2024 Arkansas Football Schedule Preview (GAME-BY-GAME ANALYSIS)

we are talking some SEC football here on South Eastern 14 Chase Robinson and Chris Lee today uh as we're going to talk some Arkansas Razer backs football we're going to dive into the football schedule for 2024 as we're trying to get you ready for the season and uh hey there's no better time to start looking at schedules than now getting us ready for the season but first let's tell you about our friends at bet online your number one source for the NBA and NHL playoffs this season every stat every matchup and even live odds while the games are being played when the game's over head on over to our online casino and get in on a game of blackjack or poker or unwind with one of our over 150 slot games head over to the website to get in on the action don't forget to use promo code believe that is bav for your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit but online the game starts here so here we go Chris uh Arkansas I mean coming off a year that I think people had some ations on them but you finish 4 and eight even with KJ Jefferson as your quarterback even with rocket Sanders who is a lot of expectations on him you battled injury I mean it was a it was not the year Arkansas was expecting especially after the the 2022 season that they had yeah it was a season where you had injuries you had pieces that just didn't fit together assembled from the portal it just was kind of a disaster and and one thing we know from from running this channel for three years Arkansas fans are passionate about their football we're not happy with with last season and certainly they're expecting things to go better in 2024 and who knows maybe maybe the schedule gives them a little bit of a of a chance to do that and uh obviously Sam Pitman uh back as the head coach at Arkansas uh he he has a tough schedule there is some winnable games on this schedule uh but nonetheless I mean he in his position where he's at right now he's got to look at this schedule and say we we've got to win some of these very key SEC games they going to be hard but hey you're in a position where you got to win these games yeah it's it's never easy in the west but but again it was one of those Seasons where it feels like it couldn't have gone much worse for them than it did a year ago so hey you know the great thing about the off season is everybody's unbeaten till we get to the opener and uh that that's where the Razer back stand as we do this in late May yeah Bobby patrino back uh leading the offense for the Razer backs which those of us who've kept up with uh with SEC football over time remember his time as the head coach there at Arkansas and he spent uh you know time at other places but a great offensive mind which I think is going to help a lot for the Razer backs yeah and uh let's take a look at the schedule as soon as you're ready here yeah let's take a look at it all right let's see we've got as we pull this up uh not a lot of easy wins in the CC uh but Arkansas gets one right off the bat potentially with with Arkansas Pine Bluff get get that FCS game out of the way right away don't don't expect that to be much of a challenge I I don't know if there's anything noteworthy in that one chase that that you found but uh an instate uh rival right off the bat for the Razer backs yeah this is actually the only second time that they've ever played uh but one thing to note about this one they're actually playing this one in Little Rock at War Memorial state it'll be the second straight season that the Hogs are opening up in Little Rock so the fans in that part of the state of Arkansas will be able to go check out uh the Razer backs and Arkansas Pine Bluff but yeah I think it's uh that's that's a good way to start the season off with a team like this get you a little momentum heading into and and we'll get to the the second game in just a second what could be a tough second game for the Razer backs yeah some teams schedule uh more winnable FBS games Power five games then maybe uh Arkansas has put here with Oklahoma State in week two now Mike Gundy last year that was the worst year they'd had in a while but o OSU never one of those teams that you look up and you're you're thinking hey they're they're three and nine before the season starts and uh the Cowboys in week two I think will at least give us a little bit more of an idea of what kind of team Arkansas could have before they hit SEC play I think this is going to be a a really good test for Arkansas um these two teams they met for a long time this will be the 47th time they've played but they actually haven't played since 1980 Lou Holtz was actually the head coach at Arkansas the last time they played so it's been a while but I think this is going to be a really good litmus test for where Arkansas is at uh this early part of the Season uh and this is going to be a good tuneup they'll have one more noncon game before they get into uh SEC play against Auburn but I think this Oklahoma State game it's I think it's good Aransas is not opening up with them uh but I think this is a really good second game because they're going to learn a lot in the Pine Bluff game uh and then they'll be able to to kind of fix some things for this Oklahoma State game but I think that's a huge test uh in the first week of of September for for Arkansas and they'll have to go on the road there to Oklahoma State for that one all right UAB in week three that has been a a group of five team that's been pretty competitive in past years a group of five teams are just seeing their rosters and their coaching staff's increasingly rated so don't know what