Top 5 Games of 2024 Hogs' Baseball Schedule

With seven games against Top 25 teams, Arkansas Razorbacks fans have plenty of viewing options

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jan 22, 2024 5:27 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With no basketball worth watching over the weekend to speak of, Arkansas fans were left riding out the cold next to the warmth of a fireplace staring out at the snow imagining how far off baseball must be from such a scene.

However, the reality is the first pitch of the season is just a few weeks away. That's because when it comes to college baseball in the South, the boys of summer start swinging the bats in the dead of winter. James Madison rolls into what will likely be a chilly Fayetteville just three weeks from now.

With no Texas, Tennessee, nor Vanderbilt on the schedule to get the Razorbacks faithful's blood boiling, a little guidance may be needed as to which games and series are must-watch television this year. As always, allHogs is here to help.

So, here are the Top 5 teams Arkansas fans need to set aside time to watch the Razorbacks play.

#5
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
^{Fayetteville, Ark.}^{April 16-17}

Alabama technically comes into the season ranked higher than the Red Raiders, and typically an SEC match-up would be more intriguing because of what's on the line, but games in Tuscaloosa are boring to watch on TV for some reason, and there's also a personal element to facing No. 21 Texas Tech.

Dave Van Horn swiped a full battery from the Red Raiders in the offseason by picking up left-handed pitcher Mason Molina and catcher Hudson White out the transfer portal. Molina was the man in Lubbock. He was All-Big 12, made the All-Regional team down in Gainesville last postseason, and led the Red Raiders in wins, ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched.

Meanwhile, White was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention last season and a former Freshman All-American while catching at Texas Tech. The players who stayed behind will not only be chomping at the bit to make a name off the Razorbacks in their own stadium, but also prove to Molina and White they made the wrong decision by jumping ship.

#4
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
^{College Station, Texas}^{MAY 16-18}

The Razorbacks close the regular season against the Aggies in a series that could possibly decide the SEC regular season championship provided neither team suffers a lot of injuries. Texas A&M starts the season ranked No. 8.

The Aggies reeled in the No. 4 transfer class in the country. Included in that mix is Braden Montgomery, who figures to be among the most well-known players in the SEC by year's end. Not only is he a massive threat to go yard at any moment while also hitting for a high average, the 6-foot-2, 220 pound multi-tool player also happens to be a pitcher with stuff in the mid-90s and a feisty change-up.

#3
OREGON STATE BEAVERS
^{Arlington, Texas}^{FEB. 23}

No number of wins over Oregon State will quench the pain of having to relive the pop fly drop in the national championship series over and over again every time the Razorbacks make the College World Series. However, getting a win over the No. 7 ranked Beavers goes a long way to finally exercising those demons.

Second baseman Travis Bazanna, an Australian transplanted to the Great Northwest, will carry the clout of being the No. 3 college prospect in next year's draft according to MLB.com. He's the perfect combination of power and speed, batting .374 while boasting 36 steals. He tore up the Cape Cod League in the offseason, walking away not only with the batting title (.375), but also with the MVP trophy.

#2
LSU TIGERS
^{Fayetteville, Ark.}^{MARCH 28-30}

A lot of people are probably a little surprised to see LSU at No. 2, and it's a fair question. With no Tennessee or Vanderbilt on the list, it seemed like a no-brainer to slide the Tigers in at No. 1, but this season may be slightly different.

Yes, the great pig killer, Tommy White is back at third base in Baton Rouge as the No. 8 most coveted college baseball MLB pick. Yes, Thatcher Hurd finally remembered the pitching skills he left back at UCLA in the latter part of last season as he figured out how to throw a high 90s fastball and a mind-bending slider in the postseason.

However, without Paul Skenes in the rotation for LSU this year, there's one explosive team Razorbacks fans need to plan to see if the choice is between late March and late April baseball viewing in Northwest Arkansas.

#1
FLORIDA GATORS
^{Fayetteville, Ark.}
^{APRIL 26-28}

The series that is expected to be the blockbuster of blockbuster series of the entire regular season in all of college baseball is No. 2 Florida vs. No. 3 Arkansas. There is not projected to be a higher match-up anywhere else prior to the possibly the College World Series.

Remember Braden Montgomery a few spots back trying to do his best Shohei Ohtani impersonation? Well, the SEC already has its own Ohtani, and it's unlikely Montgomery matches him by season's end.

Jac Caglianone is a 6-foot-5, 245 pound beast of a man who doubles Montgomery's home run power from the left side. Plus, in addition to a .735 slugging percentage, he will likely go head-to-head with Hagan Smith on the mound. That's because Caglianone brings a 99 mph fastball with a complementary change-up that brought him a solid 4.34 ERA last season.

If that match-up takes place, fans will be watching a battle between two of the Top 4 most sought-after pitchers in all of college baseball.