The end of rivalries as we know it- Four Hogs defect to Ole Miss, Texas

The days of staunch rivalries are no more. As far as games go, there are still electric games and atmospheres, but players' feelings about conference foes have relaxed. And the longer the transfer portal stays open, the more willing players are to transfer to Rivals.

Over the last two seasons, three former Hogs have transferred to Ole Miss, including three yesterday: offensive lineman Patrick Kutas, cornerback Jaylen Braxton, and tight end Luke Hasz. All three were injured for most of the season, but Kutas and Braxton saved their redshirts, giving them an extra year of eligibility at Ole Miss.

Kutas, in particular, has publically stated his disdain for the Rebels, saying he was raised to hate them. "I don't like Ole Mis," Kutas told the BossHog Podcast. "You know how you're raised to hate a school? Well, I was raised to not like Ole Miss."

Obviously, something has changed, but what makes matters worse is that Sam Pittman intentionally withheld the junior from playing to preserve his redshirt on the promise that he wouldn't leave the program.

After the 2023 season, Arkansas's best linebacker, Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr., defected to the Rebels. And this year, he led the Rebels in tackles with 88, was fifth in tackles for loss with 11, and recorded 3.5 sacks on top of it.

Lane Kiffin and the Rebels have made a living with talent from the transfer portal, and now they're living off Arkansas players. Of the five players who've committed to Ole Miss, three are former Razorbacks. One X (formerly Twitter) user joked about Arkansas becoming an Ole Miss farm team, and Coach Kiffin initially reposted it before ultimately deleting it.

One more Razorback has chosen a rival transfer destination. Brad Spence is heading to Texas. It's not the first time a Hog has moved on to wear the ugly burnt orange. In 2021, star safety Jalen Catalon moved on to Austin after dealing with back-to-back season-ending injuries.

This is the new reality in college football. One season, you could be cheering for your favorite player, but the next, you could be jeering him in the stands when he runs out with your biggest rival.