FAYTETTEVILLE- After a devastating loss at home last Saturday to the Auburn Tigers, the Razorbacks will now shift their focus to Florida International who will be coming to Fayetteville this weekend. Arkansas will be attempting to finish the season on as much of a positive note as possible while rumors circulate about coaching changes for next season.
Here are notes on Saturday’s game with the FIU Panthers as provided by the University of Arkansas:
FIU PANTHERS (4-6, 1-6 CUSA)
AP/Coaches: NR/NR
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech, ‘89)
Career Record: 54-80 (11th season)
Record at FIU: 8-14 (2nd season)
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (3-7, 1-6 SEC)
AP/Coaches: NR/NR
Head Coach: Sam Pittman (Pittsburg State, ‘86)
Career Record: 22-24 (4th season)
Record at Arkansas: Same
Arkansas continues its three-game homestand at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium against Conference USA foe FIU in the first meeting between the two programs since the 2007 season. Kickoff between the Hogs and Panthers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, on ESPNU.
- Under head coach Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks are 11-2 overall against non-conference opponents, including an 8-2 mark against non-conference FBS opponents. The Hogs are
a perfect 3-0 against FCS opponents in the Pittman era. - QB KJ Jefferson has completed 173-of-266 passes (65%) for 1,918 yards and 16 touchdowns while also rushing for 342 yards and two touchdowns through 10 games this season. Jefferson, who is one of only three SEC quarterbacks, along with LSU QB Jayden Daniels and Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart, to pass for 1,900 yards and rush for 340 yards this year, ranks first on Arkansas’ career touchdown responsibility list with 85 (64 passing, 21 touchdowns). He is just one passing
touchdown away from owning the outright school record. - RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders looked like his old self in the Razorbacks’ win at Florida (Nov. 4), rushing for a season-high 103 yards on 18 carries (5.7 ypc) to become Arkansas’ first 100-yard rusher of the 2023 campaign. Sanders, who has missed five of the Razorbacks’ 10 games
due to injury, has rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 10 receptions for 75 yards this season. - WR Andrew Armstrong has solidified himself as QB KJ Jefferson’s go-to receiver this season, leading the Hogs with 48 receptions for 657 yards and four touchdowns through 10 games. The Texas A&M-Commerce transfer, who is in his first year at Arkansas, has at least two catches
in all 10 of the Razorbacks’ games this season and has recorded at least one catch in 26 consecutive games dating back to his 2021 campaign at Texas A&M-Commerce. - LB Jaheim Thomas is the SEC’s fourth-leading tackler this season, racking up a team-high 87 total stops with 6.5 tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks, through 10 games. The transfer from Cincinnati has recorded a team-leading five double-digit tackle games this season and has logged six double-digit tackle games for his career.
Razorbacks fans may be treated to a look to the future on Saturday. Some expect quarterback Jacolby Criswell to play on Saturday once K J Jefferson breaks the touchdown pass record for Arkansas.
But regardless of what happens, it all points to an eventful offseason as changes are surely to be coming to the Razorbacks football program.
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.
