As kickoff draws near in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks fans are buzzing with excitement. In what is a critical year for Arkansas, hearing the call of the Hogs, “Woo Pig Sooie”, will be music to some ears as Alabama A&M visits to close the month. In this piece, we will have tags to previous coverage this offseason for more context. Below, we will analyze the offense, defense, schedule, and staff, and on one final occasion before toe meets rubber. Can Arkansas be the number one dark horse in 2025? We dive deeper.
Razorbacks Poised to Be the Number One Dark Horse of 2025
One Unit Offensively
We have discussed the offense for Arkansas, led by offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, and the importance of growth in year two under his guidance. With this, Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green, who led the offense to an average of 30 points per game, will be key to success in what is a daunting schedule. Green was recently named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards Lists, and fans will look to see more from him in this high-powered offense despite losing stat sheet stuffers from last season.
Arkansas countered the loss with impactful additions through the portal. Players such as Mike Washington Jr. in the backfield and O’Mega Blake on the outside provide Green with options that can make plays downfield and with efficiency. Just how good can Arkansas be offensively?
We could potentially see record numbers from this offense. Local reports out of Fayetteville suggest Green and this offense could produce upwards of 40+ points per game. If this is the case, Arkansas could be looking at having the most dangerous offense nationally from an explosive play perspective.
Turnover: One Per Game
In 2024, Arkansas’ defense improved despite allowing an average of 25 points per game. How does this improve this season? is one of many questions surrounding this unit. Coordinators Travis Williams and Marcus Woodson have brought a new style to Fayetteville, along with an innate ability to bring players into the fold. Specifically, from within the SEC, we see Xavian Sorey transfer from Georgia. In 2025, the defense also targets the number one, as they are hunting for one turnover per game.
This emphasis stems from their losses last season and the vast difference in this stat category. In games lost, Arkansas had a 15-1 ratio, meaning they had created one turnover total. With improvements at all three levels, Arkansas has locked in on creating pressure on opposing offenses to create these scenarios.
Some could say ball security is the reason we are not speaking of an eight or nine game season in 2024 for Arkansas. Some of the above-mentioned questions will be answered. Although not initially in the opener, throughout the season, we will know exactly how good this defense is. Intangibles such as size, speed, and experience, combined with the understanding that the focus is on turnovers, and the Arkansas defense has been ball-hunting all season. One per game could become a rebuild that turns Arkansas into one of the SEC’s most balanced defenses, flipping close games, and possibly some upsets.
One Game At A Time
The season slate is long and grueling. We know that six wins will secure the Hogs’ bowl eligibility, but this schedule features many important games. Yes, Alabama A&M kicks it all off, but week two, in Little Rock, against Arkansas State for the first time in program history, is monumental. While the SEC games feature rivals from long ago, there is one game we see as pivotal for success this season.
Following its SEC opener in Oxford against Ole Miss, Arkansas travels to Memphis. In what very well could be a trap game, the Tigers are sandwiched between two circled contests for Hog faithful. Following the road trip to Memphis, the Razorbacks host Notre Dame, also for the first meeting in program history. This game, already announced for an 11 am local time kickoff, has Hunter Yurachek, AD for Arkansas, selling “Game Day Experiences” to fans to draw attention.
The Memphis meeting cannot be overlooked. One game can change the entire momentum of the season. Two games have only happened once in Arkansas history, and while they are important, you cannot allow one loss to turn into more. In a resume-building game in Notre Dame, Arkansas has to play one game at a time, and this could be the difference in a few more wins at season’s end.
One Coach
While pressure mounts from some microphones across the state, the loudmouths of the fan base do not faze Sam Pittman. In reality, this fuels him as he has mentioned numerous times behind podiums. The “CEO” approach has served Pittman well as he emphasizes relationship building over a cup of coffee with a player for one season.
The offensive line guru is leading Arkansas into a historic time with the revenue sharing and Name, Image, and Likeness, along with the transfer portal. Despite all of this, Pittman remains confident in what type of team he has entering this season.
The approach from Pittman and staff has proven to be successful in the recruiting of high school talents as well as portal additions. Pittman wants this excitement to be from more than his team, staff, and program. He also wants the fans to be excited for this season. His confidence in a revamped offensive line, tenacious defense, and his staff should create a dark horse. Will this buzz hold? Week one for Arkansas will not answer the question, but it will have fans asking if this can be true.
In closing, while the week one opponent does not jump off the page, the stats from Arkansas will, just as they did last season. There will be a drastic overreaction across the state and nation, but at the end of the day, a win is all this team wants. One at a time. All season long. Be the dark horse.
Main Photo: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
