Arkansas and Oklahoma State resume historic rivalry: What to know
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Arkansas Head Football Coach Sam Pittman and Oklahoma State Head Football Coach Mike Gundy. Photos: Wesley Hitt/Getty and Brian Bahr/Getty
Face it — football is likely the topic today.
Why it matters: Saturday's game is the first time the Arkansas Razorbacks will square off with the Oklahoma State Cowboys since 1980, when the Hogs won 33-20 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
- And, it's offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino's first real live test since re-joining the Razorback Nation late last fall.
(Yes, technically, the season opened with the first game against the UA Pine Bluff Golden Lions on Aug. 29, but c'mon. 70-0 is not a contest.)
What to know: The series between the two teams dates to 1912. Arkansas leads the series 30 to 15 — they tied in 1946.
- Of those games, Saturday will be only the 10th time the teams have played in Stillwater.
- Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy has never faced Arkansas and Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman has never faced Oklahoma State.
- Oklahoma State football is almost all Gundy has ever done.
The match: The Cowboys are a 7.5-point favorite with total points scored predicted to be 62.5.
- ESPN analytics leans toward OSU 56% to Arkansas 44%.
- OSU is ranked No. 16 on the AP poll this week; Arkansas is unranked.
The bottom line: The game airs on ABC at 11am Saturday and on Sirius XM Radio channel 374.
Go deeper:
- Head to Head: Comparing Arkansas football, Oklahoma State at each position (Whole Hog Sports)
- Three Things to Know about Oklahoma State's Week 2 Opponent Arkansas (Pistols Firing)
- Oklahoma State Breakdown with Matt Scott (The Razorback Daily podcast)
What to know about Stillwater if you're heading to the game
Not everyone in NWA is familiar with Stillwater — Arkansas hasn't played there since 1975 — here are a few pointers.
Entertainment
The original Hideaway Pizza is there and is far better than any of the chain-ified spots you'll find in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
- Gamers may remember the board game Pente. It was developed at Hideaway in 1977 by Gary Gabrel who worked there.
Eskimo Joe's is a must-see. Now entering its 50th year, the food is OK, and the t-shirts ubiquitous.
Tradition
Pistol Pete is the name of the mascot which is based on Frank Eaton, a U.S. deputy marshal who learned to shoot guns to avenge the death of his father.
- Fans use a forefinger and thumb to mimic pistols firing.
- "Go Pokes" is the parallel to "Wooo Pig Sooie!"
- All the buildings on campus appear to be made of the same colored brick.
Tarantulas
Watch the road going and coming.
- It's near mating season for brown tarantulas, native to Oklahoma.
💠Worth's thought bubble: The weirdest thing I've ever seen were hundreds of them running across a road as I rolled into town for a slice of pizza.