3 things to know as Texas football renews rivalry with Arkansas

As soon as the University of Texas joining the SEC became official in 2021, one obvious factor was brought up.

The Longhorns would be gaining two old conference rivals back. One is Texas A&M, which the Longhorns play Nov. 30 in College Station, the other is Arkansas, which Texas will face Saturday at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Texas-Arkansas was once a monstrous, every-season thing, and it is primed to be that again.

Here are three things to know as Texas, 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the SEC, prepares to meet its old friend.

A rivalry renewed When Texas and Arkansas play Saturday morning , it will mark the first meeting between them as members of the same conference since 1991, which is the same year the Razorbacks left the now-defunct Southwest Conference for the SEC.

That was the beginning of the end for the SWC, with Texas, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M all becoming charter members of the Big 12 in 1996.

The Longhorns and Razorbacks have only played six times since 1991. Two of those six games were the 2000 Cotton Bowl and the 2014 Texas Bowl. The most recent meeting, a 40-21 Arkansas win in 2021, was originally supposed to be played in 2014, but was moved due to Big 12 and SEC scheduling conflicts. That 2014 game getting moved allowed the Texas Bowl matchup to happen that season.

"I always jokingly say this, but when you go to Arkansas, I think almost at times, they hate Texas more than they like themselves," Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days . "That's a real rivalry, that's when you know you're in a real rivalry. "I know so much has been made of us getting to play A&M again, but the fact that we get to play Arkansas again is awesome."

Quinn Ewers is playing at a high level The redshirt junior went 19-for-27 for 333 yards, five touchdowns , and zero interceptions Saturday against Florida.

Over the Longhorns' last two games, Ewers has thrown for 621 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions, both of which came off tipped balls Oct. 26 at Vanderbilt.

Much was made after the Commodores win about Ewers looking like "Checkdown Charlie," meaning his numbers in Nashville were the byproduct of short passes and his skill-position guys doing the heavy lifting. Either way, the play calling against Florida was more aggressive, featuring more medium throws and more shots down the field.

Yes, Ewers is the beneficiary of wide receivers that can make defenders miss and create in space, but he is doing what he is asked to do, which is play smart, not turn the ball over, and when needed, make a throw. No one should be arguing with 333 yards and five touchdowns in a 32-point SEC win.

Texas' road to Atlanta Going into last weekend, the tiebreaker situation in the SEC was a bit convoluted, but from a Texas perspective, things have clarified after some things broke its way.

If the Longhorns win their final three regular-season games Saturday at Arkansas, Nov. 23 vs. Kentucky, and Nov. 30 against Texas A&M, they are going to the SEC Championship Dec. 7 in Atlanta. A loss over that three-game span effectively eliminates Texas from SEC contention.

Unless chaos comes calling over the final three weeks of the regular season, Georgia's second conference loss Saturday at Ole Miss means the Bulldogs will not get to Atlanta. LSU took a second conference loss Saturday at home to Alabama, so the Tigers are also likely out.

The only teams with one SEC loss are Texas, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. The Vols have the toughest remaining conference schedule of the three, with a trip to Georgia Saturday and a trip to Vanderbilt Nov. 30.

The Aggies play at Auburn Nov. 23, and host Texas Nov. 30.

The possibility exists that Texas and Texas A&M will both be 6-1 in the SEC when they meet Nov. 30 in College Station, with the winner getting to Atlanta.