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 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 football is expected to host its largest collection of prospects this season for the LSU game Saturday night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Numerous commitments and high-profile prospects in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes are expected to attend the game.
Official
The Southeastern Conference released the initial Injury Report for Week 8 with the LSU Tigers listing a number of players for this weekend in Fayetteville.
On the other side, the main takeaway was Arkansas signal-caller Taylen Green not being listed on the report. He’ll be active for Saturday night against the Bayou Bengals, according to the injury update.
“I have been encouraged about how he’s practiced,” Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said on Wednesday. “He’s still not full speed yet but we certainly think there’s a possibility that he can get there. We’ll have to wait and see there. Obviously we have two more practices and a walk, but have been encouraged about his progression this week.”
Green suffered a knee injury late in the Week 6 contest against the Tennessee Volunteers, and now after hitting the recovery table for a week during the open date, he’s trending in the right direction.
He’s has had a solid first half of his first season in Fayetteville this season. Green is 107-for-189 (56.6%) on pass attempts for 1,502 yards, which ranks him with the fourth-most in the conference, while also having five touchdowns and interceptions apiece.
For LSU, the surprise name on the injury report is redshirt-freshman offensive lineman Tyree Adams.
He’s the “sixth man,” or first one off the bench for the Tigers when needed, but now appears out for the foreseeable future after being listed on the Injury Report. Adams also posted a photo on his social media after a surgery. The injury is unspecified at this moment.
Who else was on the Injury Report? Are there any other surprises?
Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC)
Player, Position — Status
Jaylon Braxton, DB — Out
Rodney Hill, RB —Doubtful
LSU (5-1, 2-0 SEC)
Harold Perkins, LB — Out
Kyle Parker, WR — Out
John Emery, RB — Out
Princeton Malbrue, DE — Out
Kobe Roberts, OL — Out
Jake Ibieta, LB — Out
Tyree Adams, OL — Out
Jacobian Guillory, DT — Out
Chris Hilton, WR — Questionable
CJ Daniels, WR. — Probable
Available – The player is fully available for the next game.
Probable – Likely to play, barring any setbacks.
Questionable – Uncertain to play due to injury or condition
Doubtful – Unlikely to play due to significant concerns.
Out – Player will not participate in the upcoming game.
Game Time Decision – Final decision will be made closer to the game.
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The initial availability report for Arkansas’ game with No. 8 LSU is out and a few key Razorbacks are not listed.
Quarterback Taylen Green is not on the report after suffering a knee injury against Tennessee. Coach Sam Pittman was “encouraged” about Green’s progression in practice this week on the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday morning.
Offensive lineman Patrick Kutas is also not on the report for the first time this season. Kutas, who has been out since the third preseason practice, spent all of spring and fall at left guard and could make his season debut Saturday.
“Kutas practiced,” Pittman said Monday. “He’ll practice this week. Hopefully, he’ll be available on Saturday.”
The only two players on the report for Arkansas were defensive back Jaylon Braxton and running back Rodney Hill. Braxton is listed as “out” and will miss his fifth straight game with “tendonitis and a bone bruise.” Hill is listed as doubtful.
For the LSU Tigers, a pair of wide receivers are both on the report. CJ Daniels, who missed the game against Ole Miss with a knee injury is listed as probable. Chris Hilton has not recorded a catch this season after suffering a stress fracture and is listed as questionable.
The full report is below:
Arkansas:
DB Jaylon Braxton, Out
RB Rodney Hill, Doubtful
The report will continue to be updated until 90 minutes before kickoff 6 p.m Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
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