Arkansas football vs. UAPB: Scouting report, prediction for Razorbacks' first game of 2024

FAYETTEVILLE — Year five of the Sam Pittman era opens Thursday night in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.

Arkansas football opens the 2024 season with an in-state rivalry bout against Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB). Kickoff between the Razorbacks and Golden Lions is set for 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU).

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Arkansas is 153-62-4 all-time at War Memorial Stadium. The Hogs crushed Western Carolina during last year's season opener in Little Rock, but there have also been some shocking defeats in recent years against Louisiana-Monroe and Toledo.

Here are four things to watch from the Hogs' matchup with UAPB and a prediction for their first game of the 2024 college football season.

Expect a lot of screens and stretch runs

Pittman expects UAPB to run plenty of bubble screens and RPO looks after studying Grambling State film, which is where UAPB offensive coordinator Tony Hull coached last season.

On the ground, Pittman said Arkansas must stop the stretch play. UAPB has decent team speed and will look to get to the outside, even if Arkansas should have a huge advantage in athleticism.

Mekhi Hagens' dual-threat

Hagens won the title of QB1 this offseason for UAPB. The 6-foot-3 redshirt junior from St. Louis can hurt opposing defenses both through the air and on the ground.

Last season, Hagens ran for 163 yards and four touchdowns while throwing for 580 yards and three scores. He was part of a three-man quarterback rotation, and it wouldn't be a surprise if UAPB backup DJ Stevenson also receives some snaps against the Hogs.

Can Arkansas make a statement on the ground?

Despite the 56-13 final score, alarm bells should have sounded after last season's opener when the Hogs averaged 2.9 yards per carry against Western Carolina. Issues running the football persisted throughout 2023.

Arkansas needs to avoid a similar struggle against UAPB. The offensive line — and the entire team — could procure a huge boost in confidence if they are able to dominate the trenches and find sustained success on the ground Thursday night.

How does Taylen Green look?

Green should have a big game, but pay close attention to his accuracy against UAPB.

The throwing windows will be larger against FCS competition than in the SEC, but it's important Green shows growth in this category after completing just 57.1% of his passes last year at BYU.

It will also be interesting to see if there's a favorite target for Green in week one. He's shown great chemistry with Tyrone Broden all offseason, but Andrew Armstrong, Isaiah Sategna and Luke Hasz are all options to be the Hogs' leading receiver in 2024.

Prediction: Arkansas 55, UAPB 10

This is a mismatch, and the Hogs should have no problem kickstarting their season with a blowout victory. All eyes will be on Bobby Petrino and his offense. Arkansas needs to create explosive plays and show it can create openings along the offensive line that might be sustainable against bigger competition. Enjoy this one, Arkansas fans, because the rest of the season won't be so easy.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas football vs. UAPB: Scouting report, prediction for Razorbacks' first game of 2024