Today, the No. 11 Arkansas Razorbacks (37-9; 14-7 SEC) were scheduled to travel to Springfield, Missouri, to face the Missouri State Bears (23-19; 13-5 MVC). However, forecasted thunderstorms led to the game being canceled.
On March 25, 2025, the Bears handed the then No. 2 Razorbacks a stunning upset at Baum-Walker Stadium, winning 14-13 in 10 innings. Although many Razorback fans were eager to see Arkansas get revenge on the Bears, it is a blessing in disguise that the weather prevented this game from occurring.
Arkansas blessed through Missouri State game cancellation
Arkansas had nothing substantive to gain from playing Missouri State today, although, admittedly, it is the easiest game on the Hogs' remaining regular season schedule. If one is honest, it could have been the last win of the regular season for the Hogs. Given that the last nine games are a gauntlet, the most challenging stretch of games of Arkansas's regular season, the Hogs could ill-afford to have lost a game to the Missouri State Bears. At a minimum, such a defeat would have weakened the team's confidence.
For a team that has lost three consecutive SEC weekend series, it did not need to suffer a loss to the Bears, given that it could have placed the thought in players' minds that they certainly will not be successful against the upcoming SEC competition, considering that they could not beat Missouri State. To be clear, the Hogs are a much better team than the Bears.
Still, they failed to defeat them at Baum-Walker Stadium in this season's previous game between the two teams. Given how the Razorbacks have played lately, they have not supplied Razorback Nation with any reason to hope they would have won the game against the Bears.
With the No. 1 Texas Longhorns (37-5; 19-2 SEC) coming to Baum-Walker Stadium for a three-game series on Thursday, No. 11 Arkansas needs all the rest and focus possible to prepare for such a challenging series, arguably the most difficult one of the season. While it may seem that the Razorbacks have been resting for the past three weeks, considering their poor performance over this stretch, they have not. They must be at their best to have any legitimate chance of upsetting Texas.
Not only do their bodies benefit from not having to play Missouri State today, but the game's cancellation also gives Dave Van Horn additional time to develop specific strategies to employ against Texas and, of course, more time to practice implementing those strategies.
Therefore, while it may not feel good to hear the game's cancellation characterized as a genuine blessing in disguise for Arkansas, one must be honest about the benefits. Deeper contemplation may reveal that the blessing is not even in disguise for the Razorbacks.