Tag: Arkansas Missouri

Kickoff times announced for early season Arkansas football games

The SEC announced kickoff times and the full television schedule for the first three weeks of the 2024 season Thursday. Here’s when Arkansas will kick off against Oklahoma State and UAB.

The Southeastern Conference announced kickoff times and the full television schedule for the first three weeks of the 2024 football season on Thursday at the league’s annual spring meetings in Florida.

Arkansas will get a national spotlight early in the season when it travels to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State on September 7. The Razorbacks’ Week 2 contest will kick off at 11 a.m. CT and be televised by ABC. It will mark Arkansas’ first appearance on ABC since 2014 when the Hogs traveled to Lubbock to play Texas Tech.

ABC is the new home for the SEC’s coveted 2:30 p.m. time slot after the league’s 18-year run with CBS ended. ABC still has rights to broadcast Big 12 games, which makes the early kickoff for Arkansas-Oklahoma State appetizing to both the network and the SEC. The Cowboys went 10-4 last season and beat Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.

Arkansas’ Week 3 matchup against UAB on September 14 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium was announced as a 3:15 p.m. kickoff. The game will be televised by SEC Network. The Blazers were 4-8 last season in the AAC under first-year head coach and former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer.

And in a new scheduling wrinkle, the league announced Thursday that the annual Battle Line Rivalry between Arkansas and Missouri will no longer be played on Black Friday. The game is instead scheduled for Saturday, November 30.

The Razorbacks had been a Black Friday staple since joining the SEC in 1992. With the exception of the 2020 pandemic-altered season, the Hogs played the Tigers annually on Black Friday since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012. Prior to that, Arkansas had played LSU on the day after Thanksgiving.

Instead of Arkansas-Missouri, the SEC announced that the annual Egg Bowl rivalry between Ole Miss and Mississippi State would take place on Black Friday this season, a shift from its usual Thanksgiving Night kickoff.

The Hogs’ season-opener against UAPB at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock had already been announced as a 6:30 p.m. kickoff for Thursday, August 29. That game will be televised by ESPNU.

Arkansas’ 2024 scheduled kickoffs

  • Aug. 29 vs. UAPB (6:30 p.m., ESPNU)
  • Sept. 7 at Oklahoma State (11 a.m., ABC)
  • Sept. 14 vs. UAB (3:15 p.m., SEC Network)
  • Sept. 21 at Auburn (TBA)
  • Sept. 28 vs. Texas A&M (at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TBA)
  • Oct. 5 vs. Tennessee (TBA)
  • Oct. 12 BYE
  • Oct. 19 vs. LSU (TBA)
  • Oct. 26 at Mississippi State (TBA)
  • Nov. 2 vs. Ole Miss (TBA)
  • Nov. 9 IDLE
  • Nov. 16 vs. Texas (TBA)
  • Nov. 23 vs. Louisiana Tech (TBA)
  • Nov. 30 at Missouri (TBA)

Follow us @RazorbacksWire on Twitter/X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Arkansas Razorbacks news, notes and opinions.

Arkansas softball falls in SEC Tournament opener to Missouri

A look at Arkansas’ 3-1 loss to Missouri in the SEC Softball Tournament opener.

The Arkansas Razorbacks are officially one and done in the 2024 SEC Softball Tournament.

Fifth-seeded Missouri (42-14 overall) overmatched the fourth-seeded Razorbacks to complete a 3-1 victory at Auburn’s Jane B. Moore Field in a game that was suspended Thursday night due to severe weather.

When play resumed at 9:02 a.m. CDT Friday, Missouri had a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning with runners at first and third and no one out. Robyn Herron struck out Maddie Gallagher for the first out of the inning before Missouri used a double steal to plate their third run.

Jenna Laird, who had two hits including an RBI double in the fifth inning Thursday, stole home. Afterwards, Alex Honnold was tagged out in a rundown between first and second base. Herron allowed a single to Abby Hay but struck out Stefania Abruscato to end the inning.

