After big game in win over Auburn, sophomore Billy Richmond has energized the fans and also the team, John Calipari says.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 2-16-26
What a weekend for the Razorbacks! Basketball gets revenge on Auburn, baseball gets off to a 2-1 start with one more game to play in Arlington. A V-Day/Super Bowl crossover in 2027?
Razorbacks survive ninth-inning scare, finish strong in 11th
ARLINGTON, Texas — Arkansas didn’t dominate Sunday evening. The Hogs simply endured.
For eight innings at Globe Life Field, the Razorbacks controlled the tempo. In the ninth, that control vanished. And in the 11th, the Hogs calmly took it back.
After surrendering four runs in the top of the ninth, Arkansas answered immediately and then finished the job two innings later, slipping past Texas Tech 6-5 to close its third game of the College Showdown.
The win moved Arkansas to 2-1 on the weekend and guaranteed a winning record in Arlington.
The Razorbacks stay in Texas for a Monday afternoon matchup against Tarleton State. Fans can hear the game on ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
It was a game defined less by one moment and more by how the Hogs handled several.
Lead Built on Patience, Key Hits
Before the late chaos, Arkansas pieced together a steady performance. Damian Ruiz, batting leadoff for the first time with the program, reached base in every plate appearance.
He went 2 for 2 with four walks, scored twice and added a stolen base.
Ruiz helped ignite a third-inning rally by drawing a walk and later scoring on Maika Niu’s fielder’s choice.
In the fourth, the Razorbacks capitalized on a two-out throwing error by Texas Tech third baseman Connor Shouse that allowed two runs to score.
Arkansas added another in the fifth when Camden Kozeal worked a walk and eventually came home on a two-out double by TJ Pompey, a former Red Raider. That pushed the margin to 4-0.
On the mound, junior left-hander Colin Fisher handled the early innings with efficiency. He gave up just one hit and two walks across five scoreless frames while striking out eight. The Red Raiders didn’t record their first baserunner until the third inning.
Fisher threw 82 pitches, rarely falling behind. Even after issuing a walk in the fifth, he regrouped, recording a strikeout and a pop-up to end his outing.
Reliever James DeCremer preserved the shutout in the sixth, turning a sharp grounder into a double play and stranding a runner at third. Shortstop Carson Brumbaugh contributed twice with throws made off balance to prevent additional damage.
Texas Tech finally scored in the eighth on a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Arkansas still carried a three-run cushion into the ninth.
That’s when the rhythm shifted.
Ninth-Inning Drama
The Red Raiders strung together a rally against two of Arkansas’ late-inning arms. Three walks, two hits and a hit batsman flipped the score.
Cooper Dossett issued a bases-loaded walk that forced in a run. After a pitching change, Steele Eaves hit Kyeler Thompson with a pitch, bringing Texas Tech within one. Moments later, Tracer Lopez lined a two-strike offering into left field, putting the Red Raiders ahead 5-4.
It was the first time Arkansas trailed all night.
Instead of unraveling, the Hogs responded quickly.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Kozeal fell behind 0-2 against right-hander Will Jordan. On the next pitch he drove a 409-foot home run, tying the game and quieting any lingering doubt in the Arkansas dugout.
Both teams were retired in order in the 10th. Eaves returned for the 11th and worked around a two-out walk, keeping the game even.
That set up the final push.
Small Ball Seals It
Ruiz opened the bottom of the 11th with a single to center field. Ryder Helfrick followed with a base hit to right, allowing Ruiz to advance to third.
With the infield drawn in, Niu lifted a fly ball deep enough to bring Ruiz home, ending the contest.
The Razorbacks didn’t pile on hits in the final frame. They simply executed.
Arkansas finished the night having scored in four different innings and using both power and situational hitting to secure the outcome.
Kozeal’s home run reset the scoreboard. Ruiz’s consistency at the top created opportunities. Niu’s sacrifice fly provided the final margin.
The Hogs learned something about themselves, too. After struggling to close out TCU a night earlier, they corrected course against Texas Tech.
Early mistakes were limited, starting pitching held firm and defensive plays prevented the game from turning sooner.
Sunday wasn’t perfect. It didn’t need to be.
Arkansas proved it can respond when momentum shifts and remain steady in extra innings. In a three-day stretch filled with tight finishes, that steadiness mattered most.
The Razorbacks will try to carry that approach into Monday’s matchup, looking to finish the College Showdown on another strong note.
Acuff, Richmond lead Hogs past Auburn in SEC win
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas used a strong second half and steady shooting to defeat Auburn 88-75 on Saturday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Darius Acuff Jr. tied his career high with 31 points, leading the way for the Razorbacks in an important SEC contest.
Billy Richmond added a career-best 25 points as the Hogs improved to 19-6 overall and 9-3 in conference play.
Arkansas shot 57% from the field and controlled much of the final 20 minutes after a competitive first half.
