Sam Pittman emphatically pushes back on playing Arkansas State in Little Rock moving forward

Arkansas is set to play at Arkansas State for the first-time ever in the second game of the season this fall in Little Rock. If the series is to continue, though, Sam Pittman wants it to be in Fayetteville from here on.

Pittman was asked about the Razorbacks’ game with the Red Wolves while at the podium at SEC Media Days in Atlanta on Thursday. He made it very clear in his answer how he felt about playing that game anywhere else than at Razorback Stadium moving forward.

“No. No. No, no. I want to play them in Fayetteville,” stated Pittman. “That’s what I want to do. You ask me what I want. If we’re going to play Arkansas State, I want to play them at home.”

Again, this year will be the first time the schools have ever played against one another despite being in-state and right around three hours apart with less than 200 miles between Fayetteville and Jonesboro. That first-ever matchup is scheduled on August 6th with a kickoff at the neutral site War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock at 5 p.m. EST, 4 p.m. CT with it set to stream on ESPN+/SECN+.

Arkansas State is entering year five in the tenure of Butch Jones, who has former experience in the SEC as head coach at Tennessee along with a three-year stop in a role at Alabama under Nick Saban. Jones is 19-31 (.380) with the Red Wolves but has improved their record in every season he has been there, with them most recently posting a finish at 8-5 in 2024.

However, Pittman noted that this is a one-time thing for the two programs. His only consideration for continuing it moving forward would be if it’s on their home field instead of anywhere else.

“Right now under contract, we’re in our last year at Little Rock,” said Pittman. “You know, now, whatever the governor decides, that’s what she decides. But, right now, we’re in our last year at Little Rock so it’d have to be either there or here and I’m not, I’m not real interested in going over there and playing.”