FAYETTEVILLE -- The University of Arkansas will open the 2030 football season against former Southwest Conference rival Texas Tech at the Vegas Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas over the Labor Day weekend, the schools announced Wednesday.
The official confirmation came the day after On3 reported the game would take place.
The date for the game, set for Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, has not been nailed down other than the Aug. 29-Sept. 1 window, and it will be broadcast on either ABC or one of the ESPN platforms.
The Vegas Kickoff Classic will be in addition to a previously contracted two-game set between Arkansas and Texas Tech. That contract originally had a 2030 game in Lubbock, Texas, and a return game in Fayetteville the following season. The 2030 game in Lubbock has been moved to the 2034 schedule.
The Vegas Classic now has five games set through 2030, including a pair in 2027, with Miami taking on Utah and North Dakota State facing Montana State. A BYU-Oregon State matchup is on for 2028, and Montana and South Dakota State will play in 2029.
Arkansas wrapped up its 7-6 season in 2024 with a 39-26 win over the Red Raiders at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis to give the Razorbacks a 30-8 lead in the series.
Arkansas' last home-and-home series with Texas Tech resulted in each team winning on the road. In 2014, Arkansas prevailed 49-28 in Lubbock behind 438 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns by Alex Collins, Jonathan Williams and Brandon Allen. The following season, Patrick Mahomes completed 26 of 30 passes for 243 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as the Red Raiders won 35-24 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
QB bros
Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor said he and Arkansas' Taylen Green -- opponents in Saturday's game in Little Rock -- met at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibdoaux, La., this summer and hung out a bit.
"Super cool guy," Raynor said of Green. "We talked a lot. I got to talk a lot with a bunch of the quarterbacks, but yeah, we talked a lot. He's a cool guy, from Dallas. He's a competitor, has got a strong arm. He can move in the pocket and get outside the pocket and make things happen. I like how he's well-rounded and can do things from in and outside the pocket with his length and athleticism."
'Special' effort
Arkansas had a strong debut in the kicking game in last week's 52-7 win over Alabama A&M, with freshman Scott Starzyk making a 53-yard field goal on his first attempt, punter Devin Bale averaging 45.5 yards on four punts and the coverage teams excelling.
Sixth-year Coach Sam Pittman said special teams coordinator Scott Fountain's connection to him and the program played a role in that.
"First of all, having Scott with me for now going on six years, that matters," Pittman said. "The ones that do return are retaining the verbiage, the expectations. But I also want to this, you can have the greatest guys on there that can cover a kick. You can have the greatest protection on field goal. You can have the greatest protection on punt. But if you don't have a punter, a kicker and a returner, you don't have great special teams. You just don't.
"Scott is really good about evaluating kickers and punters. He just is. He's got two of them starting in the NFL right now from here. And, you know, Scott Starzyk did a wonderful job as a true freshman out there. Devin Bale is really good at punting. (Deep snapper Ashton) Ngo can cover, and Scott went out and got (Kam) Shanks. Now he also is a good receiver, but he's also a really good punt returner. So, I think those things have helped. And I think Scott deserved a lot of credit for going out and finding the guys that can change special teams."
Walk-through
Coach Sam Pittman said the Razorbacks will bus from Fayetteville to Little Rock after Friday's walk-through practice at Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium. The Hogs will spend the night and ride back after Saturday's 4 p.m. game against Arkansas State at War Memorial Stadium.
"We never go to anybody's stadium before the game," Pittman said on the SEC coaches teleconference. "Friday will be just like any road Friday, except obviously we're going to bus over there like we did to Oklahoma State (last season) or like we have been doing over to Little Rock."
Asked why teams have moved away from walk-throughs on opposing turf, Pittman attributed it to a concern that that someone could be covertly watching from high boxes or suites.
"In the old days, a lot of guys would go and familiarize themselves with the new stadium," he said. "Sometimes guys would take turf from their stadium and sprinkle it on the opponent's stadium and say, 'Now this is our stadium,' some things like that and then do their walk-through."
Still, it didn't rid the fear of being watched, Pittman said, and giving the opponent that chance.
"I think that was probably the beginning of why people didn't do walk-throughs, or don't as much as they used to," he said.
In-state players
Sam Pittman said the pressure is on his team for the first-ever game against Arkansas State, but the rivalry may be best highlighted among fan bases, because neither side has many in-state players.
Arkansas has 28 on its roster and five started in Saturday's 52-7 win over Alabama A&M. The Red Wolves have 12 and three started in the 42-24 win against Southeast Missouri State. In total, both rosters combine for 11 players' listed hometowns as Little Rock or North Little Rock.
"Certainly Arkansas State is a different story and certainly a lot better football team, with all due respect, than the other guys we've played in the state," Pittman said. "I'm excited about it. I'm excited to get this game, as it being the first time we've ever played and I'm glad I'm going to be part of the history of that."
The Little Rock/North Little Rock locals from Arkansas State are Brandon Greil, Landon Canady and Alex Martin. For the Hogs: Grayson Wilson, Cam Settles, Anton Pierce, Preston Davis, Mason Schueck, Alex Johnson, E'Marion Harris and Quincy Rhodes Jr.
Green awarded
Quarterback Taylen Green picked up an honorable mention nod for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award player of the week Wednesday for his work in the season opener.
Green completed 24 of 31 passes for 322 yards and 6 touchdowns and had 9 carries for 41 yards in the Hogs' 52-7 win over Alabama A&M.
The Tyler Rose award recognizes the top offensive player who played prep or college football in Texas and exhibits the characteristics of Campbell, the former Texas All-American and standout NFL running back.
The Week 1 honor went to Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King, a native of Longview, Texas, who had a career-high 145 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in a 27-20 win at Colorado.
Five other SEC players received honorable mention honors: Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, Texas A&M's Marcel Reed and Mario Craver, and Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy.