteville. If not, it might be time for celebration in the Hawgs' recruiting office."

We are less than two hours out from the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1, 0-0 SEC) taking on the Auburn Tigers (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.

The Razorbacks are currently a 2.5-point underdog (BetSaracen) against the Tigers. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Live stats, commentary, updates and notes in this thread.

Am I crazy to think this is finally the Luke Hasz game? It's gotta come at some point...

Good afternoon from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, where we will watch a battle of two 3-1 teams when Arkansas and Texas A&M kickoff at 2:35ish CT. Game will be televised on ESPN.

We will have live updates, highlights and commentary in this thread. Should be a good game.

From @RileyMcFerran

At the midway mark of the season, Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC) has a much-needed bye week to rest up and refocus before closing out its 2024-25 campaign.

Head coach Sam Pittman's squad began the year with a 70-0 blowout over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at War Memorial Stadium before losing in heartbreaking fashion, 39-31 (OT), at then-No. 16 Oklahoma State in Week 2.

The Razorbacks rebounded in less-than-stellar fashion with a 10-point home victory over UAB, and then started SEC play by knocking off Auburn, 24-14, at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Arkansas then lost the final Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium, 21-17, to then-No. 24 Texas A&M.

Arkansas shocked the college football world over the weekend when it defeated then-No. 4 Tennessee, 19-14, behind a remarkable defensive performance from Travis Williams' bunch.

Through those six games, Arkansas finds itself improved compared to last season in most offensive and defensive statistical categories.The Hogs boast three top-25 offensive and five top-50 defensive categories.

Here's a look at the rest of Arkansas' stats and Pro Football Focus grades so far this year:

Season Stats - Arkansas (FBS rank out of 134 teams)​

Offense

~ Scoring: 33.0 (41st)
~ Total yards: 484.8 (13th)
~ Passing: 285.3 (25th)
~ Rushing: 199.5 (29th)
~ Third downs: 52.8% (8th)
~ Sacks allowed/game: 2.33 (90th)
~ Turnovers: 9 (98th)

Defense

~ Scoring: 19.2 (34th)
~ Total yards: 321.5 (39th)
~ Passing: 214.7 (68th)
~ Rushing: 106.8 (30th)
~ Third downs: 33.3% (33rd)
~ Sacks/game: 2.33 (46th)
~ Turnovers forced: 7 (55th)

Pro Football Focus (season grades)​

Team Grades (Rank out of 134 FBS teams)

~ Overall: 88.1 (47th)

~ Offense: 80.3 (23rd)
~ Passing: 81.3 (30th)
~ Rushing: 85.0 (18th)
~ Receiving: 72.6 (40th)
~ Pass blocking: 65.9 (84th)
~ Run blocking: 67.1 (43rd)

~ Defense: 76.6 (75th)
~ Run defense: 87.3 (24th)
~ Tackling: 65.0 (73rd)
~ Pass rush: 66.5 (85th)
~ Coverage: 63.8 (106th)
~ Special teams: 79.8 (45th)

Note: Only players with 15+ snaps minimum listed.

PFF Season Grades Through 6 Games

Guy is the real freaking deal. We have got to do whatever it takes to keep him around.

Have we heard anything concrete on the injury?

and explain yourselves


Nm

I seem to recall their fans going crazy when a Bama player did something similar during their field storm.

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Good afternoon from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, where the Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1, 0-0 SEC) will hold their home-opener against the UAB Blazers (1-1, 0-0 AAC). Both teams looking for a win after losing last week. Hogs dropped the heartbreaker at Oklahoma State, while UAB was crushed by Louisiana-Monroe.

As always, who leads the Hogs in receiving today? I'll go with Isaiah Sategna.

Live updates and commentary to come ITT!

Was the best at Razorback Stadium for sure since the 2021 Texas game. Pregame festivities were awesome with parachutes and a flyover. They went with some different music before than ran on the field and right before kickoff it was electric.

Having the Tennessee band definitely contributed. They were awesome.

Some different third down songs throughout the game. At the end, they were constantly playing pump up music and they were also blaring the train horn until right before Tennessee snapped.

Postgame atmosphere was great, obviously. Playing Rocky Top was a great troll move.

I know I’m missing some other good stuff.

All that to say, I was very encouraged by more than just the play on the field yesterday.

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Brett McMurphy: Arkansas vs Kansas State (Texas Bowl)

ESPN: UCF vs Arkansas (Liberty Bowl); Washington State vs Arkansas (Las Vegas Bowl)

CBS: Texas Tech vs Arkansas (Liberty Bowl)

Worth noting, I saw Cheeze It Bowl reps on Saturday after the game.

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Arkansas fans have five days to reach an NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) goal that will result in the Slobbering Hog Logo's return to midcourt at Bud Walton Arena for the 2024-25 season, Arkansas Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek announced Wednesday evening.

Wednesday morning, an X post of Nolan Richardson Court being stripped of its logos and paint was made by the official Arkansas Men's Basketball account with the caption, 'A little refresh coming soon."

RELATED: Calipari using exhibitions to set Arkansas team culture

Naturally, widespread speculation of what the post meant ensued, and pleas for Slobbering Hog's long-awaited return began. Just a few hours later, Arkansas Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek made a post that put Hoop Hogs fans in a frenzy.

"Hearing some chatter on the Slobbering Hog," Yurachek said Wednesday evening. "I'll make you a deal! I just received a matching gift offer of $500k. If we can raise an additional $500k for (Arkansas Edge NIL) before 5 p.m. on Oct. 7, we WILL put the beloved Slobbering Hog logo at mid-court of BWA."

Arkansas' Slobbering Hog Logo was previously at midcourt of Barnhill Arena and Bud Walton Arena and became synonymous with legendary former head coach Nolan Richardson's "40 Minutes of Hell" play style during his 17-year tenure with the Razorbacks. 2008 was the last time Slobbering Hog was at midcourt of Bud Walton Arena.

On Arkansas Edge NIL's official website, the heading "Help us bring back the Slobbering Hog!" is listed with a caption similar to Yurachek's X post.

"There has been a matching gift offer of $500,000," the caption reads. "If Razorback Nation can raise an additional $500,000 before 5pm on Oct. 7, the Slobbering Hog logo will be at mid-court at Bud Walton Arena this coming season. Make a gift today to bring back the slobbering hog! Please note that contributions of this kind are not tax-deductible."

RELATED: Calipari 'expecting a lot' from Arkansas guard D.J. Wagner

The noted timeframe gives Arkansas fans a five-day window to reach the NIL goal that would put the Slobbering Hog logo back at midcourt for head coach John Calipari's first season as head coach of the Razorbacks.

Up next, Arkansas basketball will play charity exhibition matchups against the Kansas Jayhawks at Bud Walton Arena on Oct. 25 and the TCU Horned Frogs at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 1. Be sure to tune in to HawgBeat for offseason updates on the Hoop Hogs ahead of season tip-off.