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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 8-7-25
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Guests: Blimp Enthusiast – Tom Murphy
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Ruscin & Zach August 6
An off the charts edition of Grill Bill.
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Razorbacks unveil SEC schedule with big-time home opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new season brings a fresh set of challenges, and for Arkansas, the 2025-26 journey through the SEC promises some big matchups and pivotal road swings.
Announced Wednesday, the Razorbacks’ SEC schedule is anchored by a trio of high-profile Saturday games at Bud Walton Arena against Sweet 16 mainstays Tennessee, Kentucky, and Auburn.
The Razorbacks will open conference play on Jan. 3, hosting the Tennessee Volunteers in Fayetteville.
This marks the second consecutive year Arkansas faces Tennessee to begin the SEC campaign, but this time the action shifts to their home court.
The early matchup sets the tone for a season that will see Arkansas square off with some of the conference’s most formidable lineups in front of a home crowd that’s long been known for its intensity.
After the opener, Arkansas hits the road for back-to-back games, first at Ole Miss on January 6 or 7, then traveling to Auburn on January 10.
The early test away from home could prove telling for a team eager to reassert itself in a league that has grown deeper and more competitive each year. The Razorbacks’ first trip to Norman, Okla., since December 2011 is also on the schedule, with a late January contest against the Sooners.
Returning to Fayetteville, the Razorbacks enter a stretch where four of six games are at home. South Carolina visits on January 13 or 14, followed by Vanderbilt a week later, and LSU on Jan. 24.
Kentucky comes to town on Jan. 31, an always-anticipated matchup that rarely disappoints. Sandwiched between these home dates are a trip to Georgia on Jan. 17 and the aforementioned game at Oklahoma on Jan. 27 or 28.
February begins with a midweek bye, giving the Razorbacks a brief respite before a demanding final month. On Feb. 7, they travel to Mississippi State, followed quickly by a visit to LSU on Feb. 10 or 11.
The stretch run of the SEC schedule features four home games in the final seven, beginning with a rematch against Auburn on Feb. 14 at Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks’ late-season home slate continues with back-to-back games against Missouri (Feb. 21) and Texas A&M (Feb. 24 or 25).
These contests are critical, providing Arkansas with opportunities to build momentum heading into the postseason.
Road games against Alabama (Feb. 17 or 18) and Florida (Feb. 28) punctuate the grind, demanding focus and resilience as the team navigates the SEC’s challenging travel schedule.
As March approaches, Arkansas hosts Texas on March 3 or 4 in what is sure to be a headline-grabbing showdown. The regular season wraps up on March 7 at Missouri, where the Razorbacks will look to solidify their position before the conference tournament.
The SEC Tournament returns to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena from March 11 to 15, promising a fittingly dramatic conclusion to a season defined by high stakes and relentless competition.
Last year, the Razorbacks saw the importance of peaking at the right time; this season’s schedule gives them ample opportunity to test themselves against the league’s best before postseason play begins.
Arkansas fans can mark their calendars for several must-see home games. The Tennessee and Kentucky matchups, both scheduled for Saturdays, are likely to draw capacity crowds.
The Auburn game on Valentine’s Day adds a festive twist to the home schedule, and the late-season visit from Texas is sure to reignite an old rivalry.
For head coach and players alike, the schedule offers both daunting challenges and tantalizing opportunities.
As the Razorbacks prepare to navigate road trips to traditional SEC powers and welcome elite opponents to Bud Walton Arena, the focus will be on building consistency, toughness, and a home-court advantage that could make the difference in close contests.
Midweek tipoff times and television details are still to be announced.
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 8-6-25
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Guests: Pat Smith & Richard Davenport!
Nick Perry hired to lead Razorbacks’ secondary for new season
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has turned to a coach with both NFL and SEC experience in its effort to revamp the secondary for the 2025 season.
Nick Perry, who spent last season as a defensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks and previously worked for the Atlanta Falcons, has been hired as the Razorbacks’ defensive backs coach.
Perry, a Prattville, Ala., native, played at Alabama and began his coaching career there as a graduate assistant. He later worked as an analyst before moving to the NFL.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Perry’s experience is expected to help the Razorbacks’ secondary improve after a disappointing 2024 season.
The Razorbacks finished 89th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in turnovers gained last season, with only 15. Perry said increasing that number is a priority.
“We’re getting our hands on the balls and that’s always a positive,” Perry said. “Now we have to have the confidence and the savviness to feel comfortable playing the ball in the air or making those contested catches. We’re working that every day and we’re going to continue to drill that.”
Perry met with reporters this week and described the energy at practice as high.
“My voice is a little gone, it was third down day, and we were getting after it in the secondary,” Perry said. “So, this is a good thing, where my voice is hoarse, that’s a positive thing. But it’s been a blessing. It’s been a crazy ride, coming from Seattle, coming to Arkansas, but we started with a bang.”
Arkansas defensive backs Jaheim Singletary, Julian Neal and Kani Walker said Perry’s energy has had an immediate impact.
“He knows what it’s like out there, so he’s not going to get onto us about certain stuff,” Neal said. “He wants us to be our best at all times, but he knows how it is out there. Being able to learn under Coach Perry has been great for the past few months. I’ve learned a lot, and he’s pushing me to be my best. That’s all I can say.”
Walker joined Arkansas after time at Oklahoma, bringing SEC experience to the group. Neal, a transfer from Fresno State, is expected to play a significant role in the secondary this season.
Singletary, another recent transfer, has also drawn attention during camp.
Perry’s approach is influenced by his time at Alabama under coach Nick Saban, whom he credits for teaching him to “enjoy the process.”
“This is fun,” Perry said. “This is the best time of their lives as well. At the end of day, they get to continue playing the game that they love. They’ve been playing since they were a kid. It can be very businesslike at times.
“But keep the main thing the main thing. Playing football is fun, and so if you don’t look at it as a job, you don’t look like, ‘Oh, I have to be here.’ Look at it as you’re playing a sport that you love.
“You get to go to work every day and play football. I get to go to work every day and coach football. What’s better than that?”
Perry recalled past games against Arkansas as a player, noting the challenging environment at Razorback Stadium.
“Pig sooie,” Perry said. “I don’t think I had pork for the next two months after that game. It was a wild atmosphere, and once again, coming in and Arkansas was throwing the first punch. They did that.
“We knew going in we always respected Arkansas. Knowing they’re going to play hard. It’s going to be tough. This is a tough place to play at. With the fans there and the pig sooie it can get a little wild.”
Pittman said he wanted his defense to force more turnovers and play more physically in 2025. He has emphasized the need for taller corners who can hold up in man coverage, a focus reflected in Perry’s approach.
Competition for starting jobs in the secondary has been intense during fall camp.
The Razorbacks will have a day off Wednesday before returning to practice in full pads. Arkansas is preparing for a challenging schedule that will test Perry’s revamped secondary early and often.
Players have responded well to Perry’s leadership.
“It’s been a blessing. It’s been a crazy ride, coming from Seattle, coming to Arkansas, but we started with a bang,” Perry said. Neal added, “He’s pushing me to be my best. So that’s all I can say.”
With Perry’s NFL experience and player-focused mindset, Arkansas is hoping for measurable improvement in the secondary.
As the 2025 season approaches, Razorbacks coaches and players remain focused on building a stronger defensive identity and competing in a demanding SEC schedule.
