For one reason or another, most likely related to a little brother syndrome from back in the old Southwest Conference days similar to what Texas A&M has always had to contend with, Arkansas Razorbacks fans have always considered themselves rivals to Texas.
Notice it says consider themselves, because that’s a river that only flows one way. Arkansas and Texas haven’t played on a regular basis since 1991. That’s 33 years ago. There are people in their 40s now who don’t remember those teams playing other than a random regular season or bowl game every decade or so. It’s questionable as to whether Arkansas was ever a rival to Texas.
The Longhorns have always considered Texas A&M and Oklahoma their rivals and don’t seem to get worked up any more than they do for Kansas or Oklahoma State when the Razorbacks show up. If Arkansas ever did squeeze in as a weak No. 3 at some point during the ’80s, it’s time for Razorbacks fans to accept that won’t be the case when the Hogs and Horns are paired up in the SEC beginning next season. That’s because Alabama has already long surpassed Arkansas on the Longhorns’ radar. All the ingredients are there for the Tide to lock in as a solid permanent No. 3 the Razorbacks will never be able to crack. For starters, Texas was resurrected under Nick Saban reclamation project Steve Sarkisian, who helped the Tide win a national championship in 2020.
Under his guidance, the Longhorns took a heart-breaking loss in Austin, then got revenge this past season in Tuscaloosa that forced Alabama to fight uphill all year for a playoff spot. When the season ended without a national championship rematch between the two programs, Saban retired. Although it was tempting to steal Sarkisian from Texas, Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne went one better. He went out and landed the Longhorn killer, Kalen DeBoer. Washington knocked off Texas each of the past two seasons, including a win in the Sugar Bowl this past season to advance to the national championship game.
So, Texas was left with the need to answer. And what better way to do that than by stealing the guy who made the second most famous play in Iron Bowl history. While Auburn will always hold the crown with “Kick Six” when it comes to most improbable game-winner, Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond will forever live a close second with “Gravedigger.” With Alabama’s hopes of an SEC championship fading because an upstart Auburn team and a national title run on life support because of Texas,
Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe stepped into a throw on 4th & 31 with 43 seconds remaining that hung in the air forever. On the other end, Bond feigned forward in the end zone to draw his defender up, then surged backward to create separation and come down with the game-winning catch. Two games and one coaching retirement later, Sarkisian invited Bond to “The 40 Acres” and stole the man who would likely never have to pay for food in Tuscaloosa again right out from under the Tide.
Now, the Longhorn killer has to make his way toward a potential revenge showdown with Texas in the SEC title game without one of its biggest weapons. And, even if DeBoer can get Alabama to Atlanta, there’s a chance this season’s heroic legend becomes next year’s villainous nightmare. Arkansas can’t compete with that. All they have is a win in Fayetteville over a Texas team that finished with a losing record and a lot of confusion as to why Arkansas stormed the field. Perhaps some things will happen that will allow the Razorbacks to become a bit of a nuisance for the Longhorns, but the best Hog fans can ever hope is to one day be No. 4 in their hearts. Perhaps it’s time for Arkansas to resign itself to the rivalry everyone keeps trying to force upon it. Sure, Hogs fans don’t care much about Missouri, but at least there are good reasons to think of them as rivals. Annoying hometown boy becomes insufferable head coach. Beating the Razorbacks on a regular basis. Stealing the state’s top recruit. It’s more than Arkansas has with Texas and at least Mizzou really gets worked up about the Hogs. For once, the Razorbacks can know what it’s like to be No. 1 in something when it comes to football. No need in lowering themselves to fighting for fourth best for the sake of old timers still hung up on how they used to get in their feelings a half century ago. arkansas_divider.
