Tag: Arkansas Florida

Arkansas at Florida: How to Watch, Listen and Stream

Arkansas and Florida will kick things off at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2 Saturday.

Although nursing a current six-game losing streak and traveling to play Florida in the daunted Swamp on Saturday, the Arkansas football team looks to rejuvenate it’s woeful season with a renewed offensive mindset.

Offensive coordinator Dan Enos was fired shortly after the Razorbacks’ 7-3 Homecoming loss to Mississippi State on Oct. 21, making way for wide receivers coach – and former Ohio State quarterback – Kenny Guiton to take the play-calling reins. Arkansas’s offense was ranked No. 119 out of 130 FBS programs, under Enos.

Surprisingly, the bettors in Vegas seem to have loaded up on the Hogs this week. The current line on the game has Arkansas getting 3.5 points, dropping two full points since Thursday.

Guiton spent four years working under former Razorback OC Kendall Briles, who departed for TCU after last season. So, it can be expected that the Hogs will revert back to what they have done the previous three seasons, under Briles, which is a much faster pace of play with quarterback KJ Jefferson improvising outside of the pocket.

Arkansas (2-6, 0-5 SEC) was off last week, giving the Hogs’ extra time to get adjusted to a new offensive coordinator, and allowed them to get some guys healthy for the stretch run.

Fortunately for Arkansas, it appears that All-SEC running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders will be returning to the lineup for a return to his home state. Due to a lingering knee issue suffered in the first game of the season, the 6-foot-2, 242-pound Sanders has played sparingly, with only 34 carries for 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns – a year after piling up 1,443 yards and 10 TDs.

Florida (5-3, 3-2 SEC) has split their last four games and is coming off a 43-20 loss to No. 1 Georgia a week ago.

The Gators hold a 10-2 all-time advantage in the series, and have never lost to the Hogs in Gainesville. After Arkansas defeated Florida 28-24 in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl, Florida reeled off nine straight wins in the series, before Arkansas finally beat them 31-10 in Razorback Stadium in 2016.

How to Watch:

  • Date: Saturday, November 4
  • Time: 11 a.m. CT
  • TV Channel: ESPN2, and SEC+, ESPN+
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)
  • Radio: Aired across the state on the Razorback Sports Network, or get the radio stream FREE on the Arkansas Razorbacks app.

Gator Meat: At least one RazorbacksWire writer says Arkansas beats Florida on Saturday

If Rocket Sanders looks like Rocket Sanders of 2022, Arkansas can get it done. If not…well.

Not only will Rocket Sanders have his best game of the season against Florida on Saturday, but the Razorbacks will beat the Gators.

These words according to RazorbacksWire contributor Steve Andrews.

Arkansas, losers of six straight games, are about a touchdown underdog to Florida. The Hogs have never beaten Florida in Gainesville, either. In fact, Arkansas has just a 2-10 record all-time against Gators.

But something felt different around the program this week, the first game week since the firing of offensive coordinator Dan Enos. Coach Sam Pittman made that personnel move the day after Arkansas’ loss to Mississippi State and the Razorbacks followed with a bye. Arkansas has one of the top worst offenses in FBS when it comes to yards per game.

But Sanders, a preseason All-American running back, is expected to play for the first time in about a month – though it remains to be seen to what extent – and new offensive coordinator Kenny Guiton has re-energized the roster, per Pittman.

Is Andrews alone in his thinking? Here are the picks from all four members of the RazorbacksWire staff.

Three reasons Arkansas football can pick up a historic win over Florida

On paper, Saturday’s game in Gainesville has all the makings for a close contest. Take a closer look at three reasons the Hogs and Gators each will win.

It will have been two long weeks since [autotag]Arkansas football[/autotag] has played a game when the Hogs take the field against Florida on Saturday morning.

Following an embarrassing 7-3 loss to Mississippi State at home, changes had to be made entering the BYE week. The Hogs are in the midst of a six-game losing streak and on the verge of not being bowl eligible for the first time under [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag].

As a result, [autotag]Kenny Guiton[/autotag] takes over calling plays for the Arkansas offense after the firing of offensive coordinator Dan Enos. While it may not be the change needed to turn this season – and program – around, it could potentially offer a much-needed spark.

The Razorbacks will hopefully be playing with a different energy on the offensive side of the ball and should play with nothing to lose. Will that be enough, though?

