LITTLE SKIRT – Arkansas opens the 2024 season in Little Rock against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Kickoff between the Hogs and Golden Lions at War Memorial Stadium is scheduled for Thursday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
1. – Thursday will be only the second meeting between Arkansas and Arkansas Pine-Bluff. The Razorbacks defeated the Golden Lions 45-3 in the first meeting on October 23, 2021 in Little Rock.
2. – The Razorbacks have an overall record of 153-62-4, including a 2-0 record in the Pittman era, at War Memorial Stadium, the program’s home in Central Arkansas since 1948.
3. – Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino returns to The Hill after serving as the program’s head coach from 2008-11, leading the Hogs to a 34-17 record, including a victory in the Cotton Bowl and a top-five ranking in the AP Poll in 2011. In addition, Pittman has added running backs coach Kolby Smith and wide receivers coach Ronnie Fouch to his staff after the 2023 season.
4. – Defensive lineman Landon Jackson, who enters the 2024 season as a Walter Camp Football Foundation Preseason All-American and Preseason All-SEC selection, proved to be one of the nation’s most dominant pass rushers last season, recording 44 total tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss, with 6.5 sacks and one pass defense during his junior season for the Razorbacks.
5. – Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List for the 2024 season. Armstrong has caught multiple balls in 23 consecutive games and holds a 28-game catch-all streak since October 16, 2021, when he played at Texas A&M Commerce.
6. – Arkansas has a 102-24-4 overall record in season openers. The Razorbacks have a 105-21-4 overall record in home openers, including a 29-8-1 record in home openers at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Sam Pittman has won his last three home openers and has a 1-0 record in home openers in Little Rock.
7. – Junior quarterback Taylen Green will lead Arkansas’ offense in 2024 after transferring from Boise State, where he started 22 times over the past two seasons and completed 287 of 483 passes (59%) for 3,794 yards and 25 touchdowns. On the ground, Green rushed for 1,024 yards and 19 touchdowns on 164 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
8. – Wide receiver Monte Harrison has taken a rather unconventional path to his college football career. The 29-year-old freshman joined the Arkansas football program this summer after playing professional baseball for the past decade, including three MLB seasons with the Miami Marlins (2020-21) and Los Angeles Angels (2022). Harrison originally signed with Nebraska in 2014 after graduating from Lee’s Summit High School (Missouri) before signing with the Milwaukee Brewers after being selected in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Harrison is the seventh-oldest player in the FBS this season.
9. – August 29 is the earliest season start date in program history. Previously, the earliest start date for a season was August 30, which occurred four times. The Razorbacks hold an all-time record of 5-2 in games played in August, including a 5-1 mark in designated home games.
10. – Tonight’s game is the 44th in program history on a Thursday. The Razorbacks have a 23-18-2 record in their Thursday games. Arkansas has a 2-0 record in Thursday games in Little Rock this millennium, with wins over South Carolina (28-6) on Nov. 6, 2003, and UNLV (14-10) on Aug. 30, 2001.