Acuff was efficient from the start, finishing 10 of 15 from the floor and hitting 7 of 10 from 3-point range.
The freshman guard has now scored at least 20 points in six straight games, a stretch in which the Razorbacks are 5-1.
Richmond was nearly automatic inside the arc, going 12 of 15 while attacking the basket with confidence.
Auburn kept pace early behind strong scoring from Tahaad Pettiford and KeShawn Murphy.
But Arkansas responded with timely runs that kept the Tigers from seizing momentum.
Second-half surge turns the game
The turning point came shortly after halftime when Acuff buried three consecutive 3-pointers.
That sequence sparked a 19-4 run by the Hogs before the first media timeout of the second half.
The surge pushed Arkansas into a double-digit lead and forced Auburn to play from behind.
Pettiford finished with 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting to lead the Tigers.
Murphy added 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, giving Auburn a consistent interior presence.
Still, the Razorbacks answered each push with balanced offense and defensive stops.
Auburn was without leading scorer Keyshawn Hall, who missed the game for disciplinary reasons, according to coach Steven Pearl.
Hall entered the night averaging 20.7 points per game.
Even with that absence, the Tigers briefly cut the margin to eight points with 8:25 remaining.
Razorbacks close it out
When Auburn threatened, Richmond stepped forward with five straight points to steady Arkansas.
Moments later, Acuff drilled another 3-pointer to restore a comfortable lead for the Hogs.
The Razorbacks never allowed the margin to dip below eight points down the stretch.
Trevon Brazile contributed 11 points, helping space the floor and support the scoring effort.
Meleek Thomas added eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds to give Arkansas extra possessions.
The Hogs’ ability to share the scoring load proved decisive as they maintained control in the final minutes.
Acuff’s 31-point outing also placed him in select company in program history.
He became just the second player in school history to record at least 500 points and 150 assists in a single season.
Arkansas now turns its attention to a road matchup at Alabama, while Auburn heads to Mississippi State seeking a rebound in SEC play.
Missed chances cost Razorbacks in 5-4 loss to TCU in Arlington
ARLINGTON, Texas — Arkansas had traffic on the bases. It just couldn’t bring enough runners home.
That proved decisive Saturday night as TCU held off the Razorbacks 5-4 in a top-10 Arkansas vs TCU baseball matchup at Globe Life Field.
The announced crowd of 22,384 set a record for a college game at the Texas Rangers’ stadium.
The Hogs finished 1 for 19 with runners on base and 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position. Those numbers told the story more than any single swing.
Arkansas loaded the bases in both the third and fourth innings but managed only one run in that stretch. Maika Niu’s fielder’s choice in the third brought home Damian Ruiz to cut the deficit to 4-1, yet a larger inning never materialized.
TCU had already built its edge behind Chase Brunson. The center fielder delivered RBI doubles in the first and second innings, helping the Horned Frogs move ahead 4-0.
Rob Liddington added an RBI single in the first, and Cole Cramer later contributed an RBI single in the fourth.
Hunter Dietz made his first career start for the Razorbacks and showed strikeout ability with five in two innings. Still, he allowed four runs on three hits and three walks, throwing 30 strikes in 57 pitches.
Once Arkansas went to the bullpen, the tone changed.
Tate McGuire entered in the fourth inning and retired all 15 batters he faced over five innings. His outing gave the Razorbacks repeated chances to climb back into the game.
They nearly did.
In the fifth, Camden Kozeal scored on a passed ball, and Reese Robinett followed with an RBI double to make it 5-3. Kuhio Aloy then opened the seventh with a 445-foot home run into the second deck in left field, trimming the lead to 5-4.
The Razorbacks put the tying run in scoring position in the eighth when Ruiz walked and advanced on a wild pitch. But Kozeal struck out swinging, and the opportunity slipped away.
Against a steady TCU bullpen that included three scoreless innings from reliever Noah Franco, Arkansas couldn’t deliver the final hit it needed.
The Razorbacks showed power and depth on the mound. What they lacked was one more timely swing.
Kevin McPherson looking back at best Auburn games, then today
With Razorbacks hosting the Tigers at Bud Walton Arena, could they challenge some of the best games in the history of the series?
Helfrick’s two homers power Razorbacks in opening win
Arkansas opened the season Friday night with a 12-2 victory over Oklahoma State at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, during the Shriners Children’s College Baseball Showdown.
The Hogs ended the game early on the run-rule.
The Razorbacks’ lineup jumped on the Cowboys’ pitching early, collecting 13 hits and applying steady pressure from the opening inning.
Junior catcher Ryder Helfrick delivered the first spark. He homered in each of his first two at-bats, giving the Razorbacks a fast start.
His first home run traveled 423 feet to left field on the first pitch he saw, putting the Hogs ahead immediately.
