Arkansas football continues its 2024 season against Texas Tech on Friday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, and Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire spoke to the media on Thursday to preview the game.

Texas Tech had a strong season in the Big 12, finishing with an overall record of 8-4 (6-3 Big 12) with wins over teams like playoff contender Arizona State, then No. 1 in the Big 12. 10 Iowa State and common opponent Oklahoma State.

Under McGuire’s leadership, Texas Tech has posted an overall record of 23-15 (16-11 Big 12) in three seasons. At the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, the Red Raiders boasted the No. 8 total offense (459.8 YPG) and No. 123 total defense (451.9 YPG) in the country.

This will be the 38th meeting between the two teams as Arkansas leads the series 29-8. The two programs played in 2014 and 2015, with the Red Raiders most recently emerging victorious.

Here’s everything McGuire had to say about Pittman, the Razorbacks and Friday’s game:

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McGuire: “Yes, he played at a great program. Lewisville. The Lewisville Fightin’ Farmers. I played for a great head coach and, you know, I remember him in high school. I was at Baylor when it first came out and we were interested. He’s going to Boise and had a great career there and I’m thrilled. He does what he does in Arkansas.

“I’m a big fan of Coach Pittman and his culture and the way he treats his players and what he believes in. So I know he’s playing for a great man. He will be tough. He’s really good.” The football player does a great job with his arm, but whenever something breaks, he can be very creative with his legs. We really have to be clear about what he’s going to do, especially on third and fourth downs. But, great player.”

McGuire: “I see the guys in the back with a Razorback. It’s such a story… My best friend’s family, who grew up in Texarkana, was deported to Germany. They didn’t want to give up their season tickets, so we got their season tickets. So we go to Little Rock… My mom’s whole family is from Arkansas. The first football I remember seeing is the Razorback. I have a plastic Razorback hat at home. So that was really my team growing up. So when Kirby said we were playing Arkansas, I don’t think he knew that.

“I said, ‘It can’t get any better.’ The only way things can get better is if Arkansas and Texas Tech face each other in the playoffs. That’s not the case for me yet, but it will be really cool to look across the field and look at that helmet and that Razorback that I grew up with.

McGuire: “No, because the coordinators are still the same. They will do what they do. The starting quarterback is the same. I see it completely differently. This is what I told my team at our very first practice, whenever Will Hammond was going to start at quarterback: “No one is more excited about this game than Will Hammond.” So I imagine their young guys, I think they’re starting a freshman as right back, I can imagine this guy will be thrilled to play in this game.

“When you look at it like that, you have to understand that there is no one on either side of the team who is disappointed to be taking part in this game. They are happy to participate in this game. So when you think about Will, I’m not looking forward to being that guy tomorrow… He’ll be fired up and really ready to go.

“So I think it will be the same in Arkansas, so I think it will be one of the most entertaining bowl games because I think there are two really good cultures. There are people who are passionate about gaming. I think if the coordinators were a little bit different, if you had a change, I think you could see a little bit different, but Petrino is going to do what he does and we expect him to do it and see if we can’t do it. Stop it.

“We hope we can. And they are good at defense. I believe they have seven starters playing in this game, three of their leading tacklers playing in this game, so we expect to see the same thing.”

McGuire: “The same can be said about us. Defensively we were both pretty equal. We played well at different times and then gave up a lot of points.

“I think they’re really solid scheme-wise. I think they have people who are really committed to football. Their defensive line, especially when they have everyone, was really tough. No. 5, I know he’s playing tomorrow night. I know us.” We have to find out where he is because he is a dominant defensive player.

“But the biggest thing in my opinion is that they play with a lot of passion and they have a lot of representatives in this defense. Even when Coach Odom was here, they were very similar defensively. I think they really have a good idea of ​​what they’re doing.

McGuire: “Whenever the offensive takes place on the field, we ensure the noise of the crowd in the hall. I hope so. I hope this thing is packed. I hope you hear a lot of “Woo Pig Sooie” and a lot of “Raider Power.” It’ll be really cool.

“Go back and I see a lot of young people in this room, but I see some people who have gray hair. Ladies, none of you have gray hair. But this is an old Southwest Conference battle. This is I hope the Red Raiders will be there.

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