After a disappointing loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, the Razorbacks are determined to correct their mistakes and make a statement in their home opener against UAB on Saturday. While the team has taken full responsibility for their performance, they know that words alone won’t fix the issues. A convincing victory at Razorback Stadium will be the true measure of whether they’ve learned from last week’s errors.
On paper, a win against UAB may seem likely, but this season has already proven unpredictable in college football. With Northern Illinois upsetting Notre Dame in South Bend, it’s clear that anything can happen, and Arkansas can’t afford to overlook their opponent.
“We need to play better as a team,” wide receiver Andrew Armstrong admitted during limited media availability this week. “We beat ourselves. You can look at the stats, everybody can look at the stats that didn’t even watch the game and be like, ‘How did they lose?’ It’s those three turnovers that they’re not looking at. It’s the small things like that that just can turn a whole game around.”
While turnovers were a major factor in the Razorbacks’ loss, the team is aware that other, less obvious mistakes also contributed. A missed pass to a wide-open running back on a wheel route, which could have resulted in an easy touchdown, was just one of several missteps. Beyond the turnovers, missed assignments and execution errors plagued the team, undermining their efforts on the field.
“We beat ourselves,” Armstrong emphasized. “Nobody can really be mad at us but us.”
The players know the fans are frustrated, but they’re just as disappointed with their performance. However, the real question is whether the team can turn that frustration into action.
In recent seasons, similar apologies and admissions of fault haven’t always translated into wins, and that’s what ultimately matters to fans. Saturday’s game offers the Razorbacks an opportunity to not only earn a victory but to demonstrate real improvement on the field. A strong showing against UAB could restore confidence and set the tone for the rest of the season, proving that the team is serious about fixing what went wrong and moving forward.
