Arkansas needs to set the tone for 2023 with dominant win on Saturday

Coming into Saturday’s game against Western Carolina, Sam Pittman and Arkansas football will be faced with outside pressure over the course of the season.

The majority of that stems from an extremely disappointing 2022 season following an impressive 9-win season in 2021. However, that pressure isn’t really dominating the talk around Arkansas football entering this year.

Instead, there’s a ton of optimism about the new coordinators, Dan Enos and Travis Williams, and an extremely deep and talented Razorback roster. Arguably the most talented roster since Pittman took over as head coach in December 2019. While that is all fine and dandy, games aren’t played on paper and a large section of the fanbase won’t be satisfied if results to match the preseason hype.

The elephant in the room over the summer has been the pressure on Pittman to turn things around and remain in the good graces of Arkansas fans. That elephant has largely been ignored, but it won’t be for long if things start to go south this season.

Now, let’s get one thing straight. In no way is this writer calling for Sam Pittman’s job if he doesn’t bring home a championship. I don’t believe that a 7-win or 6-win season would mark the end of his tenure in Fayetteville.

What I am suggesting is that this team needs to live up to the potential or things will get uncomfortable.

As I mentioned earlier, fans afforded Pittman a mulligan last season. To Pittman’s credit, he hit the reset button on the culture and put together an extremely competitive roster. On paper, I believe it’s the best he’s had in his four seasons. But this is the year that he has to meet or exceed expectations.

Enter Western Carolina.

Setting the tone for 2023 season

One thing that has hindered Arkansas over the last few years is their struggles against inferior opponents.

Pittman himself admitted earlier this week that the Hogs have struggled with “non-logo” schools of late and didn’t really have an explanation.

“There’s some things that are concerning,” Pittman said on Monday. “How we played against ‘non-logo’ schools. … We haven’t played well. We didn’t play well against Missouri State last year, obviously Liberty, and even two years ago, Rice. I think they had us on the ropes out here until we woke up a little bit.”

Arkansas trailed 17-7 in the third quarter of the Rice game in 2021 before scoring 31 unanswered to win. Last season, they needed a late punt return touchdown to escape Bobby Petrino’s Missouri State team, 38-27. Then, Hugh Freeze’s Liberty squad came into Fayetteville and shocked the Hogs 21-19.

Razorback fans are quick to remember those types of games, and how they can stifle any positive momentum during a season.

Saturday, not only do the Hogs need to beat Western Carolina, but they need to dominate. The talent level between the two teams is large, and the only thing the Catamounts should receive with their game check is an extremely lopsided defeat.

If that doesn’t happen and Arkansas stumbles out of the gates, Pittman’s seat will become just a little warmer. Not by much but ever so slightly. That elephant in the room? It begins to draw a little more attention.

It’s just one game in the marathon of a season, but it could represent a lot more later down the road.