Sam Pittman reacts to SEC adding Texas, Oklahoma, renewing old rivalries

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman is excited about the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC next season for a few different reasons.

For one, the addition of the Longhorns will lead to a renewal of the rivalry between the two teams. But it also sets up an opportunity to develop a new rivalry with the Sooners.

“The state of Arkansas is ecstatic about having an opportunity to play Texas and, for that matter, Oklahoma,” Pittman said at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. “Proximity is so good. It’s so good for us. It’s not gonna be costly on fans because they can drive back and forth to Norman and to Austin. But I think relatively everybody’s really excited about that.”

Texas and Arkansas played every year from 1932 to 1991 — usually during the third weekend of October. The two schools were Southwest Conference foes for even longer, dating back to 1915.

But the two have played only six times since the Razorbacks left for the SEC, and twice came in bowl games.

The two teams will face off in 2024 when the Longhorns join the confernece.

A matchup with Oklahoma is not on the Arkansas schedule for next season but Pittman is especially excited for those games. Pittman is a native of Oklahoma and grew up with Sooners loyalties.

“Obviously, we’re bringing two powerful storied programs into the SEC,” Pittman said. “We know they’re gonna be really great opponents. But I think everybody’s excited. I’m excited. I’m from Oklahoma. Grew up a super fan until I moved out to Eastern Oklahoma and became a Hog fan. But I think it’d be a great deal for the SEC and specifically Texas, because of the ol’ Southwest Conference rivalry.”

Oklahoma and Arkansas have played 15 times in school history but only four times over the last century i 1926, 1978, 1987 and 2002. Other than the 1926 games, the other three have been as bowl games.

That 1978 matchup came on Jan. 2, 1978 at the 1978 Orange Bowl. Oklahoma entered the game at 10-1 and as the No. 2 team in the country while Arkansas was No. 6 in the country also at 10-1. The only loss for both team’s came to Texas, who entered the day as the No. 1 team in the country but lost to Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl.

The Sooners then had a chance to win the national title if they won the game but the Razorbacks pulled out a 31-6 upset win.

Pittman remembers that game.

“At that point. I wasn’t an Arkansas,” he said. “I was an OU fan at the time.”