This weekend, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns will renew an old Southwest Conference rivalry when they travel to face the Arkansas Razorbacks. With major postseason implications on the line, this clash between the former conference foes promises to be a must-watch affair.
The Longhorns (8-1, 4-1 SEC) are firmly in control of their path to a College Football Playoff spot, currently sitting as the projected SEC champion and No. 2 seed in the selection committee’s latest bracket. However, the Longhorns face a significant challenge this weekend when they travel to Fayetteville, where they must fend off a resurgent Arkansas squad that is determined to cause chaos.
“This was probably our most complete game as a football team,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said after the Longhorns’ dominant 49-17 win over Florida last week. “You know, at the end it gets a little sideways, but just the way we played in all three phases and the fact that we played really well from a complementary football standpoint—that was something we really challenged the players on.”
Led by quarterback Quinn Ewers (1,722 passing yards, 19 touchdowns) and a stifling defense that ranks 4th nationally in scoring, Texas appears poised to extend its dominance over the Razorbacks. However, Texas should not underestimate Arkansas (5-4, 3-3 SEC), particularly when playing at home.
“Obviously give credit to Ole Miss,” Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said after the Razorbacks’ 63-31 loss to the Rebels two weeks ago. “Jaxson Dart was incredible. Watkins was—couldn’t cover him. We’ve got a long way to go; there’s a lot of work to do. Disappointed in the way we played, our kids are disappointed in the way we played.”
Despite the lopsided defeat, the Razorbacks have demonstrated moments of brilliance this season, which included a memorable victory over then-No. 4 Tennessee. Dual-threat quarterback Taylen Green (2,214 passing yards, 11 touchdowns) leads an explosive Arkansas offense that ranks 5th nationally in plays of 20+ yards.
“But we’re going to have to get healthy and have a good week next week, moving on. Very disappointed. I felt like we had them ready to play. Obviously that wasn’t the case,” Pittman added.
To pull off the upset against the heavily favored Longhorns, the Razorbacks will need Green and their high-powered attack to be fully engaged. Jahdae Barron, Andrew Mukuba, and Anthony Hill Jr. will lead Texas’ stifling defense, tasked with containing Green’s mobility and forcing him into mistakes.
On the other side of the ball, Ewers and the Longhorns’ 10th-ranked passing offense should find ample opportunities to exploit an Arkansas secondary that ranks 125th nationally in passing yards allowed per game.
“Texas is firmly in control of their path to a College Football Playoff spot, comfortably leading the SEC race following the latest rankings,” said sports analyst Claude. “However, this week’s clash against Arkansas presents a significant challenge, as the Razorbacks are brimming with rivalry-fueled intensity and no shortage of animosity.”
While the Longhorns enter the game as 12.5-point favorites, our prediction forecasts a much tighter battle than the odds suggest. Texas has covered the spread just twice in their last five games, and Arkansas’ dual-threat quarterback, Taylen Green, could pose a serious threat to the Longhorns’ defense.
Ultimately, we believe the Longhorns’ offensive firepower and defensive prowess will be enough to secure the victory, but the Razorbacks are more than capable of keeping this one close. Anticipate a fierce, decisive contest as these longstanding rivals reignite their rivalry in the SEC.