After a 9-4 document inside Razorback Stadium in 2021 and 2022, any home-field benefit Arkansas had vanished in 2023. Regardless of many raucous crowds filling the seats of one of many nicest services within the nation, Arkansas solely received two of their six house video games final fall, with the wins coming in opposition to Kent State and Florida Worldwide, respectively.
Of their 4 video games in opposition to Energy 5 competitors in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks went 0-4 and have been outscored 141-58. Of their three house video games in opposition to SEC foes, Arkansas scored a complete of 27 factors.
These numbers do not embrace an uninspiring 28-6 victory over Kent State in Week 2 of the season, through which Arkansas struggled to do a lot of something in opposition to a weak Golden Flashes group for a lot of the sport.
Final season’s Kent State matchup might be the most effective comparability to Saturday’s sport in opposition to UAB for the Razorbacks, who trailed by scores of 10-0 and 17-3 within the first half on Saturday.
In entrance of a crowd of 75,021 — the eighth-largest crowd within the historical past of the Arkansas soccer program — Sam Pittman’s group seemed flat, uninspired and lackadaisical in opposition to a mediocre Blazers squad, main many followers to have flashbacks of the Chad Morris period, when Arkansas routinely misplaced to inferior Group of 5 opponents.
To present Pittman and Co. credit score, the Razorbacks overcame the early setbacks to earn their second win of 2024, however one thing wants to alter when the Hogs are taking part in at house.
Arkansas boasts a implausible facility and a rabid fan base. Fayetteville provides one of many nicest atmospheres within the SEC and former Alabama and Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts even mentioned that Razorback Stadium was the loudest atmosphere he performed in throughout his collegiate profession.
If you need an indicator of how rowdy Razorback followers could be, take a look at — or fairly, take heed to — Arkansas’ nail-biting win over Ole Miss in 2016 or their decimation of Texas in 2021.
Arkansas would not have an atmosphere or fan engagement downside, however for no matter purpose, the group comes out flat in entrance of their house crowd.
In a convention the place defending house subject could make or break your season, that is an unacceptable downside for Pittman to have.
If Arkansas performs as poorly in opposition to of their SEC house video games as they did in opposition to UAB, there’s an opportunity the Hogs may go 0-4 in opposition to the likes of Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas.
If that occurs, Arkansas nearly definitely misses a bowl sport and Pittman could be pressured to his Scorching Springs retirement house sooner than he needs to be.
