Red Wolves take on the Razorbacks September 6, 4PM at War Memorial Stadium
The day is upon us, and however you may feel about it, you 100% feel something about it. Excitement. Loathing. Vindication. Anticipation. Anxiety. Relief. Disdain. Pick an emotion; anything but indifference. On September 6, the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Arkansas Razorbacks meet on a football field for the very first time, a true treat for the entire state. Brad Bobo, A-State Associate AD for Marketing and Fan Engagement, summed it up well: Well, sports fans, we’ve made it from never gonna happen, to probably never gonna happen, to maybe someday, to four years from now … to Saturday.
In recent years, Red Wolves have met Razorbacks for baseball, women’s basketball, and soccer exhibiting nothing but good sportsmanship and the spirit of competition. But Saturday is different. Football is heavier, the feels are tender. For decades, the Razorbacks have dismissed the possibility of playing the game. For an equal amount of time, Arkansas State fans have chided them for it. It was never a question of equality – nobody pretends that the University of Arkansas isn’t bigger, better financed, and better resourced than Arkansas State. Nobody disputes the depth of the fanbase or dismisses the program’s successes. Arkansas State only wanted the respect of one state’s sports program acknowledging the existence of another.
The Moment Will Not Be Too Big for Red Wolves QB Jaylen Raynor
Now in his third year, Raynor has gone from freshman wunderkind to a seasoned leader of men. He’s enjoyed the accolades that come with overachievement, and he’s learned to carry the overbearing weight of high expectations. On Saturday’s opener with Southeast Missouri State, Raynor proved himself in midseason form, completing 26/32 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns. It was a significant reverse from last season, when Raynor struggled early with deep balls thrown short and blown laterals.
Rayner looks more physical. On several occasions, the 6’0″ 202 quarterback shook off Redhawks defensive linemen to execute big plays (something that head coach Butch Jones said he likely won’t get away with the next two weeks). When plays broke down, he seemed more comfortable tucking and running – at one point he lowered a shoulder and took on a cornerback.
On Saturday, Raynor will be the most important Red Wolf on the field. His experience will be his greatest asset. He’s stared down some good defenses in the past, such as Iowa State, Michigan, South Alabama, Louisiana and Marshall. The Razorbacks will bring similar talent, bu they didn’t exactly terrorize their opposing quarterback on Saturday – just two sacks – but Arkansas will be the first SEC pass rush Raynor has seen. Defensive tackle Cam Ball, a 6’5″ 325 senior, is a preseason All-SEC Third-Team defender. Raynor won’t be hip-tossing Ball.
If the offensive line can keep Raynor clean long enough to deal, he’s shown us that he can get multiple weapons involved early on – whether its to speedy receiver Chauncy Cobb (5 receptions, 85 yards), reliable playmaker Corey Rucker (59 yards and a score) or backfield multi-threat JaQuez Cross (5 receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown). In all, 10 receivers made a Raynor connection on Saturday, leaving plenty for the Razorbacks to plan for.
Run the Damn Ball? Run the DAMN BALL!
On Saturday, the Red Wolves made good use of a deep running back room, giving Devin Spencer (5’10” 185), JaQuez Cross (5’9″ 190) and Kenyon Clay (6’1″ 220) touchdown carries. Cross was especially versatile, running for 36 yards and receiving 33 more, collecting both a rushing and receiving TD. The Red Wolves will not hesitate to test the Razorbacks trench defense, and they have plenty of bodies to keep legs fresh.
UPDATE: Cross Out of the Season
JaQuez Cross, who accounted for two touchdowns on Saturday against Southeast Missouri State, sustained an ACL injury during practice and will be out for the remainder of the season.
The Razorbacks Have Players Who Make Plays
Last Saturday, the Red Wolves hosted Southeast Missouri State, last year’s Ohio Valley champion and picked to finish third this season. The Razorbacks also hosted an FCS foe, Alabama A&M, who finished 6-6 last year and is expected to place fourth in the SWAC East in 2025. For both the Red Wolves and Razorbacks, the first quarter ended with a less than desirable score.
Arkansas State and Arkansas flexed moving forward, with the Hogs dusting Alabama A&M 52-7 while the Red Wolves coasted to a 42-24 victory. The wins showed that, if anything, both programs were prepped well enough to take care of Week 1 business.
“They’re payroll is about $17 million more than ours,” half-joked Coach Jones, referencing the Razorbacks during the Redhawks post-game presser. In the age of unlimited transferring and NIL, the advantage goes to the SEC, who shares a problem with Walter White when it comes to figuring out what to do with all their surplus cash.
Still, only one Razorback was named to an All-SEC Preseason Team, the before-mentioned Cam Ball. But in a conference overloaded with NFL talent like the SEC, that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Hog quarterback Taylen Green (6’6″, 224 senior) threw six touchdowns on Saturday and probably expects to throw six more this weekend. His favorite target, the awesomely monikered O’Mega Blake (6’2 182 senior) hauled in seven receptions for 121 yards and a score.
