Hogs-Golden Lions gets a new date in LR

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas announced Friday its football season-opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Little Rock has been moved to Thursday, Aug. 29, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

The game at War Memorial Stadium, originally scheduled for Aug. 31, will now be televised nationally on ESPNU.

The move will allow the Razorbacks another couple of days of preparation for their road opener on Sept. 7 at Oklahoma State, the renewal of a former longtime series that hasn’t been played since 1980. Arkansas and Oklahoma State have agreed on a four-game series, with games this fall and in 2032 being played in Stillwater, Okla., and games in 2027 and 2033 being played in Fayetteville.

Arkansas will play its first Thursday season-opener since a 49-7 win over Florida A&M on Aug. 31, 2017, at War Memorial Stadium.

The Razorbacks and Golden Lions met for the first time in Little Rock on Oct. 23, 2021, with Arkansas claiming a 45-3 win en route to a 9-4 season capped by a 24-10 Outback Bowl win over Penn State.

Arkansas will open the season in Little Rock for the second-consecutive season, following a 56-13 win over Western Carolina last Sept. 2.

The Razorbacks are coming off a 4-8 season for fifth-year Coach Sam Pittman. UAPB was 2-9 last season under first-year Coach Alonzo Hampton, who previously served as an assistant with the Golden Lions (2006-10) and a defensive analyst at Arkansas in 2019.

The Razorbacks have only one other game scheduled in Little Rock beyond the contest against UAPB, a date with Arkansas State on Sept. 6, 2025.

A couple of other SEC programs have also announced date changes for their season-openers. Missouri will open against Murray State on Aug. 29, and Oklahoma will host Temple the following day.