the Blazers will have when they come to fatall September 14 but this feels like a very winnable game for Arkansas yeah it does and you know Trent deler uh head coach there at UAB is going to have him ready to roll he loves playing in SEC stadiums but uh yeah I think this is another good good game for for Arkansas to be able to to get some momentum get some confidence again heading into SEC play so yeah I see this as a as a w forar Aras we'll see if UAB can compete but uh in your two of your first three games you have Pine Bluff you have uabb I think those are both winnable games I think the Oklahoma State game is winnable for Arkansas as well so uh hopefully the the Razer backs can have some confidence coming out of these first three weeks but especially against Pine Bluff and UAB all right week four this would be I would ter it the misery loved company in 2023 Game Auburn coming off a disappointing season year two under Hugh freeze they reloaded in the transfer portal at receiver in particular uh th this I think speaking of litmus tests I think this is a good one uh especially on the road at Auburn I think this game uh more than any other will find out really truly what this Arkansas team is uh you again you go to Auburn one of the toughest places to play in the SEC you think back to last year when Auburn came into fville and just embarrassed the hogs on their home field um and Arkansas just they they weren't ready for that and uh I think based off of that embarrassing loss last year I think they're going to be ready for this one but it's it it's huge for Arkansas to be able to play this game compete in this game and we'll find out a lot again you you have Arkansas Pine Bluff Oklahoma State UAB up until this point uh Oklahoma state will probably challenge you uh some the other two who knows uh we'll just have to wait and see but this is going to be a challenging game this is going to be a four quarter game for Arkansas will they be ready for that at that point I think it's going to be big uh alurn like you mentioned has reloaded in the transfer portal uh Hugh freees is a is a really good offensive mind and and he's got a lot of confidence in his in his quarterback and the pieces he's now put around his quarterback especially at wide receiver and so is is the Arkansas defense going to be ready for that uh be able to to stop these big wide receivers I think that's what Auburn tried to do in the offseason is get some bigger guys at receiver and they did that and so uh is Arkansas's defense going to be able to stop them in a very tough environment there on the planes in Auburn I think again this is one of the biggest tests you can Circle this one we'll find out a lot about the Hogs against Auburn there on the 21st of September and now we get to that annual matchup in Jerry's World in September 2 speaking of of rebuilding Texas A&M had a much publicized firing of a head coach I've always wanted to go to game at Jerry's world I think we um if if a listener out there wants to underwrite a trip for us we'll do a live stream from Jerry's world that day how about that that would be a lot of fun it sure would and uh just a I feel like this is just a classic matchup here between Arkansas and Texas A&M uh you you gotta I'm not going to say Arkansas's fighting for their life but in a way like they're uh after the season last year like they're they're they've got to be scratching the clawing to get wins this year and I feel like Texas A&M is going to be doing the same thing this year they're under a new head coach and Mike Elco and I think he's bringing an energy and excitement as we've talked about on this channel with with guests about Texas A&M he's kind of bringing an energy that they haven't had uh there in College Station in quite a while so I think A&M's going to be ready to go for this one it's on a neutral field uh you know at this point uh this will be the second sec game and they've yet to play an SEC game at home for Arkansas so they're they're going to be Road Warriors here in the first two SEC games this one on a neutral field though which I think will help but coming off of a game at Auburn so Arkansas goes to Auburn previous week now they're against Texas A&M that alurn game's going to be physical and so you you got to Hope if you're a Razer back fan if you're the Razer backs here in this one that you're healthy uh for this game against Texas A&M because I think it's going to be an allout War I think A&M is going to be much improved I I think the pieces are in place for Arkansas to be improved from last year so I think this is going to be a battle and a really fun game there but it's it's two really tough SEC games right off the bat uh and and we haven't even looked at the rest of the way for for Arkansas but Auburn and A&M back to back away from home that's tough yeah boy when the calendar flips to October the schedule starts to get brutal now that game with Tennessee that is in fville that going to be a game that Tennessee boring something crazy is going to be a road favorite in but but hey let's say Arkansas picks up a win or two unexpected to this point um you know Tennessee's breaking in a new quarterback Nico imala and you just you just never know um the vs you know sometimes have hit expectations sometimes they've missed them and and this could be uh one in the middle of the Season that we look up and could be suddenly more interesting than maybe we thought as we do this in May I I completely agree with you Chris I mean um again Tennessee expected to be good we won't know especially with a first year quarterback like you said until they get out on the field and and we have a