Sam Pittman sends a message to Arkansas fans upset by team's struggles

Arkansas opened the 2025 campaign strong with blowout victories over Alabama A&M (52-7) and Arkansas State (56-14). Since then however, the Hogs have dropped back-to-back games to No. 17 Ole Miss and Memphis. The two consecutive losses have sunk Arkansas to 2-2 overall and 32-33 under head coach Sam Pittman.

The one step forward, two steps backward pattern has really soured fans on Pittman as the correct man to lead the Arkansas football program forward. The Razorbacks have won at least eight games in a season just once in five full seasons under Pittman and have lost 16 of their last 29 games dating back to 2023.

A major opportunity however presents itself this weekend when Arkansas hosts No. 22 Notre Dame at home inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Under Pittman, the Hogs are 7-23 against ranked opponents. He sent a message to Arkansas fans upset by the team’s struggles on Monday.

“Get on out here because we’re excited about this game,” Pittman said. “We’re not backing into the door. We obviously think we have a great chance of winning the game and if they want to see Notre Dame, they ought to get to the game. They’ll see a really good Arkansas team as well.”

Paul Finebaum says ‘the writing is on the wall’ for Sam Pittman

Arkansas seemed to be on its way to a 3-1 start, as it was driving down the field trailing Memphis 32-31 with just under two minutes remaining. On 2nd & 2 from the Tiger nine-yard line however, Razorback running back Mike Washington Jr. fumbled and handed the ball back over to Memphis with 1:18 remaining.

The Hogs forced a 3rd & 8 from the nine-yard line with 59 seconds remaining, but Memphis running back Arrington Maiden churned for an 11-yard gain to effectively end the game.

In the loss, quarterback Taylen Green turned in yet another masterful performance. He completed 18/34 passes for 325 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Through four games this season, Green boasts 1,191 passing yards (360 rushing yards) and 12 passing touchdowns (two rushing touchdowns).

With Green leading the offense, the Hogs are averaging 45 points per game. Their defense however is allowing 33 points per game against P4 opponents.

“I think it’s pretty rough,” ESPN‘s Paul Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “I mean, I had somebody call me yesterday, ‘have you heard about Arkansas?; And I said, ‘No, I haven’t heard a thing.’ But you lose a game like that. I mean, the writing’s on the wall there, except you got Notre Dame this week. It’s one of the most anticipated games in modern Arkansas history. So you get through that, and you look at the schedule (and it likely won’t pan out).”

Kick-off between the Irish and Razorbacks is scheduled for 12:00 PM on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ABC.