The Diamond Hogs will begin their 2025 season Friday with Washington State coming to Fayetteville for a four-game series, and it is time for HawgBeat's week-by-week predictions for the Razorbacks' schedule.
With 56 regular season games on the docket, HawgBeat's Riley McFerran went through each week and gave notes on each opponent, plus the record he thinks Arkansas will have that week. He finished things off with a postseason projection as well.
Enjoy...
2024 predictions - Riley: (38-17, 19-11 SEC)
2024 result - 44-16 (20-10 SEC)
2025 PREDICTIONS
Week 1 - vs. Washington State (Feb. 14-17)
A four-game opening series is needed for the Razorbacks, who boast an almost entirely new supporting cast offensively and in the pitching staff.
Washington State isn't a complete pushover — the Cougars won early-season matchups against then-No. 24 Kentucky and Kansas, and nearly upset then-No. 3 TCU last year — but its 21-32 overall 2024 record, one returning starter in the batting order and two returning relievers doesn't inspire confidence that it can pull off the upset. The Cougars are now also an associate member of the Mountain West Conference.
The Razorbacks will face Rock Valley College implant Griffin Smith on Friday, a right-handed pitcher who was named a NJCAA Division II All-American last season. Facing an SEC lineup is a significant jump, even for the most talented JUCO players.
I like Arkansas to win the series, but not to sweep. Each of the last two seasons, Arkansas has dropped one game to open things up at Baum-Walker Stadium, and the Cougars are solid enough to steal one away.
Record - 3-1
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Week 2 - vs. Kansas State (Feb. 21), vs. TCU (Feb. 22), vs. Michigan (Feb. 23)
Notice anything about Arkansas' first two opponents this weekend? Besides their purple team color, both TCU and Kansas State defeated the Hogs in the Fayetteville Regional in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Michigan is also a familiar face, as Arkansas won, 4-3, against the Wolverines in the College Baseball Series in Arlington a year ago.
TCU is preseason ranked No. 23 by D1Baseball and is expected to contend for the Big 12 Championship, while Kansas State will be without stars like Kaelen Culpepper, Brady Day, Brendan Jones and others.
I think Arkansas enacts revenge against the Horned Frogs and Wildcats, but the Wolverines get the last laugh of the weekend after the close game last year.
Record - 5-2
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Week 3 - vs. Grambling (Feb. 25), vs. Charlotte (Feb. 28-March 2)
Grambling is nothing more than a tune-up game for the Razorbacks, who will then face a Charlotte program that finished below .500 last year.
4-0 weeks don't happen often, but Arkansas secures one here with its talent gap.
Record - 9-2
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