AUSTIN, Texas — There’s not an often-used nickname for the rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks, but that doesn’t diminish the historical significance of it, now reprised as SEC opponents with the No. 17 Longhorns hosting the Razorbacks in a game for the first time in 34 years with Saturday’s matchup at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
The Razorbacks are reeling as a program with the September termination of head coach Sam Pittman failing to change on-field outcomes with Arkansas now in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, including five under interim head coach Bobby Petrino. Staying competitive hasn’t been an issue, though — the Hogs have only lost one of those five games since Pittman was fired by more than three points, and are coming off a one-point loss to the Tigers in Baton Rouge last week.
So head coach Steve Sarkisian has been adamant this week with his players about the threat that Arkansas poses to Texas in a potential trap game with another rivalry matchup looming next Friday against No. 3 Texas A&M.
That threat is heightened with Longhorns junior linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. officially ruled out in the final injury report before kickoff at 2:30 p.m. Central on ABC.
