LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas extended its winning streak against Football Championship Subdivision teams to 21 games with the Razorbacks’ 70-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday night at War Memorial Stadium.
Arkansas’ streak started with a 38-0 victory over Missouri State in 2000.
The Razorbacks haven’t lost to an FCS team since The Citadel upset the Razorbacks 10-3 in the 1992 season opener, which resulted in Coach Jack Crowe’s firing the next day by Athletic Director Frank Broyles.
At the time, The Citadel played in the NCAA Division I-AA classification.
It was Arkansas’ first game as a new member of the SEC.
Bobby Petrino, the former Razorbacks head coach from 2008-11 who returned to the program this season as offensive coordinator, was FCS member Missouri State’s coach in 2022 when the Bears lost 38-27 at Arkansas after leading in the fourth quarter.
The Razorbacks were scheduled to play the Bears in 2025 in Fayetteville, but Missouri State canceled the game and paid a $150,000 buyout according to the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader.
Missouri State needed to redo its schedule because the Bears are joining Conference USA starting in the 2025 season.
Arkansas has scheduled Alabama A&M to replace Missouri State on next season’s schedule. That game will be played on Aug. 30 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
New guys
Seven transfer newcomers started for Arkansas on Thursday night against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The starters included quarterback Taylen Green (from Boise State), running back Ja’Quinden Jackson (Utah), offensive tackles Fernando Carmona (San Jose State) and Keyshawn Blackstock (Michigan State), center Addison Nichols (Tennessee), cornerback Marquise Robinson (South Alabama) and nickel back Doneiko Slaughter (Tennessee).
Returning Razorbacks who made their first start included guard E’Marion Harris, defensive end Nico Davillier and safety TJ Metcalf.
No TD, Part I
At first it appeared UAPB quarterback Mekhi Hagens had connected with JaVonnie Gibson on a 61-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
But it ended up officially being a 9-yard sack for Arkansas linebacker Stephen Dix when officials ruled Hagens had stopped out of bounds before throwing the pass, which was confirmed by video replay.
Hagens’ pass had nearly been intercepted by safety Jayden Johnson, but he couldn’t hang onto the ball and it landed in Gibson’s hands, and he ran into the end zone as cornerback Jaylen Braxton tried to strip the ball.
The play set off a wild celebration by the Golden Lions and their fans before they saw the penalty flag.
No TD, Part II
On the very next play after UAPB’s score was nullified, Arkansas lost a touchdown on a punt return by Isaiah Sategna.
Sategna returned a punt from Shea Yurkunas 63 yards for a touchdown, but the touchdown was called back because of a block in the back penalty against Jayden Johnson.
Ramsey kicks
Kyle Ramsey overcame a tough performance in the Razorbacks’ second preseason scrimmage to win the No. 1 kicking job.
The senior transfer from Abilene Christian was 0 of 4 in the scrimmage, missing from 41, 44, 36 and 45.
But afterward Coach Sam Pittman said Ramsey had kicked with a groin injury.
Ramsey healed up and beat out Matthew Shipley in the competition to replace Cam Little, the Razorbacks’ kicker the previous three seasons who is now a rookie with NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
Against UAPB, Ramsey didn’t attempt a field goal, but he hit 10 of 10 extra-point tries.
Ramsey hit 14 of 15 field-goal attempts for Abilene Christian last season.
We decline
Arkansas declined 15-yard penalties to open both halves that were called on UAPB for wearing dark jerseys as a road team in violation of NCAA rules.
Rule 1-5-1(b)3 stipulates visiting teams should wear white jerseys unless given permission by the visiting team to wear dark colors.
The Golden Lions wore all-black uniforms.
An Arkansas official confirmed UAPB was told to wear white jerseys because the Razorbacks wore red jerseys.
Crowd count
The announced attendance for Thursday night’s game was 40,127.
Arkansas drew a crowd of 44,397 in Little Rock last season when the Razorbacks opened with a 56-13 victory over Western Carolina.
When Arkansas beat UAPB 45-3 in 2021 in Little Rock, the crowd was announced at 42,576.
Other recent games in Little Rock had announced attendances of:
• 33,961 for Missouri’s 24-14 victory over the Razorbacks in the 2019 season-finale;
• 51,438 for Ole Miss in 2018;
• 36,055 for Florida A&M in 2017;
• 46,988 for Alcorn State in 2016;
• 49,591 for Toledo in 2015;
• 54,959 for Georgia in 2014;
• 47,358 for Samford and 45,198 for Mississippi State in 2013.
The only Arkansas game scheduled for Little Rock next season is against Arkansas State.
Happy birthday
SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent, who is from North Little Rock, was back in his home area to attend Thursday night’s game.
Vincent also was back home this week to celebrate the 99th birthday of his mother, Margaret Vincent, on Tuesday.
Casual Thursday
With the temperature reading 90 degrees before the game, Arkansas’ marching band wore black shorts and red short-sleeve polo shirts rather than its formal uniforms.
UAPB’s band also dressed for the weather, wearing gray T-shirts and black shorts.
Faster half
With Arkansas leading 49-0 at halftime, it was announced the third and fourth quarters would be cut from 15 to 10 minutes.
In the Rock
The Razorbacks improved to 154-62-4 all-time at War Memorial Stadium. They beat Abilene Christian 40-16 in the stadium’s dedication game on Sept. 18, 1948.
Arkansas’ all-time record in Little Rock is 171-68-5.
