2012 Hog football schedule released

Arkansas will host at least seven in-state games, including conference showdowns with Alabama, Kentucky, Ole Miss and LSU as part of the 2012 football tentative schedule released on Wednesday.

The 2012 schedule features 11 games with a 12th game still to be added to round out a full non-conference season. (See schedule box at end of story. Also, link here for an analysis of the SEC football scheduling for 2012.)

Sites for all Razorbacks’ home games will be determined after the full schedule has been finalized. The in-state schedule will include at least five games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and two games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

For the first time since 1991, Texas A&M is on the Razorbacks’ schedule as a conference game. The two last met as conference foes in Arkansas’ final season in the Southwest Conference. For the past three seasons, the two programs have played in the Southwest Classic at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M will serve as the home team in this year’s game; however, a site for the game has not yet been determined.

The addition of Texas A&M to the SEC rotation also created an opening in Arkansas’ non-conference schedule. The non-conference opponent and location of the replacement game has not yet been determined.

“Unfortunately there are still several issues to be resolved in our 2012 football schedule, but we wanted to get as much information to our fans as possible so they may begin planning for next season,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. We are pleased to have at least seven home games and possibly eight as part of a very competitive 2012 football schedule.”

“With the addition of Texas A&M and then the late addition of Missouri to the SEC, the conference was in a difficult position in finalizing a league schedule. The delay in the distribution of the conference schedule greatly impacted our ability to finalize our non-conference schedule. Completing the 2012 football schedule has been a challenge.

“While the 2012 conference schedule has been set, additional work must be done to construct future conference football schedules. We will continue to work closely with the SEC to develop future schedules that serve the best interests of the University of Arkansas and all 14 member institutions.”