The Arkansas Razorbacks’ dreams of a signature non-conference win were dashed in brutal fashion today, as No. 21 Notre Dame steamrolled them 56-13 in Fayetteville. The Fighting Irish (2-2) dominated from the opening whistle, turning Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium into a house of horrors for the home team (2-3), which managed just 365 total yards against Notre Dame’s suffocating defense. In front of an announced crowd of 75,111, the halftime score of 42-13 prompted a mass exodus of fans, marking one of the most lopsided defeats in recent Hog history.
A First-Half Nightmare: Irish Pour It On
Arkansas won the toss and deferred, but the decision backfired spectacularly. Notre Dame struck first with a 33-yard field goal after a questionable roughing the passer call kept their drive alive, but the Hogs responded with a 39-yard Scott Starzyk boot to tie it at 3-3. That brief hope evaporated as freshman QB CJ Carr—filling in for injured Riley Leonard—tied a Notre Dame record with four touchdown passes, carving up Arkansas’ secondary for 300+ yards. Running back Jeremiyah Love added two rushing TDs and two receiving scores, bullying his way for 150+ all-purpose yards.
The Razorbacks’ offense, led by Taylen Green (180 passing yards, 1 TD), sputtered in the red zone, settling for field goals and a late Isaiah Sategna touchdown catch. Defensively, Arkansas allowed 641 total yards—the most in a home game since 2014—failing to force a turnover in a unit that’s now surrendered 200+ rushing yards in three straight games. By halftime, the Irish led 42-13, and the second half was a formality, with Notre Dame adding two more scores while Arkansas managed a late meaningless TD.
Pittman’s Pain: “We Got Outclassed”
Coach Sam Pittman, already on the hot seat after back-to-back one-point losses to Ole Miss and Memphis, didn’t mince words post-game: “We got outclassed in every phase. No excuses—our execution was poor, and we didn’t fly to the ball like we need to.” The loss drops Arkansas to 0-1 in marquee non-conference games under Pittman and raises questions about the Hogs’ SEC readiness, especially with Auburn looming on October 18.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman, meanwhile, praised his team’s resilience after their own upset loss to Northern Illinois: “CJ stepped up huge, and Jeremiyah was a beast. This was a statement win—we’re back.” The victory catapults the Irish into the top 15 next week, while Arkansas tumbles out of the rankings.
What Went Wrong: Key Stats and Moments
- Offense Stalls: Arkansas averaged just 3.2 yards per carry (down from 5.5 season average) and converted only 4-of-14 third downs.
- Defensive Woes: Notre Dame’s 641 yards included 280 on the ground; the Hogs’ 13 points were their fewest since a 2023 shutout loss to LSU.
- Turnovers and Penalties: A fumble by Raheim Sanders and 10 penalties for 85 yards compounded the misery.
- Bright Spots: Wideout Isaiah Sategna’s 80-yard TD grab provided fleeting excitement, and freshman kicker Scott Starzyk was perfect on two attempts.
Weather was no factor—sunny skies in the mid-70s—but the crowd’s energy deflated early, with chants of “Wooo Pig Sooie” drowned out by Irish cheers.
Looking Ahead: A Tough SEC Road
This 43-point thrashing—the worst home loss for Arkansas since a 2019 Alabama blowout—puts Pittman under the microscope. The Hogs face a gauntlet: home vs. Auburn (Oct. 18), at Texas A&M (Oct. 25), and LSU (Nov. 15). Bowl hopes now hinge on a miracle run, starting with a bounce-back against the Tigers.
For Razorback Nation, today’s embarrassment stings, but it’s a wake-up call. As one fan posted on X: “Rough day in Fayettenam, but we’ll reload. WPS forever.”