Alabama A&M didn’t provide too much challenge for the Arkansas defense, managing to convert on just one third-down and mustering a mere 235 yards of offense. On A&M’s one scoring drive, the Bulldogs executed several first-down passes – but floundered for the remainder of the game. Green, who participated in the Manning Quarterback Academy with Raynor during the offseason, enjoyed a relaxing Saturday of padding his stats.
Defense Will Dictate the Game’s Quality
Admittedly, when the Redhawks marched down the field with little resistance to match the Red Wolves opening touchdown, I was ready to check myself into a European wellness clinic. Did observers of Arkansas feel the same about that Alabama A&M opening drive?
Yeah, there were probably some Razorbacks overreactions, too. However, both defenses settled in after allowing opening possession touchdowns. Arkansas State’s starting defense recorded four consecutive three-and-outs and would only allow three points to the Redhawks (SEMO would score two dignity touchdowns late on A-State’s twos and threes). Red Wolves recorded three sacks and six TFL, wearing down SEMO’s big offensive line.
Both the Red Wolves and the Razorbacks enter War Memorial Stadium bearing sizzling hot offenses. Arkansas State put up 495 yards of offense and six scores on Southeast Missouri State. In turn, the Razorbacks scored seven touchdowns on 563 yards of offense, spreading the ball to 10 different receivers and handing the rock to five different runners (excluding QBs). Everybody got a taste.
Whoever brings the D will see the victory. Both defenses, at times, had trouble preventing chunk pass plays. The Red Wolves, in particular, got sizzled for a sixty-yard scoring reception from SEMO’s Donnie Cheers, a receiver with elite speed. The Razorbacks don’t lack in elite speed. The Red Wolves secondary is experienced, but not well versed with the Red Wolves – lots of transfer athletes, including AG McGhee from Marshall and Avante Dickerson from Utah State. The game against SEMO gave both a good opportunity to gel, with the two combining for ten tackles.
While maintaining some law in the backfield is important to the Red Wolves, creating chaos on the defensive line is vital for Arkansas State’s success on Saturday. Cody Sigler (6’3″ 297), Ethan Hassler (6’2″ 247), and Drew Collins (6’4″ 238) played well against SEMO. The Red Wolves will need trenchmen like Bryan Whitehead, Marcus Bradley and Simeon Mitchell to step up an put pressure on the QB.
Emerging Super Star: Nigel Nelson, Freshman Linebacker
Butch Jones typically targets freshman for a redshirt, but ever so often a talent is just too good too sit. Nigel Nelson, a 5’11 220 pound linebacker and three-star prospect from Pensacola, slipped beneath the radar over the off season – until appearing on the 24/7 True Freshman All American list. He made his presence further known on Saturday by leading the defense in total tackles with 10. Nelson is among a linebacker group that has shown flashes of become true run-stoppers this season. Keep an eye on this rising star.
Does Arkansas State Have a Powerful Tight End 1-2 Punch?
Since losing Seydou Traore to the transfer portal, the tight end as an offensive weapon has remained largely unconsidered by the Red Wolves offense. This season, Arkansas State has a surplus of pass catching talent in Tyler Little (6’4″ 230) and Tyler Fortenberry (6’4″ 240). Both of these big targets made big catches for hard yards on Saturday. We haven’t seen the game plan, but I suspect both Tylers will factor plenty on September 6.
UPDATE: The Threads
What Are the Red Wolves Chances?
Vegas has Arkansas anywhere from a 21.5 to a 23.5 favorite, and after watching a supposedly down Mississippi State team truck Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, one has to consider that SEC speed, size and depth is simply too much for Sun Belt programs to handle. Also, Butch Jones’ A-State teams have yet to put together a truly competitive game against a P4 opponent. That’s not great!
That said, this is a game that Arkansas State wants, and not really a game Arkansas wants (though most fans of both teams seem to truly appreciate the game’s existence). The bulk of the public relations risk falls on the Razorbacks, whose superiority is fueled by a fawning media that has protected egos for decades. Now is the time for put-up, and that can be a lot of pressure.
But it’s not as if the stakes aren’t high for Arkansas State. Fans aren’t arriving to War Memorial for the cheese dip and beer. They want a victory. They expect competent football. Better yet, they expect competitive football, winning football, and it matters very little that the Red Wolves are the clear underdog. What matters is that Arkansas disrespected Arkansas State with a cartoonishly pretend reason for dodging the game. Now the game is here, and it’s time for put-up, and that can be a lot of pressure.
But maybe I’m looking at this the wrong way. As the wise Tony Stark once said, “Resentment is toxic.” Somewhere beneath the NIL money, the enormous broadcast packages, and the greedy realignments, college football is supposed to be fun. This particular game is supposed to be fun. Two fan bases that never mixed-and-mingled will do so for the very first time on Saturday. We shall see the ceremonial offering of beers and the exchanging of handshakes. We will all bear witness to the fellowship and sportsmanship that college sports was intended to deliver. On Saturday, I will warmly welcome a fanbase that had previously felt my cold shoulder. Nobody is running anymore. Visit my tent, and I shall serve you a beer with my own hand.
Does Arkansas State have a chance to win? Absolutely. But then again, so does Arkansas. Just this one time, one program will have a chance to prove themselves the better team.
Images belong to me
Howlraiser 