chance to see a lot can happen uh in the month of September uh leading up to this game but uh I think if if Arkansas can get this one which again I know Tennessee is good but if Arkansas it's it's in fville first SEC game uh on their home field in 2024 if they could get this one that would go miles and miles for Sam Pitman uh he needs a win like this and I feel like Arkansas they they get some good wins here and there but they need a good signature win and I think this could be it for Sam Pitman at Arkansas if he wants to keep surviving there in fville he needs to win a game like this uh in in in fville so I think you know Tennessee again there there's high expectations on them but if Arkansas can sneak a game like this which I think is possible on their home field that would go that would go so well for the Razer back faithful and for Sam Pitman and then we get into breaking in a new quarterback part two LSU replaces a Heisman trophy trophy winner Garr nesm though I think is is more than capable taking over this is not going to be a maybe a top five in the country preseason LSU team uh but you know LSU's always Got Talent this will be another one of those tough ones uh but but interesting it'll be interesting between now and then to see what this one looks like going in and and how good LSU really is yeah and I I think the kind of the test is uh what will the LSU defense look like I think their offense may not be quite on point as it was last year but it will be good the question is did they put the pieces they need on defense in and and can Arkansas expose that uh in this game can they uh can they get something going offensively uh this is a I mean this is a rivalry game and you know strangely enough you know even if LSU's had a good team Arkansas has it or vice first up this has been a really good fun game every time they play and so uh I I think this one's this one could be another one because it is in fville that would be huge for Sam Pitman and Arkansas to sneak a win here and uh again probably going into this game it'll be LSU favored but again this would be a huge one for AR a to be able to win and again they've played this game uh for for many years it's been a a huge rivalry game uh this is actually the first time though they ever played in the state of Arkansas and it has not been in the month of November so because of the schedule change this is kind of uh unusual they uh they haven't played in the month of October since 1936 and again they haven't played in Arkansas outside of November ever so uh I think that uh that that one Arkansas going to be able to stop need to be able to stop LSU's offense but um LSU um or Arkansas needs to be able to expose the LSU defense as well and uh man the racer backs need to come ready to play because I think this could be a winnable game I really do I think this is a winnable game for Arkansas against LSU on their home field and again that will be a huge win for Sam Pitman by the way we don't have preseason top 25s as we're doing this but just checked Mark schall's preseason top 25 and this was a assembled late may he had LSU at 15 Tennessee at 14 Oklahoma State at 19 so by this point this would be the third top 25 projected opponent according to ESPN that the Razer backs have played and then the schedule gets a little bit easier the next week although a road trip to Mississippi State again team team making a lot of changes so you don't know exactly what you're going to get uh but on paper that that's probably more winnable than the than the previous four that AR will have played yeah I I think this is the week where you know and and don't get me wrong every week you have to come ready to play in the SEC but especially after what you've just been through like you said Chris like this is Arkansas's week to hey we're gonna sit back we're g to put our foot on the gas and we're going to go uh you know it's in Starkville which is a tough place to play but at this point we have so much to learn about Mississippi State uh it's you know way more questions than answers at this point uh as as the Jeff Levy era begins there in Starkville so I think this is a great opportunity for Arkansas uh at whatever is happened thus far into the season for in 2024 for Arkansas I think they need to put their foot on the gas and and come out of start full with a win no matter what it costes I think this is important game for Arkansas uh because they've played such a a tough schedule up until this point to be able to go to Starfield and get a win I think it's going to be huge uh for Arkansas they need to be able to do again whatever it takes to leave Starkville with a conference win that night next up what looks like the toughest two game stretch on the schedule and what increasing I look at like boy this this is not going to be an easy one for Sam Pitman but you got Old Miss and Texas back-to-back weeks actually they're not back-to-back weeks you've got a bye in between which will be helpful these are two teams I think are going to be on everybody's list for for college football playoff contenders preseason of course Texas went to the college football playoff as one of the four teams last year Chase yeah and you get all Miss at home which I think is good you you uh again you're coming off of a trip to Mississippi to take on state now you're coming back to Arkansas and you have old miss a lot of high expectations on Old Miss you think back though in recent years old Miss has not played their best football in the month of November yeah uh they they start the season great when it gets to November though you you see some uh you you haven't seen them keep the foot on the