FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas football’s 2025 season is loaded with firsts and marquee matchups, but no game stands out more than the historic non-conference clash with Notre Dame.
For the first time ever, the Arkansas Razorbacks will meet the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 27 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. and fans nationwide will be able to catch the action live on ABC.
This meeting isn’t just another non-conference date. For Arkansas, it’s a chance to take on one of college football’s most storied programs.
Notre Dame, coming off a national championship game appearance, brings national attention and a unique challenge for Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks.
“We’re excited to bring a program like Notre Dame to Fayetteville,” Pittman said in a recent press conference. “It’s the kind of matchup our players and fans dream about.”
The Razorbacks’ schedule is one of the most anticipated in recent years, partly thanks to new SEC television deals and creative kickoff windows.
The SEC will once again use four kickoff time windows. They will be early (11 a.m.-Noon), afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.), Night (5-7 p.m.), and Flex (2:30-7 p.m.).
Games in the Flex window will have their official kickoff times set 12 days ahead, giving the networks flexibility and fans a bit of suspense.
“The new SEC broadcasting structure means fans have more chances to catch marquee games at optimal times,” as ESPN’s Chris Low said.
Arkansas opens the season at home against Alabama A&M on August 30, a first-ever meeting for the two programs.
Kickoff is at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network. The following week, the Razorbacks travel to Little Rock for another inaugural matchup, this time against Arkansas State.
That game starts at 4 p.m. and will air on ESPN+ or SEC Network+.
From there, the schedule becomes a road gauntlet: at Ole Miss on September 13 (with a kickoff at either 6 or 6:45 p.m.), then a non-conference test at Memphis on September 20.
The team returns to Fayetteville for the Notre Dame showdown, which marks a critical point in the season.
After that, the Razorbacks dive back into SEC play with trips to Tennessee and rivalry games against Texas A&M, Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, Texas, and Missouri.
Sam Pittman enters his sixth season at the helm, sitting at 30-31 overall.
While the Razorbacks finished last season 6-6, they capped it with a Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech, making Pittman 3-0 in bowl games as a coach.
“We’re building something steady here,” Pittman said after that win. “Games like Notre Dame are another step in the right direction.”
The Notre Dame matchup isn’t just about a single Saturday. It’s a recruiting showcase and a measuring stick for a program looking to rise in the SEC’s new era.
“Arkansas’ willingness to schedule marquee non-conference opponents is a sign of a program ready for the national stage,” as CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd wrote,
Fans hoping to attend should act quickly. Tickets for the Notre Dame game are expected to be in high demand, with Razorback Stadium likely reaching capacity.
For those watching from home, ABC’s national broadcast ensures no one will miss a snap.
