GAME DAY: Arkansas Razorbacks @ No. 17 Texas Longhorns

No. 17 Texas (7-3, 4-2) enters Saturday’s showdown with Arkansas (2-8, 0-6) looking to steady the season and protect home turf against a desperate Razorbacks squad that has been far more explosive than its record suggests. The Longhorns sit at 7-3 and 17th in the polls after last week’s loss to Georgia, while Arkansas limps into Austin at 2-8 but averaging more than 34 points per game in a series that has historically produced emotion, upsets and lingering grudges. Texas won the most recent meeting 20-10 in Fayetteville, but the all‑time rivalry remains tight and heated dating back to their old Southwest Conference days, adding extra juice as the programs meet again as SEC foes.

For Texas, the keys revolve around focus, defensive discipline and letting Arch Manning and the run game stress a vulnerable Arkansas defense that has been one of the worst in the country in efficiency against both the pass and the run. Arkansas ranks near the bottom nationally in defensive EPA against the rush and dropback and is allowing more than 32 points and 420-plus yards per game, including 6.0 yards per rush and nearly 195 rushing yards per outing. That profile sets up a get‑right opportunity for a Texas offense that has been more inconsistent than expected but still has the personnel to create explosive plays if it avoids turnovers, finishes red‑zone trips and doesn’t look ahead to next week’s looming showdown with Texas A&M. Defensively, the Longhorns must limit chunk runs, rally to the ball in space and win on third down against an Arkansas attack converting just under 50% of its third‑down chances and living on balance and pace.

On the other side, Arkansas’ upset formula starts with leaning into an offense that averages 34.1 points, 7.22 yards per play and more than 460 yards per game, powered by a rushing attack churning out 5.89 yards per carry and over 200 rushing yards per contest. The Razorbacks have lost six straight and are winless in SEC play, but they have pushed multiple ranked teams by hitting explosives, staying aggressive on fourth down and capitalizing on mistakes, as shown by their narrow one‑score losses to Ole Miss, Memphis, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and LSU. If Arkansas can turn this into a track meet, win special teams field position and force Texas into a couple of short‑field turnovers, the Hogs’ high‑powered offense and 90‑percent red‑zone scoring rate give them a real chance to spoil Senior Day at DKR and add another memorable chapter to one of the sport’s oldest border rivalries.