FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas returns to Razorback Stadium for an 11 a.m. ABC kickoff against Notre Dame on Saturday, a first-ever meeting between the programs that arrives with both teams searching for steadier footing after uneven Septembers.
Notre Dame opened the week as a slight road favorite, with most sportsbooks listing the Irish between 3.5–6.5 points ahead of the trip to Fayetteville.
Both staffs spent the week aligning personnel for specific matchups. Arkansas published a depth chart that again features quarterback Taylen Green and a receiver rotation headlined by O’Mega Blake, Jalen Brown and CJ Brown.
Notre Dame’s game-week chart lists freshman CJ Carr at quarterback with a backfield led by Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.
Sam Pittman praised Notre Dame’s balance and skill talent while noting Arkansas must identify where to probe the Irish defense.
“Excited to get the opportunity to play Notre Dame,” Pittman said earlier in the week in a rambling assessment of the Irish. “Really good football team. We have to figure our matchups, and I think we match up well with great respect for what they do.”
Irish coach Marcus Freeman, coming off a 56–30 win over Purdue, said defensive fixes are about execution more than scheme, and he reiterated he won’t take play-calling from first-year coordinator Chris Ash.
“It’s not what we’re calling… We just have to execute at a higher level,” Freeman said, adding that Notre Dame will “fight together” to clean up coverage busts.
Quarterbacks
• Arkansas: Green leads the Razorbacks in both passing and rushing (1,191 pass yards; 360 rush), and his designed runs often arrive out of tempo to stress edges.
• Notre Dame: Carr’s poise has flashed — the Irish topped 500 total yards in the win over Purdue — but Saturday marks his first road start in an SEC venue. Edge: Arkansas, narrowly, because of Green’s dual-threat production and experience.
Running backs and tight ends
Notre Dame’s backfield burst showed up last week, when Love and Price combined for five rushing touchdowns; Pittman called Love “special” and praised the Irish tight end room, led by Eli Raridon. Arkansas counters with size in Mike Washington Jr. and freshman Braylen Russell to pair with option looks for Green. Edge: Notre Dame by a sliver on recent form and top-end speed.
Wide receivers
Arkansas relies on spacing and verticals with Blake (team-leading 326 yards) and Brown on the outside while CJ Brown and Raylen Sharpe handle slot and motion duties. Notre Dame spreads targets among Jordan Faison, Malachi Fields and Jaden Greathouse; explosive plays improved against Purdue. Slight edge: Arkansas for continuity with Green.
Offensive line
Arkansas lists veteran bookends Corey Robinson II and E’Marion Harris with interior size across the board; the group’s task is to limit negative plays that stalled second-half drives the past two weeks.
Notre Dame starts Ashton Craig at center and rotates youth at guard and tackle (Guerby Lambert, Anthonie Knapp), which has produced some variance snap-to-snap. Edge: Even — Razorbacks have the experience; Irish have recruited length and movement.
Defensive front
Arkansas’ rotation features Cam Ball and Ian Geffrard inside with Quincy Rhodes Jr. and Justus Boone on the edges; the Hogs must squeeze interior gaps against Notre Dame’s downhill looks.
Notre Dame’s front includes Jason Onye, Donovan Hinish and sophomore Bryce Young, who provided pressure and deflections vs. Purdue. Edge: Notre Dame if Young’s disruption carries over.
Linebackers
Arkansas leans on Xavian Sorey Jr. and Stephen Dix Jr. for range; Sorey leads the team in tackles. Notre Dame’s Mike linebacker Drayk Bowen runs well laterally — a player Pittman specifically mentioned — while Jaylen Sneed works in space. Edge: Slight to Arkansas on production to date; Notre Dame’s ceiling is high as communication tightens.
Secondary
Arkansas will again look to Kani Walker and Julian Neal on the outside with Miguel Mitchell and Larry Worth III at safety; explosive-play control is priority one after recent one-score losses.
Notre Dame starts Christian Gray and Leonard Moore at corner with Devonta Smith at nickel; the Irish have allowed yards but believe technique will steady. Edge: Notre Dame’s talent; Arkansas’ familiarity at home narrows it.
Special teams and game state
Arkansas lists Devin Bale at punter and kickoff with Scott Starzyk at place-kicker; Notre Dame counters with senior Noah Burnette.
These 11 a.m. kickoffs on ABC can compress margins; several national models have called this within one score, and oddsmakers sit around ND −3.5 to −6.5 with totals in the low-60s. Edge: Even; hidden yards loom large.
Coaching and intangibles
Pittman this week emphasized matchups and home-field rhythm after back-to-back tight finishes. Freeman, meanwhile, publicly backed Ash and stressed accountability on defense. Lou Holtz’s shared history adds a subplot, but Saturday likely hinges on red-zone finishing and third-down defense more than storylines.
Bottom line: If Arkansas wins the explosive-play battle and keeps Carr uncomfortable on third-and-medium, the Razorbacks can tilt a close game at home. If Notre Dame’s tailbacks control early downs and the Irish secondary limits Blake and Brown over the top, the visitors’ efficiency travels.
Key takeaways
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Arkansas’ quarterback run game versus Notre Dame’s linebackers is the swing matchup.
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Notre Dame’s Love-Price tandem gives the Irish a small edge at running back if early efficiency shows up again.
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Special-teams field position and noon-kick variance could decide a one-score finish.