Arkansas Football: Kickoff Times for First Three Games Released as Razorbacks Prep for Unique Early Schedule
Football fans across Arkansas can start planning their fall Saturdays. While the countdown to kickoff continues—93 days from now to be exact—there’s now more clarity on when the Arkansas Razorbacks will take the field to open the 2025 college football season. On Thursday, the university officially released game times for the team’s first three matchups. Notably, there won’t be any of the dreaded 11:00 AM kickoffs that have often frustrated players and fans alike in past years.
The Hogs are gearing up for what looks like a pivotal year under head coach Sam Pittman, and the early schedule carries both excitement and challenges. The journey begins at home in Fayetteville, features a historic in-state clash, and quickly shifts into a high-stakes road game stretch.
Opening Day: Arkansas vs. Alabama A&M (Aug. 30)
The Razorbacks will open their season at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday, August 30, with a 3:15 PM Central Standard Time kickoff against Alabama A&M. This game will be broadcast live on SEC Network. While this matchup isn’t expected to be a tightly contested one—Alabama A&M is an FCS opponent—it will provide an opportunity for fans to see new players in action, including quarterback Taylen Green, who transferred in and is expected to lead the offense.
This afternoon slot should be a welcome change from the usual early morning kickoffs that are common during the early non-conference slate. Fans in Fayetteville will enjoy a mid-afternoon start, and the team will look to begin the season with momentum and execution on both sides of the ball.
A Historic In-State Clash: Arkansas vs. Arkansas State (Sept. 6)
In Week 2, the Razorbacks will head to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock to face off against Arkansas State on September 6 at 4:00 PM CST. This game is historic—it marks the first time ever that these two in-state programs will square off on the gridiron. Despite decades of debate and resistance to such a matchup, it’s finally happening.
However, the broadcast decision has raised some eyebrows. Despite the significance of the contest and its historic nature, the game will not air on traditional cable channels. Instead, it will stream exclusively on SEC Network+, a digital-only platform. That means fans will need an internet connection and appropriate subscription access to watch. While streaming is becoming more common across all sports, the move has already sparked criticism from some Razorback faithful, who feel such a landmark event deserves broader television exposure.
Still, the anticipation around the Arkansas-Arkansas State matchup remains high. Given the unique nature of the rivalry and the neutral-site location in Little Rock, the energy is expected to be electric.
Road Test Under the Lights: Arkansas at Ole Miss (Sept. 13)
Arkansas’s third game of the season is a primetime SEC road showdown against Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, set for September 13. Kickoff is still a bit fluid—it will be either 6:00 PM or 6:45 PM CST, depending on which network picks it up between ESPN and the SEC Network.
Regardless of the exact time, it will be a night game in a hostile environment against a conference rival that’s no stranger to lighting up the scoreboard. This will be one of Arkansas’s biggest early tests, especially considering it’s the start of a five-game stretch that will see the Razorbacks mostly on the road.
The game in Oxford not only tests the team’s resolve but could be a major tone-setter for the season. Win or lose, how Arkansas competes in this contest could shape public and internal expectations for the rest of the year.
The Tough September Schedule: Four of Five Games Away from Home
The Ole Miss matchup is just the beginning of a challenging early-season schedule. After opening the year at home, Arkansas will play four of its next five games away from Fayetteville. The September gauntlet includes road trips to Memphis—their first appearance there since 1998—and a high-profile home matchup against Notre Dame, who made the College Football Playoff last season.
The Memphis game is an underrated trap game. Though the Tigers are a Group of Five team, they’ve been trending upward and will be highly motivated to defend their home turf against a Power Five opponent. That matchup will likely be tightly contested and may not receive the national attention it deserves.
By the time Arkansas returns to Fayetteville to face Notre Dame, nearly a full month will have passed since their last home game. That’s a significant travel burden, especially for a program trying to reestablish consistency and compete in the rugged SEC West.
But this year’s road-heavy start is still an improvement over last season. In 2024, the Razorbacks had only one true home game between August 29 and October 5, making it extremely difficult to develop rhythm or capitalize on home-field advantage. This year, at least, the team gets two games in front of home crowds before embarking on the bulk of their travel.
A Season of Opportunity and High Stakes
With the College Football Playoff expanding and moving toward a new straight seeding model beginning in 2025, every regular season game carries more weight. Strength of schedule, head-to-head matchups, and quality road wins will all play a bigger role in playoff positioning. That means early-season games, especially against conference foes like Ole Miss and high-profile programs like Notre Dame, could have playoff implications—even for teams outside the preseason top 10.
Arkansas has an opportunity to make a statement early in the season. The blend of non-conference opponents, a historic in-state rivalry, and tough SEC matchups will provide both challenges and chances to prove themselves on a national stage. With Taylen Green under center and a team hungry to rebound from recent struggles, the 2025 campaign could be a turning point.
So, mark your calendars—especially for that opener on August 30. Razorback football is almost back, and the early schedule promises fireworks, intrigue, and a path filled with opportunities.
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