Well … it was a nice run. Not nice if you’re a Hogs fan. Saturday’s Arkansas vs Texas A&M game marks the final contest of the Southwest Classic.
I can’t really imagine too many of the Arkansas faithful are sad to see it end. The games have been close, but they often have ended in Hogs’ heartbreak.
On Oct. 3, 2009, after not playing since 1991, the two teams renewed their rivalry with Arkansas winning 47-19 in the brand new AT&T Stadium, otherwise known as JerryWorld for Dallas Cowboys owner and Arkansas alum Jerry Jones.
The Razorbacks also won the next two games. But, that’s when the Aggies took over, winning nine in a row. It’s important to note that the 2012 and 2020 games were played at Kyle Field on the campus of Texas A&M. That means that the Aggies are 9-1 in the last 10 meetings in Arlington.
Ending the Southwest Classic Won’t Affect Recruiting
The losses have been painful, too. Arkansas has lost in overtime three times by a combined 21 points. They have also lost by seven points or less in three other games.
So, good riddance, right? Driving out of state to be disappointed most of the time. It’s a pretty good bet that if some of those games had been played in Fayetteville, Arkansas would have won.
Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman, for one, isn’t worried about not playing the game in Arlington. At one time, the pitch was that the game was good for Arkansas getting recruiting exposure. The opposite is actually true. Arkansas – and Texas A&M – can only host recruits there every other year. The game actually costs Pittman and staff a recruiting weekend. The inability to host recruits was always the argument on why not to play games at War Memorial Stadium.
“I don’t know that it will be a factor, not playing the game there,” Pittman told the media this week. “For instance, A&M can bring recruits, and we can’t (this year). … I actually think it is going to be better because we will be able to bring our recruits (to Fayetteville) to play A&M in here, and you can’t tell me it isn’t going to be sold out and crazy in here. So there’s some advantages there.
“How it would affect recruiting, we will have to wait and see. The long history of Arkansas football before they played in that game, they had some pretty darn good Texas players as well, so hopefully that will be the situation. I think recruiting is a lot about working and about what’s your record, need and now it becomes money.”
Pittman is right, the only games that are going to help Arkansas in recruiting are being played on campus where the staff can show off the facilities and campus and have more time to visit with recruits.
Arkansas vs a Big 12 Team?
That would also hold true to playing another opponent in Arlington. Last year, veteran Northwest Arkansas TV personality Mike Irwin threw out the Hogs should play a rotating Big 12 opponent as one way that Southwest Classic could be kept alive in Jerry Jones’ building. I might have been onboard with that if Oklahoma and Texas were still in the Big 12. We all know that playing Texas in Dallas would be cool. Playing Texas anywhere, actually, gets Hogs fans (especially those 50 and older) in a tither.
But, I don’t want to see Arkansas play Oklahoma State, Utah, Houston or Iowa State there. Just like what Pittman said, playing home games is what helps recruiting. It’s a good opportunity when you can play Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas all at home like the Hogs get to do as a part of the SEC slate this fall. I’ll take a good home-and-home that can create an atmosphere such as the ‘big’ SEC game. The Hogs play Notre Dame in Fayetteville next season, which will be significant, and Oklahoma State in 2027. On top of that, in 2025 and ’26 Arkansas plays a two-game series with regional rival Memphis and in ’26 and ’27 a series with Tulsa, respectively. Memphis, who won at Florida State this season could be competitive, but Tulsa probably won’t be.
All the same, the Tulsa home game will attract a crowd if Arkansas is having success. And it’s another chance to host recruits. So, playing at home against almost anyone is more advantageous than playing a more competitive opponent in Dallas. The one neutral site game that would be interesting is one of those games pitting Power 4 teams on neutral fields to start the season like LSU and USC this year in the Modelo Las Vegas Kickoff Classic. That would be advantageous because of the prestige and the TV exposure. Unfortunately, the last decade of performances means that the Hogs are far away from that stature.
For now, the Hogs are focused on the Arkansas vs Texas A&M game Saturday. It is a winnable game against a ranked opponent as has been the case so many times in this game. Arkansas fans aren’t holding their collective breath as they brace for another heartbreaking loss.
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