Arkansas Football has one of the toughest schedules in the country

Tell me if you have heard this one before?

Arkansas has one of the toughest schedules in the FBS again.

Yeah? Sadly, me too. Luckily for Razorback fans they get to spend another fall watching their team compete against the best. On the flip side the Hogs have to play four games against potential top 25 opponents.

According to ESPN, the Razorbacks have the sixth toughest schedule in the FBS this fall. Arkansas doesn’t actually have the toughest schedule in their own conference though. As they rank fourth in the SEC only Ole Miss (first), Florida (third) and Auburn (fifth) have a tougher slate.

The Razorbacks start the season off in Little Rock against Western Carolina on September 3, 2023. This will be the first matchup between the two programs.

Arkansas will open their home slate in Fayetteville against first time opponent Kent State in week two. That will be followed by a rematch from last season in week three against BYU. The Cougars are seeking to avenge a home loss last season against the Razorbacks. A 52-35 loss that saw BYU give up 644 total yards.

The toughest stretch the Hogs will face all season will be the next four games. Road matchups against defending SEC Western division champion LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama with a neutral site versus arch rival Texas A&M.

There’s a case for this to be the toughest stretch for any team in the country as all four teams could be ranked going in. Alabama is looking to bounce back following a two-loss regular season campaign last year. Arkansas hasn’t won in Tuscaloosa since the 2003 season or in the series at all dating back to 2006.

Arkansas last defeated LSU in Baton Rouge on a game winning field goal in overtime by Cameron Little in 2021. It’s very likely the Tigers will be even better following their bounce back season in 2022. Brian Kelly has his star quarterback returning and future all-American Harold Perkins wreaking havoc on opponents offenses.

During the 2017 season, the Hogs pulled a wild fourth quarter comeback in their last road win at Ole Miss.

The schedule finally eases up with one road trip in their final five games. However, it comes at a place Arkansas has never pulled out a win, Gainesville, Florida. Arkansas nearly pulled off an upset there in 2009 before a few questionable calls by an eventually suspended SEC crew cost them an upset. The Hogs are 0-5 all time against the Gators.

The remaining games in Fayetteville include Auburn under new head coach, Hugh Freeze. The Tigers will likely break in a new quarterback as former Michigan State starter Payton Thorne.

Mississippi State also has a new head coach in Zach Arnett. Arkansas last defeated the Bulldogs in 2021 at home on a late fourth quarter touchdown drive.

Florida International comes calling for the first time since a blowout loss to the Razorbacks in 2007.

Finally, Missouri arrives on the Friday after Thanksgiving for the Battle Line Rivalry. The Hogs lost last season in Missouri but did win the last matchup in Fayetteville 34-17 in 2021.

Will Arkansas be able to bounce back in 2023 following a disappointing 2022 campaign? Returning stars like KJ Jefferson, Raheim Sanders, Chris “Pooh” Paul and Dwight McGlothern will give Razorback fans hope.