Arkansas football's three most important games in 2024 season

FAYETTEVILLE — There are seven weekends remaining until the return of Arkansas football .

The Razorbacks open the 2024 season in Little Rock against UAPB. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) on Aug. 29.

Arkansas is coming off a disappointing 4-8 campaign that saw offensive coordinator Dan Enos get fired midseason and the eventual transfers of KJ Jefferson and Raheim 'Rocket' Sanders, two faces of the program.

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In response, the Hogs hired Bobby Petrino and hit the transfer portal, bringing in plenty of newcomers for what feels like an all-important season for head coach Sam Pittman.

With the season rapidly approaching, the Southwest Times Record picked its three most important games of the season, which include two road games and one old rivalry getting a fresh look.

Sept. 7 - at Oklahoma State

It's hard to undersell the importance of this game for Sam Pittman. He's firmly on the hot seat, but a road win over a team likely to be ranked in the preseason Top-25 would do wonders for Pittman and the program.

The start to the season is brutal for the Razorbacks. They will play one game in Fayetteville before Oct. 5, and the bout with the Cowboys comes before road trips to Auburn and Dallas to faces Texas A&M.

Oklahoma State has one of the best players in the country in Ollie Gordon and will undoubtedly be favored. Fans and media members expect a tough season for Arkansas, but that narrative would take a positive swing with a stunner in Stillwater.

Oct. 26 - at Mississippi State

Arkansas will travel to face the Bulldogs after four SEC games against Auburn, Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU. Last season, the Razorbacks hosted Mississippi State after a brutal four-game run in the league and lost 7-3, flushing any optimism about a potential late-season turnaround.

The Bulldogs and Hogs were picked to finish in the bottom-three of the SEC by the USA TODAY Sports Network . One program is ushering in a new head coach, while the other is trying to rediscover its magic from two seasons prior. The loser of this game will feel further behind in the rebuild.

This feels is a must-win contest if Arkansas wants to play in a bowl game this winter. Even without factoring in postseason eligibility, this is a key game for good vibes in Fayetteville. A loss here coupled with any early-season struggles could spell the end of Pittman's tenure.

Nov. 16 - vs. Texas

A rivalry renewed. This will be the 80th meeting between the two programs and the first as conference rivals since 1991. The Razorbacks stunned the Longhorns in 2021 with a 40-21 victory in front of a raucous home crowd at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

A similar result would be the stuff of dreams for Arkansas fans. The two programs feel distant in their national pecking order, but this could be a statement game for the Hogs. An Arkansas upset would be provide a welcome to the SEC moment for the Longhorns.

And of course, Pittman's job security could take a hit or receive a boost based off the result of this game. The Hogs were horrendous in Fayetteville during 2023, and their home performances must improve this fall. According to the BetMGM Sportsbook, Texas is a 16.5-point favorite.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas football's three most important games in 2024 season