Oklahoma State vs Arkansas football history: Looking back on all-time series, rivalry

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK

Oklahoma State football takes on an old conference foe Saturday in a battle between former Southwest Conference programs (though the Cowboys' tenure lasted just nine years).

The No. 17 Cowboys (1-0) host the Razorbacks on Saturday that marks the first matchup between both schools since 1980. Oklahoma State and Arkansas both faced each other nearly every season from 1943-1980, and frequently from 1914-1938.

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The Razorbacks bested the Cowboys 33-20 in their last outing, but Oklahoma State looks to get revenge on the matchup from 44 years ago. The Cowboys are favored in Saturday's game.

Stillwater is just a nearly three-hour drive from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and it's about time the two geographically close programs meet once again.

Here's the history between Oklahoma State and Arkansas, including their head-to-head record:

Oklahoma State-Arkansas football history

Oklahoma State and Arkansas used to play nearly every season but played their last game in 1980 until now.

At the time, the Cowboys were in the Big Eight and the Razorbacks were in the Southwest Conference. The two programs were only in the same conference in 1915 as Southwest Conference members, but Oklahoma State is the closest Power Four program to Arkansas geographically, as Stillwater is roughly three hours from Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The last time they faced was in 1980, when both teams were led by respective college football legends. Lou Holtz' Arkansas team defeated Jimmy Johnson's Oklahoma State team 33-20 that day. However, the Cowboys have grown a lot since the 1980s, turning into a consistent top 25 program under now-coach Mike Gundy.

Most of the matchups were played at War Chant Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, including the 1980 game. The two programs played 20 games in Little Rock from 1952-74, and Arkansas has played Oklahoma State 23 times in Little Rock, which is more than any other team at that location.

Former Arkansas assistant and Oklahoma State head coach Pat Jones offered insight recently as to why the series stopped.

“It probably got to the point where Oklahoma State didn’t have to come to Little Rock every year for money,” Jones told WholeHogSports on Tuesday. “They started drawing well… Basically, Arkansas wouldn’t go home and home.”

The two foes are currently in a home-and-home series, with Oklahoma State traveling to Arkansas in 2027. There's another home-and-home scheduled for 2032 and 2033.

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Oklahoma State-Arkansas series record

Here's Oklahoma State's all-time record vs. Arkansas:

  • All-time record vs. Arkansas: 14-29-1

  • Home record: 4-4-1

  • Away record: 8-25

  • Last win: 20-13 win in Stillwater in 1975

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State-Arkansas football history: Looking back on rivalry series

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