Arkansas Report Card – Week Two vs. Arkansas State

On Saturday afternoon, the state of Arkansas converged on Little Rock for a historic showdown. Before a crowd of 54,224 at War Memorial Stadium, the Razorbacks dominated the Arkansas State Red Wolves, cruising to a 56-14 victory.

Heading into the matchup, we at Last Word outlined three keys for success for the Hogs. Now it’s time to grade them in this week’s Arkansas report card.

Be Ready for Anything

The first key was to be prepared for anything Arkansas State might throw at them. As it turned out, the Razorbacks didn’t need long to establish control. Arkansas opened with touchdowns on its first four possessions and stormed to a 28-7 lead before the first quarter ended.

Head coach Sam Pittman credited the hot start in his postgame comments, saying, “I just think it was damn good coaching.”

Indeed, the game plan was executed to perfection. Bobby Petrino’s presence has already paid off, with the Razorback offense racking up 630 total yards while maintaining a physical edge. With such a dominant opening statement, the grade here is an A+.

Play Razorback Football

The second key was to play their brand of football. Arkansas State suffered a major blow early with the season-ending injury to running back Ja’Quez Cross, but even before that, the Red Wolves were fighting an uphill battle.

The lone highlights for Arkansas State came from a 99-yard punt return by Chancey Cobb and a short touchdown catch by Cameron Ambrose, but the Razorbacks still carried a 35-14 lead into halftime. After the break, Arkansas slammed the door, scoring on every drive while keeping the Red Wolves off the board.

What impressed most was how the Razorbacks closed the game. They didn’t let up, a trait that will be crucial as SEC play begins. For that complete effort, key number two earns an A.

Do Not Sleep on the Red Wolves

The last key applied not only to the team but also to the fan base. Some Razorback supporters have long viewed Arkansas State as a “little brother,” but this first-ever meeting demanded respect.

Pittman acknowledged the significance of the matchup afterward: “It felt like a home game. That started with the Hog Walk. We knew the significance of this game with the great state of Arkansas.”

The Hogs clearly took the game seriously, reflecting both in preparation and performance. For that, they earn another A.

Final Thoughts

It’s straight A’s for Arkansas through the first two weeks of the season. Still, context matters—these opening opponents were overmatched. The real test begins next week when the Razorbacks head to Oxford to face Ole Miss in their SEC opener.

Stay tuned to Last Word for a full preview and three keys to victory as Arkansas looks to carry its momentum into conference play.