Although the Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0; 0-0 SEC) football team has never faced the Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-0; 0-0 Sun Belt), and it's one of those in-state college football games that has been discussed for far too long, many fans have given this game too much hype. Are we really intrigued to watch the Hog essentially play a road game in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium against a team that was challenged throughout the game last week against the Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) Redhawks?
While many believe that the Red Wolves had an easy contest against the Redhawks, with the Associated Press asserting that "Arkansas State cruises to 42-24 victory," the Red Wolves were in a serious fight with SEMO each quarter except the second. The score was 7-7 at the end of the first quarter. However, in the second quarter, Arkansas State scored three touchdowns, and SEMO only scored a field goal. That 18-point differential in the second quarter proved to be the difference in Arkansas State's win, considering the Red Wolves won by 18 points.
The Red Wolves won the third quarter, but only by a score of 7-0, and lost the fourth quarter 14-7. Therefore, this team, Arkansas State, that is about to play an SEC team, the Arkansas Razorbacks, is supposed to give the Hogs a challenging game? No matter how anyone tries to conceptualize this game, Arkansas State is not a quality opponent, at least not for Arkansas. The Hogs will gain no benefits from the Red Wolves on the schedule.
Even though Arkansas had some struggles against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs for a short period, the Hogs quickly asserted their dominance, leading to the expected blowout. In Week 2, the Arkansas Razorbacks will build on their performance from the game against the Bulldogs and demonstrate much of the same dominance they exhibited against the woefully undermatched team from Huntsville, Alabama.
This article contends that Arkansas State has only a slight chance, a 10.5% chance, according to ESPN Analytics, to defeat the Hogs, and shares three reasons, although others exist, why the Arkansas Razorbacks football team will win convincingly against the Red Wolves.
3 reasons Arkansas Razorbacks football wins against Arkansas State
Razorbacks' explosive offense
Although many are intentionally overlooking Arkansas' starting quarterback, Taylen Green, as one of the top five quarterbacks in the nation, Green will be one of the first five quarterbacks taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. He had an excellent performance against Alabama A&M: 322 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and no fumbles or interceptions. Want to know what's scary? Even though Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded him as the second-highest Power Four quarterback, the Razorbacks' starting quarterback could have played much better, including with his accuracy and decision-making.
Highest Graded Quarterbacks from Week 1🎯 pic.twitter.com/oqt7zHMSBd
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 2, 2025
Green and Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino are well aware of these needed improvements. However, his performance against Alabama A&M shows that he can not have his best game and still achieve feats that place him statistically as one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Because the Hogs have Green, no team on their brutal schedule is beyond their ability to defeat it, though, admittedly, the Razorbacks will not win every game on the schedule.
The previous statement has added significance for Arkansas State. Given the Red Wolves are by far the least competitive team on Arkansas' remaining schedule, and the Hogs will be legitimate competition in every game on their demanding schedule, this means Arkansas State's real goal should be to not allow the Razorbacks to embarrass them. An Arkansas State win over the Razorbacks isn't reasonable thinking, though, admittedly, the Red Wolves must come into game believing they can defeat the Hogs.
While such self-efficacy is always vital, if Petrino was having fun calling plays against the Bulldogs, one can only imagine how his creative and competitive energies will intensify against a better opponent. The Red Wolves are considerably better opponents than Alabama A&M, but it doesn't take much to be better than the Bulldogs. Arkansas State's defense surrendered 24 points to SEMO's offense. Therefore, it would be shameful to compare SEMO's offense to Arkansas's explosive offense.
Let's be clear: Green and Petrino will have tons of fun against the Red Wolves' defense, a defense that's frankly unable to handle the SEC speed, power, talent, and athleticism the Razorbacks' offense presents.
Improved Hogs' blocking
At times during the game against the Bulldogs, the offensive line raised concerns for many about it potentially experiencing the same challenges as in the past two seasons. While Arkansas' offensive line needs to make substantial improvements against Arkansas State, the offensive line, in many instances during the game, wasn't the actual problem: The running backs did a miserable job in their protection assignments, resulting in Green running for his life for too much of a game against a truly inferior opponent.
Although Sam Pittman has admitted that the Hogs must be better in their protection assignments, he must do more than discuss it; he must have his play to deliver on the field. Pittman's failure to have his players execute his words on the field leads many fans to desire Jon Gruden to become the Arkansas Razorbacks head football coach, no matter how misguided such a hire would be.
The players know their blocking against the Bulldogs was unsatisfactory. Therefore, look for them to be laser-focused on ameliorating their performance in this critical area. The Razorbacks have competitive players, and they aim to demonstrate to everyone that they are capable of excellent blocking throughout each game. Arkansas State presents the Hogs with an opportunity to redeem themselves in this area, and they will redeem themselves against the Red Wolves.
Better Razorbacks' defensive line play
The Arkansas Razorbacks' defensive line didn't deliver a dominant performance against Alabama A&M, as one would expect from an SEC team. Expect redshirt senior defensive lineman Cameron Ball to take this personally against Arkansas State. He wants to show himself as a genuine defensive leader and ready to play on Sundays in the NFL.
Ball can erase people's memory of the defensive line's underwhelming performance against the Bulldogs by showing everyone the monster he is on the field against the Red Wolves. He will play an instrumental role in the defense's ability to frustrate the Red Wolves' offense.
A more robust performance from the defensive line will lead to the Hogs' overall defense improving. The defense will have more sacks and force at least one more turnover than it did against Alabama A&M.
Final Thoughts
The Arkansas Razorbacks' little brother, the Arkansas State Red Wolves, have begged their big brother for this game for a long time, and they must remember that fact, especially when the final score makes them face the harsh reality that they're nowhere near ready to compete against the Hogs. Arkansas needs to come away from this game healthy as it prepares to go on the road next week to Oxford, Mississippi, to tackle Lane Kiffin's No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels.