Why an Arkansas win over Missouri would matter for lowly Razorbacks

With the Arkansas Razorbacks in the midst of a two-win season and a coaching search dominating the headlines in the Natural State, it's safe to say that Saturday's Battle Line Rivalry game between Arkansas and Missouri is not the most hyped-up college football matchup of the weekend. 

But while a good number of Razorbacks fans are understandably apathetic in regard to Saturday's result, the Hogs' season finale still matters. Here are three reasons why. 

Arkansas trying to avoid dreaded infamy

The Chad Morris-led Razorbacks in 2018 and 2019 were the last Arkansas squads to go winless in Southeastern Conference play. A loss to Mizzou on Saturday would make it thrice in eight years that Arkansas has gone winless in the SEC and ensure a third two-win season in that same span. 

The difference between two wins and three wins overall may seem small, but the difference between winning a conference game and going 0-fer is important, even if it doesn't seem like it. You can bet that everyone on the Arkansas sideline does not want to be associated with a team that failed to attain a single SEC win. 

Bobby Petrino looking to go out on top

Bobby Petrino has a complicated relationship with the University of Arkansas, to say the least. He took the Razorbacks to the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl in back-to-back years (2010 and 2011) before an off-field scandal resulted in his dismissal. After coming back to serve as Sam Pittman's offensive coordinator in November 2023, he became the interim head coach when Pittman was fired on Sept. 28.