Arkansas radio hosts D.J. Williams and Justin Acri believe Oklahoma State should become the Razorbacks' annual Power Four non-conference opponent. With two meetings in the last five years—including a 39-31 double-overtime thriller in 2024—and another matchup set for 2027, the rivalry continues to ga
Should Arkansas and Oklahoma State play every year?
One of Oklahoma State's former non-conference opponents could already be lobbying for another matchup.
During a recent discussion on The Zone on 103.7 The Buzz, Arkansas hosts Justin Acri and former Razorback tight end D.J. Williams debated which opponent Arkansas should play every year in a home-and-home non-conference series.
They quickly agreed on one program.
Oklahoma State.
The reasoning makes plenty of sense.
The two schools are separated by just a few hours, making travel manageable for both fan bases while creating an attractive regional matchup that would likely draw strong television interest.
It's also a series that has produced entertaining football.
The most recent meeting came in 2024, when Oklahoma State outlasted Arkansas 39-31 in double overtime in one of the most exciting non-conference games of the season.
The Cowboys survived a back-and-forth battle in Stillwater, delivering one of the signature wins of Mike Gundy's season.
Looking back now, that victory carries even more significance.
It stands as Oklahoma State's last win over a Power Four opponent before the Cowboys endured a winless Big 12 campaign, making it the final marquee victory of Gundy's tenure before Eric Morris took over as head coach.
The recent history between the programs also supports making the matchup a regular occurrence.
Oklahoma State and Arkansas have already met twice in the last five seasons, showing there's already familiarity between the schools despite playing in different conferences. The series isn't over, either, as the Cowboys are already scheduled to travel to Fayetteville in 2027 for the next installment.
That upcoming matchup only adds to the conversation.
If the game delivers another competitive finish, it could strengthen the case for Oklahoma State and Arkansas to make this one of college football's more consistent non-conference rivalries. Regional matchups with recent history are becoming increasingly valuable in college football, and this one already has many of the ingredients fans want to see.
From Oklahoma State's perspective, it would also provide another quality Power Four non-conference test each season while keeping travel relatively short.
For Arkansas, the benefits are similar.
The Razorbacks would face a familiar regional opponent capable of drawing national attention without requiring a cross-country trip.
Those are the kinds of games college football fans often ask for more of.
While nothing has been announced beyond the 2027 meeting, the discussion on Arkansas radio highlights something many fans already believe.
When Oklahoma State and Arkansas meet, it's usually entertaining.
If both fan bases have anything to say about it, perhaps the 2027 matchup won't be the last chapter in what is becoming one of the more intriguing regional non-conference series in college football.
