Arkansas
Arkansas AD open to moving 2025 game vs Memphis football because of stadium construction
Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said Monday night that he would be open to moving next season’s Arkansas vs. Memphis football game to Fayetteville if Memphis officials are interested.
“I’d be open to looking at both of our schedules and potentially doing a swap of the dates of the game,” Yurachek said before an appearance at the Memphis Touchdown Club. “If it worked better for them to have the game that was played in Memphis in future years when the stadium is done, I’d be willing to look at moving that game to Fayetteville next year.”
The game is set for Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025. It’s part of a two-for-one deal where the Tigers will travel to Fayetteville for games in 2026 and 2028. But the stadium is in the midst of a $220 million renovation that isn’t scheduled to be completed until after the 2025 season.
That means the Arkansas-Memphis game is expected to take place at a limited-capacity stadium. This year’s capacity is 33,691, but that number could be higher by the time next season rolls around. Arkansas fans are expected to travel to the game, and there could be more demand than capacity.
“I just learned of that today,” Yurachek said. “It wasn’t on my mind that the stadium was under construction, that it’s still going to be under construction next season. That’s a two-for-one series, where there are two games in Fayetteville and one in Memphis, so that’s maybe an opportunity if there’s an interest for it to switch the dates of those games and play this game next year in Fayetteville and give Memphis the opportunity to host a game in a future year when their stadium is done.”
Still, Yurachek said he has not yet had any discussions with Memphis officials about the potential to move the game. Memphis has a new AD in Ed Scott, and while Yurachek said he knows Scott, they have not talked since Scott arrived in Memphis.
“I just think regional games are a big deal and should be scheduled, and just make financial sense for both schools,” Yurachek said.
Memphis-Arkansas basketball game up to coaches
Memphis has long wanted to schedule men’s basketball games with Arkansas. The programs met last season in the Battle 4 Atlantis, but that was their first matchup in 20 years.
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said in April that he was hopeful a regular-season game would happen, especially now that former Memphis coach John Calipari is at Arkansas. Yurachek said he leaves basketball scheduling up to the coaches, but said it would be a “great game.”
“Coach Cal handles his schedule, and I’m sure Coach Hardaway does as well,” Yurachek said. “I think that’d be a great game, and obviously there’s a tie-in with Coach Cal having been here at Memphis. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that game on the schedule in future years, but I’ve had no conversation with anybody at Memphis about that. That’s really Coach Cal’s deal.”
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan
Arkansas
Arkansas women lose to Troy in Cherokee Invitational
Arkansas
Purdue lands Arkansas transfer QB Malachi Singleton
The wait is over. Purdue and Barry Odom have landed their first transfer portal commitment of the cycle, as former Arkansas quarterback Malachi Singleton is set to ink with the Boilermakers. Singleton emerged as a serious option early Thursday morning and he now gives the Boilermakers with their potential signal caller moving forward.
The former Razorback spent two seasons in Fayetteville, playing in five games this season. In those five games, Singleton completed 75% of his 28 passes for 368 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 74 yards and three scores on 15 attempts.
Singleton was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, while being the No. 9 dual-threat quarterback in the country, according to Rivals. He chose the Razorbacks over the likes of Miami, West Virginia, Louisville, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati and others.
At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, Singleton provides the Boilermakers with an intriguing option under center for 2025 and beyond. He flashed in limited reps as a redshirt freshman, even earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors after throwing for 207 yards and a score, as well as rushing for 44 yards and another touchdown against Ole Miss.
Barry Odom, offensive coordinator Josh Henson and quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw now have their signal caller moving forward, when they needed it most. Purdue had only two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster prior to Singleton’s commitment, with incoming freshman Garyt Odom and redshirt sophomore Bennett Meredith in the mix after the departures of Ryan Browne, Marcos Davila and Hudson Card.
Arkansas
Georgia Tech transfer offensive lineman signs with Arkansas
The Razorbacks made a splash in the transfer portal Thursday as Georgia Tech offensive tackle Corey Robinson II signed to play for Arkansas, according to a report from On3.
Robinson took a visit to Arkansas from Dec. 15 to 17 and had the chance to watch the Razorbacks practice in preparation for the Liberty Bowl, and the Arkansas coaching staff was able to convince him to shut things down.
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Georgia native finished the 2024 season with a 69.2 offensive grade, 91.2 pass-block grade and 56.3 run-block grade on 539 snaps.
The 91.2 pass-block grade ranks No. 1 amongst Power Five offensive linemen, as Robinson didn’t allow a single sack all year for the Yellow Jackets.
2023 (Redshirt Sophomore): Appeared in 12-of-13 games and made five starts at left tackle (season opener vs. Louisville and final four games of the season vs. Clemson, Syracuse, No. 1 Georgia and UCF) … Saw action on 374 snaps, which ranked sixth among Georgia Tech offensive linemen … Helped pave the way for Georgia Tech to rush for 203.8 yards per game, good for tops in the ACC and 12th nationally … Also a key cog in an offensive front that allowed just 1.15 sacks per game, which also led the ACC and ranked 15th nationally.
2022 (Redshirt Freshman): Started all 12 games at left tackle … One of only two lineman to start at the same position each game, helping anchor an offensive front that had five different starting combinations in 12 games … Ranked second among Georgia Tech’s offensive linemen in total snaps with 735.
2021 (Kansas): Redshirted … Retained four seasons of eligibility.
High School: Rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Was credited with 65 pancake blocks and surrendered just one sack as a senior in 2020, when he helped lead nearby Roswell H.S. to an 8-3 record, the second round of the Georgia 7-A state playoffs and more than 2,000 passing yards and 1,900 rushing yards … Invited to participate in 2020 World Bowl national combine … Selected to play in 2019 GACA all-star game … Coached at Roswell by Chris Prewett.
Personal: Majoring in business administration.
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