As Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian has noted a couple times since joining the Southeastern Conference, the Longhorns can now expect to play three rivalry games every season.
This fall, Texas has already played one of those rivalry games this fall since it took care of Oklahoma on Oct. 11 at the Cotton Bowl. On Black Friday, Texas A&M is coming to town.
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The third rival? That would be Arkansas, which first played Texas in 1894. This upcoming Saturday, UT will host Arkansas in a game that the SEC recently announced will kick off at 2:30 p.m. The Game of the Century this will not be.
Texas (7-3, 4-2) is reeling from a 35-10 loss at Georgia that likely ended its hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff. Things have also been forgettable in Fayetteville for Arkansas (2-8, 0-6), but a win over the Longhorns could somewhat salvage this season.
Here are five things to know about the Razorbacks:
Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green (10) is tackled by Texas Longhorns defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau (3) as linebacker Liona Lefau (18) defends during the fourth quarter Nov. 16, 2024 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Texas won 20-10.
Nelson Chenault/Imagn Images
1. Arkansas is winless since midseason coaching change
Arkansas jumped on a crowded coaching carousel in September when it fired Sam Pittman, who was in his sixth season with the Razorbacks. Pittman compiled a 32-34 record at Arkansas that did include a win over Texas in 2021, but the team was just 2-3 this season when he was let go.
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After Pittman was fired, Arkansas made offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino its interim coach. Despite having gigs with Louisville, Western Kentucky and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons on his résumé, Petrino is perhaps best known as the head coach that Arkansas fired in 2012 following an off-field scandal that involved a motorcycle accident and a romantic relationship with an athletic department employee.
Has Petrino’s promotion sparked the Razorbacks? No. Arkansas is 0-5 under Petrino, although its losses to ranked Tennessee and Texas A&M teams and both Mississippi State and LSU all came by three points or less.
MORE: 3 reasons why Longhorns’ pursuit of College Football Playoff failed in 2025
2. Arkansas QB Taylen Green poses a threat with his arm, feet
Texas will have to deal with a dual-threat quarterback in Taylen Green, who has thrown for 2,537 yards while also rushing for 719 yards this season. Green has accounted for 26 touchdowns for the Razorbacks as well.
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A fifth-year senior and starter since his second year at Boise State, Green is set to make his 24th straight start with the Razorbacks.
Texas Longhorns linebacker Brad Spence (14) celebrates a sack during the Red River Rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday Oct. 11, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
3. Texas must prepare for another ex-New Mexico State running back
This season, Mike Washington Jr. is leading Arkansas in rushing. The senior running back has rushed for 913 yards and seven touchdowns, and he is averaging 6.5 yards per carry.
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Washington transferred to Arkansas this past December after playing one season at New Mexico State and three years at Buffalo. Interestingly enough, Washington is not the only member of New Mexico State’s 2024 backfield thriving in the SEC. Seth McGowan, who had 823 rushing yards to Washington’s 713 at New Mexico State last year, currently leads Kentucky in rushing.
Back on Oct. 18, Texas held McGowan to 45 yards over 14 carries in an overtime win at Kentucky.
MORE: How QB Arch Manning performed in loss to Bulldogs
4. Arkansas, Brad Spence set for on-field reunion
Texas edge rusher Brad Spence will get a chance to see some of his former teammates this weekend. Spence transferred to UT this past offseason after playing in 23 games at Arkansas from 2023-24. Coming off a sophomore season in which he recorded 54 tackles and 4½ sacks for Arkansas, Spence has compiled 15 tackles and three sacks for Texas this fall, but he did not play in last weekend’s Georgia game.
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Without Spence, Arkansas is allowing 32.3 points per game.
5. How often has Texas played Arkansas?
Texas and Arkansas have played 80 times before, and the Longhorns hold a 57-23 lead in the series. Most of the Arkansas-Texas games, however, took place while the teams were Southwest Conference rivals. This will be just the eighth game featuring these foes since Arkansas departed the Southwest Conference following the 1991 football season. The Razorbacks last visited Austin in 2008.
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Last year, Texas recorded a 20-10 win over Arkansas in Fayetteville.