The Razorbacks went quietly in the fifth before getting their best chance at a breakthrough in the sixth when they loaded the bases with no one out. Nia Carter singled before Bri Ellis was hit by a pitch.

That prompted Missouri coach Larissa Anderson to remove Tigers starter Cierra Harrison for Marissa McCann. Afterwards, Cylie Halvorson singled off the glove of Laird at shortstop to load the bases.

But the Hogs soon squandered a golden opportunity when Hannah Gamill popped up with the infield fly rule in effect for the first out. McCann then struck out Kennedy Miller to end an 11-pitch battle before Rylin Hedgecock, pinch-hitting for Hannah Camenzind, struck out on three pitches to end the threat.

Arkansas went in order against Missouri pitcher Taylor Pannell in the seventh inning to end the game — and the Razorbacks’ hopes of a deep conference tournament run. Pannell earned her 14th save of the season.

Harrison (14-3) earned the win for Missouri. She allowed one run on four hits in five-plus innings. Morgan Leinstock (13-5) suffered the loss for Arkansas, allowing three runs and seven hits in four innings.

Missouri advanced to play LSU in the semifinal round of the tournament after LSU defeated No. 1 seed Tennessee in a 2-1 upset Thursday.

Even with the loss, Arkansas (36-16) still figures to be one of the 16 Regional site hosts for the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks are ranked as high as No. 9 in the latest D1Softball Top 25 poll, and they’d won five straight SEC series before dropping two of three to Ole Miss last weekend.

RELATED: Where does Arkansas softball rank in final regular-season Top 25 polls?

Arkansas will learn its postseason fate when the final field of 64 is revealed during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show beginning at 6 p.m. CDT Sunday. The Selection Show will be televised by ESPN2.

Arkansas-Missouri softball game suspended, to continue Friday

Arkansas Softball: The Razorbacks’ SEC Tournament opener will have to be finished Friday.

A weather delay caused the Arkansas softball team’s SEC Tournament opener against Missouri to be suspended in the top of the fifth inning late Thursday at Auburn’s Jane B. Moore Field.

The game is scheduled to resume Friday at 9 a.m. CDT. Missouri will be leading the Razorbacks, 2-1, and will have runners at first and third with no one out.

A day of thunderstorms caused two games to be postponed until Friday: quarterfinal matchups between Georgia-Florida and South Carolina-Texas A&M. Thursday’s scheduled first game between LSU and top-seeded Tennessee (won by LSU in a 2-1 upset) was delayed from its scheduled 10 a.m. start time until 5 p.m.

When Arkansas-Missouri got underway shortly after 8 p.m., the Tigers struck in the first inning against Razorbacks starter Morgan Leinstock. Jenna Laird led off the game with a single and stole second. Maddie Gallagher drove in Laird with an RBI double that fell just in front of a sliding Reagan Johnson in left-center for an early 1-0 Missouri lead.

After Arkansas’ Hannah Gammill ended a nine-pitch at-bat with a game-tying solo home run to center off Missouri starter Cierra Harrison in the fourth inning, the Tigers’ bats wasted no time in going right back to work in the fifth.

Kayley Lenger led off the inning with a bunt single along the first base line. Arkansas catcher Kennedy Miller waited for the ball to go foul until home plate umpire Robbie Guest correctly signaled that it was a fair ball. Afterwards, Laird connected for her second hit of the night, a run-scoring double off the top of the wall in center that put Missouri back on top.

When Alex Honnold followed Laird with an infield single to put runners at the corners with no one out, it forced Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel to make a pitching change. Robyn Herron entered in relief before a nearby lightning strike caused the game to go into a delay at 9:24 p.m. CDT officially.

Leinstock finished the night with four innings pitched. She allowed two runs and seven hits and will be responsible for both runners on base when play resumes Friday.

The game’s continuation can be seen on SEC Network.

Razorbacks softball keeps hot stretch going with series win over Mizzou

After a modest start, Arkansas softball keeps chipping away at the best in the SEC.

For the second straight weekend, the Arkansas softball team proved it can hang with some of the best of the nation.

