Three Keys For Arkansas Success Versus Notre Dame 

If you watch the Irish, one thing stands out offensively: the running game. Led by a pair of juniors, in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who are pounding the rock, this is a vital key. The key number one for Arkansas’ success is to defend the run. Yes, that sounds simple, but it’s not. In the recent loss to Memphis, Arkansas was carved up for 290 yards on the ground, sparking widespread despair among fans and media.

To do this, Arkansas will have to wrangle Love, who leads the Irish with 284 yards on 52 rushes. Included is a rush average of 5.5 yards, along with two rushing touchdowns, and he is a major weapon. If this wasn’t enough, you add in the speedy Price and this two-headed monster becomes a massive challenge. The Irish average 161 yards per game on the ground as a team, which is essentially the Razorbacks’ average allowed, of 157 yards. The old saying, “Something has to give,” describes this key perfectly. Will the Arkansas defense quiet the naysayers? Or, will the Irish continue to run to the pot of gold? We will soon find out.

We know, for some fans, it’s “too early” to mention fumbling a football. While we understand the attempt to skirt around the reason for the last two losses. The second key to Arkansas’s success is not to fumble. The Razorbacks’ offense has some fundamental issues with ball security. This is not an overreaction. Look at the six losses from last season, and two in 2025, and this is the common denominator. Despite a narrative of blaming only the defense, mostly by fans wishing for a return to the “Petrino Days”, the team is underperforming. This same offense bolted out to a 28-10 lead in Memphis, before only scoring three points in all of the second half.

When you combine the lack of points with fumble problems, Arkansas has questions needing answers. Why does Arkansas fumble the ball? Are there no proper techniques being taught? How could Bobby Petrino allow these mishaps? The answers will not come yet, but this week, all eyes are on this. Arkansas can’t fumble three games away in a row, can they? We will soon find out.

For the second time in 2025, Arkansas will play in Donald W Reynolds Stadium in Fayetteville. As odd as that sounds, this is the foundation of a possible upset. The third key is all on the fans of the Razorbacks as they return home. There are some ways this can benefit Arkansas in a first-time meeting. This will be the first time the Irish will compete in a game in the state of Arkansas. In addition, this is the 30th time in program history that Notre Dame will travel to an SEC opponent. In the Marcus Freeman era, this is the first time an Irish squad has traveled for the initial meeting with another program. While this may not stand out to some, these things are all factors in a first-time trip.

Speaking of traveling for the first time. This is the first time the Irish will face a power opponent on the road since a 2011 meeting versus Winston-Salem. Arkansas will need to make the environment uncomfortable for the entirety of the game. The Irish enter the game with a 20-9 all-time record in true road games versus SEC opponents. Can Arkansas change this? In order to do this, the same fans need to pack the stadium. If they can do this, and the “Woo Pig Sooie” gets going, Arkansas can change the trajectory of its season with a win.

In closing, Arkansas and its fans are practically begging for a win. The top-25 ranked, whether you agree or not, Irish enter town, facing some hungry Hogs. While there are several keys to Arkansas’ success in week five, we found three.  Can Arkansas defend the run? Will they not fumble? Can the fans make the first-time trip intimidating? If so, we could see the Irish on upset alert.

Main Photo: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images