Let’s take a closer look at three reasons the Hogs can finally win in “The Swamp” and three reasons they will suffer a seventh-straight defeat.

Darren McFadden: Arkansas will respond to “a coach bringing great energy”

McFadden has been more vocal about Arkansas football, the staff and its fans this year.

Darren McFadden isn’t afraid of a little combat with the fans.

The Arkansas legend took to social media earlier this year when some Razorbacks fans were going what he deemed as too far in attacks against coach Sam Pittman, then-offensive coordinator Dan Enos and the program as a whole. On Thursday, McFadden gave his first public thoughts on Enos’ replacement, new OC Kenny Guiton.

“If a coach is bringing great energy out there, I think that just kind of trickles down on the players,” McFadden said. “When you’re around a coach that’s I guess more laid back, or not as intense about the game or however you want to call it, that trickles down on the players. I think a lot of that showed this year when you see the offense out there on the field.”

Pittman, who fired Enos the day after Arkansas lost to Mississippi State, 7-3, said one of the things that stood out to him was the lack of fire the roster had with Enos in command. He isn’t as much of a rah-rah guy, whereas Guiton is a bit more gregarious.

Little will matter, though, if Arkansas’ offense doesn’t actually improve. The staff hopes limiting the playbook and the return of preseason All-American running back Rocket Sanders will show concrete results against Florida on Saturday. Sanders is expected to play for the first time in almost a month and it will come in Guiton’s first game.

That may not be a coincidence.

“Coaches like that, you really want to go out there and play hard for them and put it on the line for them,” McFadden said. “I think the guys kind of feel that from Coach Guiton and I think that’ll be something great for them.”

We know Arkansas, but what about Florida? What are the Gators planning Saturday?

Florida has no reason to be afraid of Arkansas. And yet…

Florida isn’t scared of Arkansas. They aren’t in 2023. They haven’t been ever.

That doesn’t mean, however, Arkansas is about to walk into a beatdown on Saturday in Gainesville.

Things are tenuous in the Natural State for the flagship school. The Razorbacks have lost six straight football games and offensive coordinator Dan Enos was fired the day after the last loss, replaced by the 30-something former wide receivers coach.

Hopes are high for Kenny Guiton, a man Pittman said had perhaps the most intellectual mind among his staffers, but counting on the Hogs to win in The Swamp in a year where the chaos has been constant might be a bit much.

Arkansas has never won a football game in Gainesville. In fact, Arkansas has a grand total of two wins over Florida in history. If No. 3 were to come Saturday, the Razorbacks fan base wouldn’t know what to do.

It could, anyway. Florida has its own issues. Granted, none are as pressing as Arkansas’, but to say Gators fans are – ahem – swimming this year, no. Let’s take a quick look at what’s going on with the blue-and-orange.

Another step forward: Rocket Sanders bumped to likely for Florida game

Sanders was a preseason All-American for Arkansas but a knee injury has meant he’s played just one game truly healthy all year.

On Monday, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said junior running back Rocket Sanders was back at practice for the Razorbacks after missing five of the team’s first eight games. Sanders’ status for Arkansas’ ninth game was to be determined.

Things are trending up for the preseason All-American.

Pittman met with the media again Wednesday and said he felt more confident midweek that Sanders would play against Florida on Saturday.

“Flashes that I’ve seen, I feel really good about him being able to play, but just another couple of days of consistency,” Pittman said.

Sanders likely won’t return to his 20-carry workload against the Gators, healthy or not. He needs time to get back into so-called game shape. But if the man who ran for almost 1,400 yards last year en route that preseason All-American status entering this can give Arkansas, say, seven carries and 45 yards or so, it will be a huge step in the right direction for the Razorbacks.

Of course, assuming other things on offense go right, too.

“Today (Wednesday) is a big third down day for us. How is he going to protect, and things of that nature?” Pittman said. “Just the whole week, of what the whole Monday through Thursday encompasses, but the first two days, I feel confident that he will be able to go out there and help us.”

Arkansas has better chance to beat Florida than most expect

It might be hard to believe, but ESPN thinks Sam Pittman and Arkansas have a decent chance at beating Florida this weekend.

Not many believe that [autotag]Arkansas football[/autotag] can go into the Gainesville and beat the Florida Gators on Saturday.

The lack of faith comes with good reason. The Hogs are 2-6 overall and 0-5 in SEC play, riding a six-game losing streak. Add in the fact that [autotag]Kenny Guiton[/autotag] will be calling plays for the Arkansas offense, despite never having called plays previously during his coaching career, and there’s not much hope to be had.