In the second inning, Helfrick fouled off several pitches before sending a 432-foot drive to center field to extend the lead.
Oklahoma State later chose to intentionally walk him, preventing a chance at a third home run.
The early offensive burst gave Arkansas a 3-0 advantage before the Cowboys responded.
Oklahoma State trimmed the margin to 3-2 in the fifth inning with a two-run homer.
The Razorbacks didn’t allow that momentum to linger.
Hogs respond in middle innings
Arkansas answered in the seventh inning when Cam Kozeal launched a two-run home run that widened the gap and reestablished control.
The Hogs’ offense showed balance throughout the lineup.
Eight different Razorbacks recorded hits in the game.
Nolan Souza, Maika Niu, Kuhio Aloy and TJ Pompey each turned in multi-hit performances.
The consistent production kept Oklahoma State’s pitching staff working deep into counts.
Meanwhile, Arkansas starter Gabe Gaeckle delivered a steady outing in his first appearance of the season.
Gaeckle worked into the fifth inning, reaching his 75-pitch limit. He allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out nine and walking one.
After Gaeckle exited, sophomore reliever Cole Gibler took over.
Pitching closes the door
Gibler provided dominant relief, throwing 3.2 hitless innings. He struck out six batters and allowed only one walk.
Combined, Razorback pitchers recorded 15 strikeouts and issued just two walks.
The control and swing-and-miss ability limited Oklahoma State’s chances after the fifth inning.
With the lead secure, the Hogs added insurance in the eighth.
With two outs, Maika Niu hit a three-run home run that pushed the score to 12-2.
The blast ended the game under the run-rule format used in the event.
The strong finish showed the Hogs’ depth at the plate and the ability to capitalize late.
After the strong start, Arkansas will face TCU in its second Shriners Children’s College Showdown game Saturday at 7 p.m. at Globe Life Field.
Top 2026 guard Jordan Smith Jr. commits to Razorbacks
Five-star guard Jordan Smith, widely regarded as the top backcourt prospect in the class of 2026, announced his commitment to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday evening.
The elite combo guard picked Arkansas and coach John Calipari over several finalists that included Duke, Georgetown and Syracuse.
Smith’s decision ends what was one of the most closely followed recruiting battles of the cycle, with national powers like Duke and Kentucky firmly in the mix throughout the process.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound guard from Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia, has consistently drawn attention for his versatility and defensive prowess.
Ranked among the top players nationally, Smith had official visits to multiple programs before narrowing his choice to Arkansas.
“I chose Arkansas because Coach Calipari can help improve my game,” Smith told ESPN. “Playing for him is a blessing; he has had great success with many guards in the past. My goals are to help win a championship with my coaches and teammates, make friends for life and hopefully be a one-and-done — in a positive and confident way, not cocky.”
Smith specifically noted his respect for what Calipari has done developing backcourt talent. He said he wants to have a major impact in Fayetteville, citing current freshman Darius Acuff as a benchmark for influence, even while acknowledging they bring different on-court skills.
For much of the past year, Duke was viewed by recruiting analysts as the early favorite to land Smith’s pledge. That outlook shifted during the early signing period when Duke added five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. to its class.
Arkansas gradually gained traction as Smith’s recruitment progressed, particularly as he developed a relationship with Calipari and members of the coaching staff. That momentum, combined with Smith’s official visit to Fayetteville, helped place the Razorbacks atop his list by decision night.
Elite Prospect with Defensive Reputation and On-Court Versatility
Smith’s commitment is a significant recruiting victory for Arkansas, marking one of the highest-profile pledges in program history.
It adds to the talent already joining the Hogs in the 2026 class and boosts expectations for the group’s national standing.
Smith’s game stands out for more than his scoring ability. Evaluators have praised his defensive intensity, physical strength and ability to guard multiple positions. Those traits project well at the college level.
At Paul VI Catholic, Smith’s combination of size, speed and rebounding ability made him a difficult matchup for opposing backcourts.
His length and athleticism also drew attention from programs looking for two-way guards who can create offense while anchoring perimeter defense.
While Smith can finish at the rim with authority, scouts also note his improved perimeter shooting and ability to make plays for others.
His skill set has drawn comparisons to some of the most impactful combo guards in recent recruiting classes.
Smith’s announcement gives the Razorbacks momentum and helps solidify what was already shaping up as one of the country’s elite recruiting classes.
His commitment positions Arkansas among the top three classes in the nation, showing how strong Calipari’s pull is with elite prospects.
He joins five-star forward JaShawn Andrews and four-star small forward Abdou Toure in the 2026 class, giving Arkansas a dynamic mix of perimeter and frontcourt talent.
For Calipari, the addition of Smith underscores how the Razorbacks’ recruiting profile has quickly grown since his arrival in Fayetteville.
Arkansas already landed strong classes in recent years and now adds one of the nation’s top guards to its next wave of prospects.