gas so Arkansas may try to take advantage of that may uh may pull some things out for this one against Old Miss to to get a win against again what is a very highly anticipated Lane ke and Old Miss team uh I think it'd be huge for Arkansas to be able to get this one uh but it's going to be very very tough because uh I think the old Miss offense is going to be excellent they've got some really good pieces they've added on defense um so it's going to be super tough but you got it at home and again Old Miss has struggled at times in the month of November well and here's an interesting point to make this is the Time of the Season where expectations either boost you or Crush you uh anything short of a playoff birth is going to be disappointing oh miss will have played LSU in Oklahoma its previous two weeks so if those don't go well you know could be playoff hopes and Jeopardy at that point uh you know Kentucky will be on the schedule earlier so just GNA point that out sometimes it's not just what you're up against but it's the mindset of your opponent coming in yeah Texas meanwhile um you know will have just played Florida but a few weeks before that will have played Georgia and Oklahoma um you know in Michigan earlier in the season so again you drop a couple of games it could be make or break time for your playoff chances by the by the time we see these teams in fville um yeah carry on yeah I mean this was I'm I'm really excited about this Arkansas Texas game it's an old old conference rival from back in the Southwest Conference uh they played back in 2021 and Arkansas got the win over Texas 40 to 21 but uh my goodness these are two very different teams now uh heading into 2024 but uh I'm excited for this one obviously just it being a rivalry game and kind of the renewal of this rivalry but Texas is so good and and I've said it before I think Texas is is a playoff team and a contender for the SEC in their first year in the conference and so yeah this is going to be a very tough one for Arkansas uh to to have there but uh and and you mentioned it I mean it's it it could be Baker break time uh at this point of the Season you got to win in November it is so important if you want a chance to to keep playing football especially in this the era we're at with the 12 team playoff you got a win in November and I know Texas goingon to be trying to get themselves back into the playoff on this November 16th matchup and then we get to Louisiana Tech this used to be one of the better group of five teams I feel like the forces that have shaped college football with the portal in an is have just kind of crushed this team this feels like one of the maybe the few built-in wins in the schedule here I think so Arkansas's 4-0 all time against Louisiana Tech uh but I mean and and the coaching staff will be reminding uh the Arkansas players this you got Missouri the following week which is always a fun one rivalry game uh and they'll use the alurn New Mexico State game probably as an example of this but uh hey you got to keep your foot on the gas in this one I mean you you can still learn a lot about yourself in in this game with Louisiana Tech getting ready for Missouri uh I do think it's a win for Arkansas but again as we saw last year uh with auburn New Mexico State hey you got to come ready to play against uh some of these uh smaller group of five schools yeah speaking of college football playoff contenders expect expectations are going to be just that uh for Arkansas and Missouri says that that marks three games out of four of teams that that think they're going to be in the college football playoff uh if you want to back it up a few more games um you know try telling Tennessee and LSU fans that they shouldn't be expected to be in the playoffs at that point so that's a run of of what seven games where you play five teams that are that are potentially you know elitist that depend depending on how the breaks of the Season go and again the finale that's Missouri so if you're Arkansas you better Bank your work in September because boy this this is just the end of the brutal stretch of the schedule here it is and it it's hard to end a season like that it's hard to have a tough of a run in November as as Arkansas has here and uh you know you you want to see these guys compete week in and week out and and uh you're right September is an important month for Arkansas as you look up and down the schedule because it is uh it's tough as you hit uh October uh and November so uh I think uh I think I see some wins on this schedule for Arkansas I see some really tough ons um the way things are now you know you're you're so used to seeing the same kind of game same teams with the SEC West and the East with the divisions now there's no divisions we get to see some matchups we haven't always seen but it's a it's a tough it's a tough go here for the Razer backs in 24 yeah I made a comment at the start of this that it's a chance for a new season and new success but boy you look at this schedule Arkansas had better bring it every week because I I cannot imagine there's five teams in college football with tougher schedules than what Arkansas is getting I I guess the only consolation is you don't play Alabama this year you know which that's been a fixure on the schedule for a while but other other than that boy this is this is pretty brutal it sure is and we'll have you covered all things SEC football year round here on southeastern 14 subscribe to our Channel like this video comment let us know what you think Arkansas fans about the uh 2024 schedule and we'll be back with more SEC football coverage as always here on South Eastern 14