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Arkansas To Face Texas In Texas Bowl

Arkansas in postseason for first time since 2011
texas

For the first time since the 2011 season, Arkansas is going bowling as it will face Texas in the Texas Bowl in Houston on Dec. 29.

Both Arkansas and Texas finished the regular season 6-6 after each lost in their finale. The Longhorns won three straight before being routed by No. 5 TCU 48-10 on Nov. 27.

“We’re very, very excited to be a part of such a special game,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. :A game that means a lot to our fans, our alumni. We renew our rival from the Southwest Conference and be a part of a game that obviously Coach (Frank) Broyles and his history and tradition here. Coach Darrell Royal and his history there. Now for us to have a chance to jump into that is pretty cool. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Strong. Not just during his time there at Texas, but he is a guy I met several years ago on the recruiting trail. To share a background of defense and I just think he has high integrity. So many people that worked with Coach Strong and have been around just always speak about what kind of person he is and what he is all about. To see him tackle the challenges there at Texas, it has been rewarding to see the growth this year of their football team, similar to ours. I’m really, really excited about that. I think our fans will buy in to it.”

The Razorbacks and Longhorns have met 77 times in history but the most recent came in 2008 when Texas won 52-10. Arkansas’s last win in the series came in 2003 as they posted a 38-28 victory.

“We’re really excited about being in the AdvoCare Texas Bowl and to be playing an outstanding opponent in Arkansas,” Texas coach and Arkansas native Charlie Strong said. “If you just look at the losses they’ve had. They beat LSU, played Alabama, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M really close. They have two 1,000 yard rush backs. I have a lot of respect for Brett (Bielema). He has done a great job since he has been at Arkansas. Even if you look at his track record, coming from Wisconsin, what he did with that team. I’m just so happy for our team. For us to struggle early and then somehow find a way to get to six wins and being able to go to the Texas Bowl is really exciting, not only for our players but also for our fan base.”

Arkansas became bowl eligible after back-to-back wins over LSU and Ole Miss at home before falling in the regular season finale at Missouri on Nov. 28th.

The Razorbacks finished the regular season 6-6 with wins against Nicholls, Texas Tech, Northern Illinois, UAB, LSU and Ole Miss. Arkansas lost close games against Texas A&M, Alabama and Mississippi State. Those three losses came by a combined 15 points.

The six wins by Arkansas also marks the school’s most since the 2011 season when they finished 11-2 after a win in the Cotton Bowl over Kansas State.

Bret Bielema, who took over at Arkansas following the 2012 season, reaches his first bowl game with the Razorbacks after finishing 3-9 in his first season with the Razorbacks. The bowl game will be Bielema’s seventh in his coaching career. Bielema was 2-4 in bowls as the coach at Wisconsin.

 

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