Like It Is

Opening with a win always right approach

Sam Pittman (right), head coach of Arkansas, walks the sideline on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, during the second quarter of the Razorbacks’ 31-24 season-opening win over Cincinnati at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

As a rule, season-openers are supposed to be a win against unranked teams. That helps get fans’ hopes up but not too much.

In the past 15 years, the Arkansas Razorbacks have started the season against a ranked team three times and they are 1-2 in those games having lost to...