FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For those under 35, the Arkansas-Texas showdown this Saturday might not seem like the big deal it once was.
But for anyone over 50, it’s clear why this game stirs up so much history—and tension.
The first Razorbacks vs. Longhorns game that left an impression on me was back in 1962, when Texas made a game-saving goal-line stand in a 7-3 win in Austin. Two years later, Arkansas snatched a dramatic 14-13 victory on Texas soil, paving the way for a perfect season.
That win kicked off a three-year streak for the Razorbacks against the Longhorns. One of the most unforgettable was the 1965 game in Fayetteville, where Arkansas built a 20-0 lead, only to watch it slip away as Texas surged ahead. But with just minutes left, quarterback Jon Brittenum, backed by Jim Lindsey’s clutch play, led a late rally, finding receiver Bobby Crockett for a key connection. Brittenum punched it in for the final score and famously vowed to keep running out of the stadium if stopped, as the stadium had little more than a few makeshift bleachers pulled from a nearby baseball field.
A defining moment for many fans was the 1979 game in Little Rock, a long-awaited victory after Arkansas hadn’t beaten Texas since 1971. The conditions were brutal—a rain-soaked field and Texas down to its third-string quarterback after being pummeled by Oklahoma the week before.
Of course, we can’t forget the legendary clashes of 1969 and 1977 in Fayetteville, where three future Hall of Famers—Dan Hampton of Arkansas and Earl Campbell and Steve McMichael of Texas—lit up the field. Arkansas seemed poised for a win, but a controversial missed face mask penalty on Ron Calcagni allowed Campbell to break free and set up the game-winning touchdown.
In the 79 games played between the two, Arkansas has managed to win just 23. And since joining the SEC in 1992, they’ve managed to win only four, with most of those victories coming in meaningless bowl games or when Texas wasn’t at its best.
During Bobby Petrino’s first season, the Longhorns crushed Arkansas 52-10 in Austin, showing exactly what happens when Texas is on top of its game. Now, with Texas eyeing a national championship run, the Longhorns will be more than ready for this game. Meanwhile, Arkansas will be fighting for a better bowl destination than Birmingham or Memphis.
In short, the Razorbacks have their work cut out for them if they want to beat Texas—this time, they’ll need more than just heart; they’ll need a Texas-sized miracle.
