FAYETTEVILLE- There is no time for sulking or second guessing for the Razorbacks after their disappointing loss on Saturday to BYU. Next up is a very difficult trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to open the SEC season against the LSU Tigers. Tiger Stadium is arguably one of, if not THE toughest place to play in the SEC, especially at night. And one thing is for certain, the LSU faithful will sellout the stadium and be loud all night when the Razorbacks take the field. It will be a tough place to correct the mistakes that have taken place at home over the past two weeks, but now is the time for the Hogs.
Here are some pregame notes on Saturday’s game as provided by the University of Arkansas:
LSU TIGERS (2-1, 1-0 SEC)
AP/Coaches: 12/13
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (Assumption, ‘83)
Career Record: 275-101-2 (34th season)
Record at LSU: 12-5 (2nd season)
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
AP/Coaches: NR/RV
Head Coach: Sam Pittman (Pittsburg State, ‘86)
Career Record: 21-18 (4th season)
• Arkansas hits the road for the first time in 2023 to square off against longtime rival LSU in the Battle for the Golden Boot. Kickoff between the Razorbacks and Tigers in Death Valley is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, on ESPN.
• Beginning with this Saturday’s game in Baton Rouge, the Razorbacks will open SEC play with four consecutive games away from the friendly confines of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. This season marks the first time that Arkansas has played its first four conference games away from home in 98 years. It last happened in 1925, when the Razorbacks were members of the Southwest Conference.
• Arkansas is seeking its second consecutive win against LSU in Baton Rouge. The Hogs have never won consecutive games against the Tigers in Louisiana’s capital city. The last time that Arkansas won consecutive games against LSU in the state of Louisiana was from 1927-29 in Shreveport.
• Saturday’s game between Arkansas and LSU marks the earliest the two teams have ever met on the gridiron. Since the Hogs joined the SEC in 1992, the teams have played in November each season. Prior to 1992, Arkansas and LSU played 11 games in October but never during September.
• QB KJ Jefferson has completed 55-of-71 (71.4%) passes for 629 yards and six touchdowns while also running for 80 yards and a touchdown through the Razorbacks’ first three games of the season. Jefferson, who has thrown for a touchdown in each of his last 14 games played, ranks
second on Arkansas’ career touchdown responsibility list with 74 (54 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns).
• RB AJ Green, starting in place of the injured RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, has rushed for a team-leading 190 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries (6.8 ypc) through the Hogs’ first three games of the season. Making his second career start against BYU, Green ran for 86 yards and two
scores, his first career multi-rushing touchdown game.
• WR Andrew Armstrong has quickly emerged as QB KJ Jefferson’s go-to receiver, leading the Razorbacks with 18 receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns through the first three games of the season. The transfer from Texas A&M-Commerce, who has at least one catch in 19
consecutive games dating back to 2021, caught a teamleading nine passes for 98 yards against BYU.
• LB Jaheim Thomas has filled up the stat sheet on the defensive side of the ball through his first three games as a Razorback. The Cincinnati transfer is Arkansas’ leading tackler with 29 total stops, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Thomas, who currently ranks fourth among
all SEC defenders in total tackles (29) this season, has also recorded one pass breakup on the year.
To win, Arkansas must find a way to move the ball on the ground and eliminate mistakes that have hurt the Hogs the first three weeks of the season.
RNN Sports photographer John D. James will be on the field at Tiger Stadium to bring you all of the action in pictures next week! Stay with RNN Sports for the best coverage of Razorbacks football all season!
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.
