FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas will open the season Saturday against Alabama A&M at Razorback Stadium with questions for both teams.
There are new coaching dynamics and questions to answer as the season begins on both sides of the ball.
The Razorbacks, coming off a season that ended with questions about depth and consistency, look to set the tone early under head coach Sam Pittman and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Petrino, returning to Arkansas in an offensive role, said he expects his players to “handle business and get our younger players real experience,” emphasizing the importance of execution in the opener.
Alabama A&M starts a new era under head coach Sam Shade, who was hired in December after three seasons at Miles College. Shade, a former Alabama linebacker and NFL veteran, brought much of his staff from Miles, including offensive coordinator Dennis Alexander.
The Bulldogs finished 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last season, but hope to become contenders in the SWAC under Shade’s leadership.
Redshirt senior Tyrell Lawrence anchors the Alabama A&M offensive line. Lawrence, listed at 6-foot-7 and 355 pounds, was named a Top 20 prospect on the Canadian Football League watchlist and earned preseason second-team All-SWAC honors. Last season, the Bulldogs led the conference with 444.5 yards per game and 260.5 rushing yards per game, but struggled with pass protection at times.
Quarterback Cornelious Brown returns for Alabama A&M after splitting time last season. Brown threw for 1,666 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. He also rushed for 161 yards. Brown’s release point — typically a low, three-quarter slot — could be an opportunity for Arkansas’ defensive line to disrupt passing lanes. Redshirt senior Isaiah Nwokenkwo, who broke a 90-yard touchdown run in a preseason scrimmage, is expected to lead the Bulldogs’ ground attack.
Wide receiver Donivan Wright is the top returning target, having caught 12 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns last season. Wright was named to the preseason All-SWAC third team by Phil Steele.
Defensively, Alabama A&M will line up in a 4-2-5 scheme under coordinator Chris Shelling. The Bulldogs’ defense focuses on gap control and will likely blitz from the nickel position. Defensive lineman Nick Glenn, who had 29 tackles and five tackles for loss last season, also earned preseason second-team All-SWAC honors. Linebacker Dimitris Biamby, who finished fourth on the team with 42 tackles in 2024, returns as well.
Arkansas’ defense remains a work in progress, particularly along the line. Pittman said the staff is still evaluating combinations to get the best 11 players on the field. “The most important thing is to get through the game healthy and get certain players the experience they need,” Pittman said in his preseason remarks.
Petrino is not expected to reveal much of his playbook against the Bulldogs, instead using the opener to evaluate talent ahead of next week’s game against Arkansas State. The Razorbacks are likely to rotate players at several positions, including running back and wide receiver.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. and the game will be televised on SEC Network. The game will also be carried on the Razorback Sports Network and fans can listen on ESPN 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
For Shade, Saturday’s game marks his debut as Alabama A&M’s head coach.
“We want to compete at a high level, and we know what an SEC environment means,” Shade said after spring practice. “This is a great opportunity for our guys to measure themselves against the best.”
Arkansas leads the all-time series against Alabama A&M. Both programs hope to use the opener to identify strengths and address weaknesses before the heart of their respective schedules.
The Razorbacks finished last season at 7-6, while Alabama A&M wrapped up 6-6. Both teams are seeking to start 2025 with a statement win.
