Photo: Walt Beazley, UA Athletics
Arkansas will face a familiar foe on the gridiron during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Former Southwest Conference opponents Texas Tech will be back on the Hogs’ schedule for the first time since 1991 in a new home-and-home series, the UA announced Wednesday.
“With the Texas Tech series, we are renewing a Southwest Conference rivalry and strengthening our non-conference schedule while gaining valuable exposure in Texas,” said Jeff Long, UA athletic director. “With the landscape of the college football postseason changing, it is imperative that we schedule competitive non-conference matchups that will benefit our program.”
The Razorbacks are set to travel to Lubbock, Texas on Sept. 13, 2014, and will host the Red Raiders in Fayetteville on Sept. 19, 2015.
Arkansas leads the all-time series 28-7, including a 15-2 edge in Lubbock and a 6-2 mark in Fayetteville.
Both the Razorbacks and the Red Raiders will introduce new head coaches in the 2013 season. Arkansas will be under the leadership of new head coach Bret Bielema. The Red Raiders recently hired former Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury as its head coach.
“The addition of Texas Tech gives us a quality non-conference opponent for the first two years when the world of college football changes with the playoffs in 2014,” Bielema said. “We anticipate strength of schedule being a factor in deciding which teams are selected and feel adding Texas Tech to our already strong conference schedule puts us in a great position in that regard.”
