On a picture-perfect night in Memphis, Tennessee, the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders met on the field of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for the 66th annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl game. In what felt like a home game for the Razorbacks of Arkansas, the Hogs jumped out on the Red Raiders early and turned up the heat in the second half, burying Texas Tech as the 4th quarter rolled around.

Despite the off-the-field noise with copious amounts of transfers, Arkansas came into the 66th AutoZone Liberty Bowl on a mission to make a statement that the future of Razorbacks Football under the leadership of Coach Sam Pittman is still alive and doing well.

Arkansas jumped out on Texas Tech early, building a 21-3 lead over the Red Raiders at the end of the first quarter. Texas Tech responded with 16 points of their own to make things interesting at the half, with Arkansas holding on to a 24-19 lead.

As the halftime curtain rolled away, Arkansas smelled blood in the water, expanding the lead to 34-19 over the Red Raiders. At the start of the 4th, Arkansas had pinned the Red Raiders inside the two-yard line, ending the drive for Texas Tech with a safety, expanding the Arkansas lead to 36-19 with 14:18 remaining in the game. The safety caused by the Arkansas defensive unit was the second safety of the game. Arkansas would seal the deal with a little over nine minutes remaining in the game with another interception and a good return that gave the Razorback’s offensive unit a good field position to put the game on ice. Arkansas would walk away with nothing on the drive, holding the lead to 39-19 over the Red Raiders.

Needing a miracle, Texas Tech marched down the field and scored a touchdown with 3:06 on the clock to cut into the Arkansas lead by a score of 39-26. However, the Razorbacks were too much for the Red Raiders as they cruised to a 39-26 win in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

With the win over Texas, Coach Coach Pittman and Arkansas finished the season with 7th win and a third straight bowl win. Coach Pittman improves to 3-0 postseason, with two wins in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Like many others, Arkansas will shift the focus to filling the roster for the 2025 season as the Razorbacks build off the 66th AutoZone Liberty Bowl win over the Red Raiders while looking to the 2025 season as the season of breakthrough for the program. 2025 will be the 6th season under the leadership of Coach Pittman. Folks in Arkansas will be content with three bowl wins in six seasons as the program takes another step to return to national relevance.

Arkansas will open the 2025 season at home on August 30th against Alabama A&M.

Photo Credits – Arkansas and Texas Tech Football on X