Better than that, the Arkansas softball team proved it can beat some of the best in the nation.

The 19th-ranked Razorbacks beat No. 11 Missouri on Sunday in Game 3 of the teams’ three-game set, 4-1. Mizzou and Arkansas split the first two games of the series and the Hogs’ series win was their second straight over a top-15 opponent.

Cylie Halvorson and Nia Carter hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth inning to give Arkansas a 2-1 lead. Then, for insurance in the sixth, Hannah Gammill popped an RBI single and Halvorson followed with an RBI double to seal things.

It was more than enough for Morgan Leinstock. Arkansas’ starter struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings in working around five hits and three walks.

Arkansas sits at 7-5 in SEC play, tied for fifth with Georgia, the team the Razorbacks beat in the weekend previous. The Hogs next to Columbia, South Carolina for a series against the 25th-ranked Gamecocks.

Social media posts more positive after Razorbacks win over Mizzou

Khalif Battle’s career-high 42 points gave Arkansas fans a reason to cheer on Saturday.

For the first time this season, the Arkansas basketball team has won back-to-back games in the SEC. The Razorbacks (14-13, 5-9) outscored Missouri 52-39 in the second half on Saturday and swept the season series with the Tigers, following the 88-73 win in Bud Walton Arena.

Senior Khalif Battle was absolutely on fire, scoring a career-high 42 points, marking the 13th time in Razorback history that a player has topped 40. Coming into the game averaging 10.6 points per contest, Battle went an efficient 11-of-15 from the field, including 6-of-10 from the arc and a perfect 14-of-14 from the foul line.

The feedback on social media following the game was about as positive as it has been since conference play began in January, although there are still a few disgruntled outliers, who are going to complain and whine, no matter the outcome.

Here is a sample of the posting on X, after Arkansas’s victory on Saturday:

 

Everything Eric Musselman said after Arkansas basketball beat Missouri

Musselman called Khalif Battle’s performance “insane” against Missouri on Saturday as the Hogs guard scored 42.

Khalif Battle made a lot of Arkansas basketball fans happy on Saturday. More importantly, he made his coach happy.

Battle scored 42 points – the second most ever by an Arkansas player in an SEC game (Todd Day vs LSU, 1992) – and led the Razorbacks to an 88-73 win over Missouri on Saturday. The win provided Arkansas a season sweep of their Battle Line rivals, back-to-back victories for the first time since late December and an above-.500 record for the first time in a couple weeks.

Razorbacks head man Eric Musselman had praised Battle’s play in recent weeks, probably not coincidentally about the time Arkansas picked up its play. On Saturday after the game, Musselman was especially glowing.

“That’s about as a great an offensive performance as a guy can have,” Musselman said.

Arkansas is 4-3 in its last seven games – a record that should be 5-2, Musselman pointed out – and the coach is not about to give up on what the rest of the season, and even the postseason, may hold.

Here’s what Musselman had to say about all of it after Saturday’s record game.

Battle Ship: Hogs’ Khalif B. drops 40-plus as Hogs beat Missouri

Khalif Battle did something only Todd Day has ever done in an Arkansas uniform.

Khalif Battle scored a career-high 42 points to lead Arkansas to a 88-73 win over Missouri on Saturday from Bud Walton Arena in what provided the Razorbacks with back-to-back wins for the first time since December.

Battle, a transfer from Temple, shot 11 of 15 from the floor, including 6 of 10 from 3-point range, and was 14 of 14 from the foul line. Twenty-six of his 42 points came in the second half as the Razorbacks expanded on their two-point halftime lead.

The Razorbacks had just one other player in double figures – Makhi Mitchell with 13 – but as a team shot 48% from the field while holding Mizzou to 39%. Devo Davis also played a large role for Arkansas, scoring eight points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists.

Arkansas hadn’t won more than a single game in a row in the 2024 calendar year. Last time out, the Razorbacks beat Texas A&M and Saturday’s win over the Tigers lifted coach Eric Musselman’s team back above .500 (15-14, 5-9 SEC).

