As Arkansas continues its 2025 slate of games, the Razorbacks will make history on Saturday, September 6th. When fans file into War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, they will witness Arkansas and Arkansas State meet on the football field for the first time in history. We at Last Word will take a deeper look into why Arkansas has avoided in-state opponents, a recent development in this, and why this game needs to be an annual meeting. Is this the beginning of a new natural state?
Is This The Beginning of A New Natural State?
In-State Was Not Natural
If you were to look back at the records of Razorbacks football, the lack of teams from the state of Arkansas is staggering. The reason for this is that former athletic directors John Barnhill and Frank Broyles adhered to a policy not to play in-state foes. What sense does this make? Some of the best rivalries across the nation are teams battling for state supremacy.
To be blunt, this is the exact reason for the policy. To ensure that Arkansas remained the flagship program for the state. Why take a chance on another program within the ‘Natural’ state, getting more eyes by defeating Arkansas? In recent years, we have seen a shift in this as the Razorbacks have faced some competition from within Arkansas.
Something Changed
In 2021, Arkansas scheduled FCS foe Arkansas Pine-Bluff, which made waves across the state. Razorbacks Athletic Director, Hunter Yurachek, spoke on this monumental moment, saying, “Scheduling games with our sister institutions is an opportunity for us to enhance interest in college football throughout our state.”
We credit Yurachek for working with fellow administrators and jumping through some scheduling hoops to make the games happen. The Lions and Razorbacks also met in the 2024 season. While we plainly see the lack of tangible competition in being an FCS opponent, the games being played are a light at the end of a dark tunnel of greed.
Why Arkansas State Means More
The SEC uses the tagline of “It Just Means More”, and in the game being played Saturday afternoon, it truly does. This game holds weight across the state. While we are not sure what the future of Razorback games in Little Rock is, this game has awakened a rivalry there for ages. Sam Pittman briefly spoke on this in Atlanta and did not mence his words.
When the Arkansas State, from Jonesboro, and the Arkansas Razorbacks kick off, there will be unity collegially for the first time. All fans are cheering a game with two Division One programs. While some downplay the game as “Little Brother”, here in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks can not lay an egg in the Capitol city.
In closing, this moment will be celebrated across Arkansas for ages. In what began as greed, it has taken steps in the right direction. With recent games against in-state opponents, we will see history on Saturday afternoon. People from all four corners of the state will be tuning in to see what takes place. Could this be the beginning of a new ‘Natural’ way of competition in Arkansas? We will soon find out.
Main Photo: William Purnell-Imagn Images
