On Saturday, Arkansas (2-2) and No. 22 Notre Dame (1-2) will meet for the first time inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. Former Arkansas and Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz will be in attendance for a first-of-its-kind matchup that features two teams desperately searching for answers early in the season. Here’s what you need to know going into Saturday’s matchup in the Ozarks.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Matchup History
There is none.
These two programs have never played each other. The Hogs and Fighting Irish were scheduled to meet in 2020 in South Bend, but that game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Arkansas and Notre Dame are scheduled to play at Notre Dame in 2028.
Arkansas vs. Notre Dame 2025 Preview
Key Players: Arkansas
It may sound old at this point, but everything Arkansas does starts and ends with Taylen Green.
Any noise Green was making in the Heisman conversation was understandably muffled following Arkansas’ 32-31 loss to Memphis in Week 4, in which Green threw two interceptions. However, there are still plenty of reasons for Hog fans to love their starting quarterback.
Green is eighth in the country in passing yards with 1191, and he’s already thrown 12 touchdowns. Add in his 360 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and you have a quarterback who is a Heisman favorite. That is, if Arkansas doesn’t fumble on its final possession against both Ole Miss and Memphis. Yet with that said, there’s potential for Green to have a career day against a reeling Notre Dame defense.
On defense, Arkansas has struggled mightily early in the season. However, cornerback Julian Neal has been a bright spot for the Hogs. Neal already has 22 tackles to his credit, and also boasts a pair of interceptions (one against Arkansas State on Sept. 6, and one against Memphis on Sept. 20). Arkansas will need Neal to have another big day if they’re going to keep the Irish in check.
Key Players: Notre Dame
Quarterback CJ Carr hasn’t been as explosive as Green, but he’s still put up stellar numbers through three contests for Notre Dame. Carr has thrown for 737 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. And against a poor Arkansas defense, he could also be set up for a career day that would put him on the national radar.
Defensively, lineman Boubacar Traore has wreaked havoc for the Fighting Irish when few of his teammates have done their part. Traore already has two sacks to his credit this season. If he can get pressure on Green, it may be a long day at the office for the Arkansas quarterback.
How Arkansas wins
Keep control of the game.
If Arkansas is going to bounce back from a humiliating loss to Memphis, they must put the loss out of their minds. The team has to come out on Saturday with their foot through the floorboard.
Winning close games is not a characteristic of Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman. And while it’s frustrating for fans to not believe in their team down the stretch, that’s the reality Arkansas finds itself in. If the Hogs can somehow snag a two-possession lead at any point, they can’t afford to relinquish it.
How Notre Dame wins
Quiet the Fayetteville faithful.
Razorback stadium will still be buzzing with 76,000 fans on Saturday despite consecutive Razorback losses. But if Notre Dame can strike early and often, they can neutralize the home crowd and give themselves the opportunity to keep their foot on Arkansas’ neck.
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