FAYETTEVILLE — With a temperature likely below 30 degrees by kickoff, Saturday's game against LSU will be one of the coldest on record for Arkansas.
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the game will rank among the Razorbacks' coldest because of some discrepancies in record-keeping. But with the help of Allie Raymond in the UA communications office, we've assembled the 10 coldest games Arkansas has played since 1990 and Saturday's game might be the coldest.
Here is a list of the 10 coldest of the last 25 seasons and how the Razorbacks fared in them. Note the temperature listed was the one recorded at kickoff time.
Jan. 2, 2010 - East Carolina, 29 degrees, Memphis, Tenn.
The wind chill was 10 degrees by the time Arkansas and East Carolina kicked off in the Liberty Bowl, but Razorback fans flocked across the Mississippi River to pack the Liberty Bowl. Alex Tejada's field goal in overtime gave Arkansas a 20-17 win - its first in a bowl game in six years.
Nov. 2, 1991 - Baylor, 29 degrees, Fayetteville
Many remember this game as the coldest ever at Razorback Stadium. A 2:30 p.m. kickoff to accommodate ABC left temperatures dropping as snow fell and a steady wind blew throughout the second half. Baylor scored the game's only touchdown to win 9-5. It was the Razorbacks' final SWC game played in Fayetteville.
Nov. 27, 1992 - LSU, 31 degrees, Fayetteville
Less than 33,000 people showed up for Arkansas' season finale in its inaugural SEC season. Freezing rain fell as the Razorbacks easily beat LSU 30-6 for their first SEC home win.
Oct. 30, 1993 - Auburn, 31 degrees, Fayetteville
Snow was on the field from the night before and more fell throughout the game. Terry Bowden's Tigers continued their march to an undefeated season with a 31-21 win on Homecoming.
Nov. 11, 1995 - Southwestern Louisiana, 31 degrees, Fayetteville
The Razorbacks avoided a letdown one week after clinching their first SEC West title. Madre Hill rushed for 151 yards and broke the Razorbacks' single-season record for rushing yards in a 24-13 win.
Jan. 1, 2002 - Oklahoma, 36 degrees, Dallas
There were only 17 first downs combined on a dreary day at the Cotton Bowl. The Sooners scored the game's only touchdown in the first quarter and beat the Razorbacks 10-3.
Nov. 18, 2000 - Mississippi State, 37 degrees, Starkville, Miss.
Sleet and freezing rain fell throughout the game, which went into overtime when Carlos Hall blocked a Mississippi State field goal attempt at the end of regulation. Brandon Holmes ran for a touchdown on Arkansas' overtime possession and the Razorbacks stuffed the No. 13 Bulldogs on fourth down at the goal line. Arkansas won 17-10.
Oct. 29, 2011 - Vanderbilt, 40 degrees, Nashville, Tenn.
Because it was a morning kickoff and the temperature rose throughout, this game isn't remembered so much for weather. Jerry Franklin's 95-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown swung momentum as Vanderbilt was looking to go up by double-digits in the fourth quarter. The Razorbacks made a field goal and the Commodores missed one in the final minutes. No. 8 Arkansas won 31-28 to avoid the upset.
Nov. 16, 2002 - Louisiana-Lafayette, 40 degrees, Fayetteville
After back-to-back shutout wins over Troy State and South Carolina, the Razorbacks had to survive a scare in the cold against the Ragin' Cajuns. Ken Hamlin's interception at the Arkansas 5 with 1:40 remaining preserved a 24-17 Razorbacks win.
Nov. 15, 1997 - Tennessee, 41 degrees, Little Rock
Peyton Manning threw a 49-yard touchdown pass with just more than 11 minutes remaining and the Volunteers blocked an Arkansas punt to set up another score in the closing minutes. Manning finished his career undefeated against the Razorbacks, leading the No. 5 Volunteers to a 30-22 win at War Memorial Stadium.
Other notable cold games:
Jan. 1, 1947 - LSU, 29 degrees, Dallas
The Razorbacks and Tigers are no strangers to cold weather games. Their 1947 Cotton Bowl game is known as "The Ice Bowl." The celsius thermometer was all that was reading less than the scoreboard by the end of the scoreless tie.
Dec. 6, 1969 - Texas, 32 degrees, Fayetteville
The "Big Shootout" was set up when ABC asked Arkansas to move the game against Texas to the latest date ever for a regular season matchup. The cold, cloudy conditions matched the mood of Arkansas fans following the 15-14 loss.
Dec. 27, 1980 - Tulane, 31 degrees, Birmingham, Ala.
Gary Anderson scored two touchdowns and had a long run to set up another score as the Razorbacks jumped to a 28-0 halftime lead on a wet night at Legion Field. Several fans didn't stick around for the second half of Arkansas' 34-15 win in the Hall of Fame Bowl.