Battle’s 42 points are the most by any player in an SEC game this season and the second most by an Arkansas player in an SEC game ever, trailing on Todd Day’s 43 against LSU in 1992.

Doubters still slinging shade at the Razorbacks basketball team

Arkansas has a chance for a season-sweep over cross-border rival Missouri today in Bud Walton.

If nothing else, the Arkansas basketball team is now offering fans optimism for some victories in the SEC. The Razorbacks have won three of their past six conference games, including Tuesday’s impressive 78-71 win at Texas A&M.

Arkansas (13-13, 4-9 SEC) now has a chance to win consecutive SEC tilts for the first time this season, with an added opportunity to get back above .500 in its overall record.

Following a sluggish football season with a highly disappointing basketball campaign has taken it’s toll of Razorback fans this school year. Most supporters just want to see an honest effort against conference foes, with hopes of defeating some of their rivals.

After beginning the conference slate with a 1-6 mark, Musselman seems to have added some new wrinkles to the gameplan and put his team in more of a position to compete.

With Tuesday’s win, the Razorbacks have secured the season sweep against the despised Aggies. Saturday, they have an opportunity to sweep cross-border rival Missouri. After defeating the Tigers 91-84 in Columbia on Jan. 31, Arkansas hosts Mizzou at 11 a.m.

Here is some of the chatter being posted on X, prior to the showdown:

 

 

Arkansas basketball vs. Missouri: How to watch, stream, listen

Wake up, throw on some brunch and get ready to watch the Hogs this morning.

It’s been almost two months since the Arkansas basketball team last won two straight basketball games. A victory Saturday, though, would provide such a distinction.

Arkansas tips off against Missouri at 11 a.m. on Saturday from Bud Walton Arena with a chance to get above .500. The Razorbacks won the first meeting between the two teams back on January 31, 91-84.

That game was on the road. With this one at home, the Hogs are favored to win both by the Vegas oddsmakers and ESPNs Basketball Power Index. Missouri is, not coincidentally, winless in SEC play so far this season.

Arkansas’ season hasn’t gone as planned. The team entered the year ranked in the Top 25 and the Hogs had made the last three Sweet 16s in the NCAA Tournament. The Dance is almost out of the picture this year barring a miracle run in the SEC Tournament, but Arkansas has been playing better in recent weeks than it did in January.

A win against the Tigers would provide a bit of a lift to where the Razorbacks could play spoiler down the stretch.

Here’s how to catch the action.

Razorbacks looking for season sweep of Missouri in Bud Walton

Arkansas is fresh off of an impressive 78-71 win over Texas A&M on Tuesday night.

Arkansas Head Coach Eric Musselman called the Razorbacks’ last two games “the best 80 minutes of basketball we have played.”

He was referencing the 71-67 loss at Mississippi State last Saturday, and Tuesday night’s 78-71 victory at Texas A&M.

The Razorbacks (13-13, 4-9 SEC) battled both teams down the wire, falling in the final minute against the Bulldogs, but hanging on to topple the Aggies, which gave the Hogs the season sweep. They defeated A&M, 78-77, in Fayetteville on Jan. 16, on a Tramon Mark buzzer-beater.

The Razorbacks can complete a another season sweep on Saturday, as the struggling Missouri Tigers come to town. Arkansas already downed Mizzou in Columbia, 91-84, on Jan. 31.

The Tigers (8-18, 0-13 SEC) remain the only winless team in the conference, but did nearly pull a major upset Tuesday night, narrowly falling to No. 5 Tennessee, 72-67.

Arkansas enters the contest as a 4.5-point favorite, according to the Vegas odds, and is given a 68 percent chance to win, by ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

In 61 previous matchups between the two schools, Arkansas leads the all-time series, 34-27, and is 15-9 since the Tigers joined the SEC in 2012. The Razorbacks are also 7-2 in the last nine overall meetings between the two.

The game will tip off at 11 a.m. inside Bud Walton Arena and will air live on ESPN2.