Despite all of that, though, ESPN’s FPI projections have Saturday’s game as a virtual toss-up – giving the Razorbacks a 48.2% chance to beat the Gators in “The Swamp.” That’s the second-highest chance that ESPN has given the Hogs in SEC play so far this year, with the highest being two weeks ago against Mississippi State.

If [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag]’s team is able to walk out of Gainesville victorious this weekend, it would not only go a long way in getting Pittman off the hot seat but it would also be a historic win for the program.

In 12 all-time meetings with the Gators, Arkansas has never won in Gainesville. They’ve only ever beaten Florida twice, the last of which coming in 2016 under Bret Bielema.

Kickoff from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.

Remember Dwight McGlothern? Arkansas corner is healthy, but lost his job

McGlothern was the best corner on the 131st-ranked pass defense last year. On the 32nd best pass defense, he has to re-earn his job.

Rocket Sanders was a preseason All-American. KJ Jefferson a preseason second-team All-SEC selection. Brady Latham and Beaux Limmer earned all-conference honors back over the summer, too.

But on the Arkansas defense, the questions abounded. Only one player stood out to the league’s most interested parties as an All-SEC type.

Razorbacks cornerback Dwight McGlothern has played in just five games this year and not a single one since September 30 against Texas A&M. He was supposed to be Arkansas’ star defender after picking off four passes last year, albeit on the worst defense in FBS.

Instead, injury took McGlothern out of the fold after A&M. Freshman Jaylen Braxton pounced on his opportunity for playing time and hasn’t looked back. Even now that McGlothern is healthy, coach Sam Pittman said his preseason All-SEC corner has to earn his job back.

“He’s still trying to work his way into playing time. But he was full-go,” Pittman said of McGlothern’s status against Mississippi State. “He was able to play last week. It’s just right now he’s not starting for us.”

Curious that a player with such honors before the season began has reclaim his job after injury…but only for a moment.

McGlothern was the best defensive back on the worst pass defense in the country. Now, Arkansas’ pass defense is the best part of its game (the Hogs are ranked 32nd in FBS this year vs. 131st last year) suggesting perhaps McGlothern need to re-earn that gig after all.

Arkansas running back Rocket Sanders could return against Florida

A preseason All-American, Sanders has a total of 94 yards rushing this year.

Arkansas running back Rocket Sanders returned to practice for the Razorbacks after the team’s bye, perhaps signaling a return to game action for the preseason All-American.

Sanders has been limited to just three games this season for Arkansas as a knee injury has hampered his playing time. Even in the three games Sanders did play, he was ineffective, running 34 times for 91 yards with two touchdowns. The numbers have been shocking for a player who earned such high honors before the season began.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman wasn’t sure of Sanders’ status for the game against Florida, Arkansas’ opponent Saturday. But the fact that Sanders is back on the field is a positive.

“How much he can do, I don’t know,” Pittman said. “I’ll know more about that when I talk to y’all Wednesday. I’ll know more then because I don’t know where he is physically.”

Pittman was asked whether Sanders targeted the game against the Gators for his return. The running back is a Florida native.

“Man, I don’t know. That’s a good thought. I really don’t know,” Pittman said. “I think he was just hurt and this was good timing or ended up being good timing being able to go back to Florida.”

Arkansas softball falls late against Florida – finale set for Sunday

A big sixth inning for the Gators broke things open.

Two outs, bases loaded. Games are won or lost in those moments.

For Arkansas on Saturday, the result was the latter.

The Hogs fell to Florida, 11-4, giving up six runs in the sixth inning, all of which came with two outs. The Gators’ win evened the series ahead of the finale from Bogle Park on Sunday.

The second biggest crowd in that park’s history watched Saturday. Hannah Camenzind gave up a single and allowed another base-runner to reach via error before striking out her next batter and inducing a flyout. But after another bean-ball, Florida loaded the bases.

Walk. Hit-by-pitch. Double. Single. Wild pitch. Walk.

Ball game.

Camenzind allowed five of the six runs, though none were earned.

Arkansas had taken a one-run lead in the second, 3-2, when Rylin Hedgecock was hit by a pitch. Florida then grabbed the lead for good in the fourth when Sarah Langley hit a three-run homer off Robyn Harron.

The teams are set to play the finale at noon.

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