History of Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program began in 1894, coached by John Futrall. The first team played only three games. Before 1909 they were called the Cardinals, and the mascot was a bird. After a 7–0 season in 1909 under Hugo Bezdek, a reporter called the team a “wild band of Razorback hogs.” The nickname stuck, and the student body voted to change the mascot. The “Calling the Hogs” cheer began in the 1920s.
Arkansas joined the Southwest Conference (SWC) as a charter member in 1915. The Razorbacks grew into a strong program, with notable players and a fast, no-huddle style in the early days. They won their first SWC title in the 1930s and played in bowl games in the 1940s. In 1946 they won the SWC again and played LSU in the 1947 Cotton Bowl (the Ice Bowl), a famous scoreless tie preserved by a late tackle. The 1950s brought rising success under Bowden Wyatt and then Frank Broyles, who became a defining figure for the program.
The 1960s are often called Arkansas’ best era. The team won SWC titles, went undefeated in bowl play in 1964, and was named national champion by the FWAA and Helms Foundation, though the AP and UPI crowned Alabama. The Razorbacks stayed competitive through the decade, defeating top teams and appearing in major bowls, including the Sugar Bowl after the famous 1969 game against Texas, known as “The Big Shootout.”
In the 1970s, Broyles’ era continued with strong teams and the 1977 upset of No. 2 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl era under Lou Holtz. Holtz helped raise Arkansas’ national profile, and the 1979 Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama was a notable moment. The 1980s saw continued success under Holtz and then Ken Hatfield, who won two SWC titles in 1988 and 1989 and built a solid program. The Razorbacks moved from the SWC to the SEC in 1992.
In the 1990s, the program faced some struggles but still produced big moments. After Frank Broyles, Danny Ford coached briefly, and then Houston Nutt was hired in 1997. Nutt led the Razorbacks to several winning seasons, multiple bowl appearances, and memorable games, including a 2001 58–56, seven-overtime win over Ole Miss. The team also earned Sugar and Cotton Bowl appearances in the late 1990s.
The 2000s saw ups and downs. Nutt remained coach for several years, but controversies and coaching changes followed. In 2007 Nutt resigned amid turmoil, and Bobby Petrino was hired. Petrino’s era featured strong offenses and a major scandal in 2012, which led to his dismissal.
John L. Smith served briefly as interim coach, and Bret Bielema was hired in 2013. Bielema’s tenure had mixed results, with a few solid seasons but ultimately ended with his firing after the 2017 season.
Chad Morris led the program in 2018–2019 with limited success. Sam Pittman was hired in December 2019 and brought new energy to the program. The 2021 season saw a 9–4 record and a Citrus Bowl-type win in the Outback Bowl against Penn State in 2022. The 2022 season ended with a memorable 55–53 triple-overtime Liberty Bowl victory over Kansas. The 2023 season was challenging at 4–8, and in 2024 Pittman’s staff added Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator. The Razorbacks finished 6–6 in 2024, earning a Liberty Bowl bid.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:26 (CET).