FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Missouri has owned the Arkansas rivalry since 2013, and the Hogs would like a word about that tonight.
The Razorbacks (3-4, 1-3 SEC) haven’t beaten the Tigers since 2021, and a win would nudge them closer to a bowl game. At this point, Arkansas would gladly take one anywhere against anybody.
No. 23 Missouri (5-2, 2-2 SEC) sits in a different spot. The Tigers already have two losses, and a third would likely end their playoff hopes for good.
The Hogs want this game. Mizzou almost has to have it.
Kickoff against Missouri is set for 6:45 p.m. on SEC Network inside Razorback Stadium. Fans can hear the game statewide on the Razorback Sports Network and ESPN Arkansas at 93.7 and 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in Fort Smith and the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
It’s also the first time these two have met under the lights in Fayetteville, which feels about right for a Halloween night with this much riding on it.
Missouri’s last outing didn’t go well.
Ole Miss manhandled the Tigers 31-3 in Oxford, Miss., on Oct. 17, and both teams have had a bye week since.
That loss trimmed the margin for error for Eli Drinkwitz, who’s in his seventh season and 51-31 overall, including 28-26 against SEC teams.
His offense still starts with the run game. Jamal Roberts leads the SEC with 867 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and Missouri could also get back Ahmad Hardy. The 2025 consensus All-American hasn’t played this season as he heals from a gunshot wound.
Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield didn’t sound too worried about which back gets the carries.
“Whether Hardy can play or not, it doesn’t matter who the running back is, their offensive line, their tight ends have done a nice job with it,” Silverfield said.
He pointed to the scheme the Tigers trust most.
“But I think if they wanted to hang their hat on one thing as a program offensively, it’s running that wide zone,” Silverfield said. “It doesn’t matter who the running back is. Coach Drink’s been running that for a long time, and that’s one of those things they’re going to try to do.”
Quarterback Austin Simmons gives Missouri one more way to hurt a defense.
“Part of it now, the play action, the boots, what [Simmons] can do off of those things can certainly cause you some trouble,” Silverfield said.
The Razorbacks spent their own off week looking in the mirror.
“Past week, on the bye, was very productive,” Silverfield said. “A lot of self-scouting and finding ways to get better and looking at different ways to continue to improve in all facets of our program.”
He’s also glad to be back home.
“They’re a Top-25 program,” Silverfield said this week. “But we’re excited to be back home for a night game in front of our great fans.”
Arkansas comes in with a little momentum for once. The 31-21 win at Vanderbilt ended a run of 14 straight SEC losses, and the Hogs’ last league win before that was a 58-25 rout at Mississippi State in 2024.
KJ Jackson went 21-of-31 for 251 yards in Nashville and added 58 rushing yards plus a touchdown on 11 carries. He found 12 different receivers, a season high.
He’s also just the second Arkansas quarterback since 1995 to pile up 300-plus total yards and run for a score in a regulation SEC win, joining Taylen Green from 2024.
He might have to do it without Chris Marshall, a fifth-year receiver who’s questionable after getting hurt on his only catch against Vanderbilt.
Offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey had some fun with that.
“Maybe he was the problem,” Cramsey said. “Who knows? I didn’t say that out loud, did I?”
Cramsey was serious about his quarterback, though.
“I thought he had one of his best, if not his best game running the ball and throwing the ball,” he said.
Cam Settles chipped in his first two career rushing touchdowns, making him the first Arkansas back to run for two scores in a game since Mike Washington Jr. did it at Ole Miss in September 2025.
The bigger story might be the defense. Arkansas has picked off two passes in back-to-back SEC games for the first time since 2010, and Miguel Mitchell has been right in the middle of it.
He’s grabbed a pick in each of the last two games and shared in a tackle for loss in both.
The Razorbacks have forced nine turnovers already, matching their total from all of last season. They’ve also scored in 65 straight games, and their 243 straight extra points is the longest active streak in the country by date.
The history isn’t as friendly. The Tigers hold a 13-4 all-time edge and won 31-17 last year. Arkansas’ last win in the series came 34-17 on Nov. 26, 2021.
The calendar might help, though. Arkansas is 11-5-1 on Halloween, and the last time it lost on the holiday, Texas A&M shut it out 41-0 on the road in 1942.
Oddsmakers still have the Hogs as 9.5-point underdogs on a night that should be 65 degrees with no rain.
Missouri needs this game to keep its season alive. Arkansas just wants a reminder that the Battle Line runs both ways.
