Arkansas Avoids Crimson Tide Gold Standard with New Hire

After 17 straight losses, the SEC is kind to Hogs in roundabout way

Author:
Jacob Davis
Publish date:
Jan 12, 2024 4:33 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With the hiring of Washington’s Kalen DeBoer, Alabama is ready to continue their winning standard. There’s not another team in the conference happier to see the Crimson Tide fall off their regular season slate more than Arkansas and Sam Pittman.

The Razorbacks have lost 17 straight games to the Crimson Tide dating back to 2007, Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa. If any school ever wanted to beat Alabama during the Nick Saban tenure it was always Arkansas. Crushing defeats like 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2021-2023 made the disdain for the SEC giants grow each year.

While the close losses continue to add up it’s certainly no promise that the losing streak will be snapped any time soon. DeBoer has been a FBS head coach for only four seasons and is 25-3 in two seasons with the Huskies.

Like DJ Khaled says, “all we do is win.” That’s specifically what DeBoer does and will continue to do at Alabama. In nine seasons as a head coach, he has been to a national championship at some level five times. He is a coach that uses the transfer portal to lure talented players across the country. Plus, he has a track record of developing players in-house.

What Alabama seemed to bring was being an incredible draw for Arkansas home atmospheres every even numbered year. No matter how bad the Razorbacks were, fans showed up in droves.

When Alabama came to Razorback Stadium in 2010, Arkansas had control of the game until midway through the third quarter. Fans kept the environment louder from start to finish than any other game besides Ole Miss in 2016.

Arkansas was in rebuild mode during the 2014 game when it lost to Alabama, 14-13. Fans created a loud atmosphere that nearly wheeled its program back to national relevance. A damp October night made ball security an issue which led to a fumble at the goal line and a missed extra point attempt.

Amidst a 1-4 start to the 2018 season, a season high 68,300 fans attended a 63-35 loss in year one under Chad Morris. Possibly the height of his tenure as head coach.

Whenever the next matchup between the schools may be, Arkansas is lucky not having to play the DeBoer led Tide on a regular basis.