One thing became clear in Atlanta at SEC Media Days on Thursday as Sam Pittman feels the Razorbacks will be a good football team.
The Hogs are coming off a 7-6 season, but Pittman is optimistic about 2025 despite the difficult schedule.
"With that, everybody, that gives the University of Arkansas one hell of an opportunity," Pittman said. "That's what it does. We got a good football team, too. They have to play Arkansas, too, now. We know who we're playing, they know who they're playing, too. We're proud of our football team.
"This is talking season. But this has nothing to do with what I'm saying. Y'all know me. I think we've got a good football team. I think we've got a really good football team. We have our starting quarterback coming back. We're a big team. If you look at us, we're not small in any area. We're a fast team. We have wonderful leadership."
The Razorbacks will face Arkansas State for the first time in school history on Saturday, Sept. 6, in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. Pittman was asked if he would to make that a yearly matchup and where would it be played?
"No, no, I want to play them in Fayetteville," Pittman said. "That's what I want to do. You asked me what I want. If we're going to play Arkansas State, I want to play 'em at home. Right now, under contract, we're in our last year at Little Rock. Whatever the Governor (Sarah Huckabee Sanders) decides, that's what she decides. But right now we're in our last year at Little Rock. It would have to either be there or here. I'm not real interested in going over there and playing."
Pittman was also asked if the Texas game is still the same rivalry it once was when they were in the Southwest Conference.
"I feel like they do," Pittman said. "I feel like it was a very passionate, very loud football game. Obviously we lost 20-10 this year. But I believe it is reviving the Texas-Arkansas rivalry. We're 1-1 in that going down to Texas. Tough place to play. Great football team.
"But we'll be looking forward to going down there. I'm sure they'll be looking forward to getting us down there. We have not played down there in those two games. We played at home. I believe if you ask our fan base and from the feel of the stadium when we play the University of Texas, I believe that it's one of our rivals, if not number one."
Arkansas will open the season on Saturday, Aug. 30, at home against Alabama A&M. One player who won't be available is wide receiver Ismael Cisse. Pittman announced Thursday he's out for the season due to wrist surgery.