Auburn Heads to Fayetteville Searching for Answers Against Surging Razorbacks
AUBURN - The last time Auburn and Arkansas squared off, it was a one-sided affair-and not in the way Razorback fans would’ve liked. Auburn ran away with a 22-point win, leaving Arkansas head coach John Calipari ready to toss the tape in the trash and move on.
“They were desperate, and they played that way,” Calipari said after that loss. “Not my team, I’m burning the tape, let’s move on.”
Fast forward nearly a month, and the roles have flipped. Auburn now finds itself in that same desperate position, heading into Saturday night’s rematch at Bud Walton Arena with a season-worst three-game losing streak and a shrinking margin for error.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN, with Tom Hart and former Tennessee guard Dane Bradshaw on the call.
This one matters-a lot. For Auburn, it's about survival. For Arkansas, it's about redemption.
Razorbacks Riding High at Home
Arkansas has been nearly untouchable in Fayetteville this season, posting a 12-1 record on their home floor. That includes wins over ranked opponents and a level of intensity that’s fueled by one of the loudest home crowds in college basketball.
The Razorbacks are ranked No. 21 heading into this matchup, and they haven’t forgotten the beatdown they took on the Plains back in January. That 95-73 loss to Auburn was one of their worst of the season, and you can bet they’ve had this rematch circled.
Expect Arkansas to come out with energy early, especially given the way Auburn has struggled to find its footing lately.
Auburn’s Skid Comes at the Worst Time
For Bruce Pearl and the Tigers, this three-game losing streak couldn’t have come at a more critical point in the season. Losses to Tennessee, Alabama, and Vanderbilt have exposed some cracks in the armor-particularly on the defensive end, where Auburn has given up 96 points in back-to-back games.
And while the offense has kept them in games-Auburn scored 92 in both of those recent defeats-it’s the inability to get stops that’s become the biggest concern. The Tigers are still capable of explosive runs, but they’ll need to tighten up defensively if they want to weather the storm in Bud Walton.
Another loss would push Auburn further down the SEC standings and make the road to March that much tougher.
Key Broadcast Info
- TV: ESPN
- Announcers: Tom Hart (play-by-play), Dane Bradshaw (analyst)
- Radio: WLWI FM (92.3) in Montgomery, WGZZ FM (94.3) in Auburn
- Radio Crew: Andy Burcham (play-by-play), Randall Dickey (color)
Auburn’s Season So Far - A Rollercoaster Ride
Auburn’s 2025-26 campaign has been a tale of highs and lows. The Tigers opened strong, notching early wins over Bethune-Cookman, Merrimack, and Wofford before narrowly falling to then-No.
2 Houston. They bounced back with a dominant win over Jackson State and a solid showing at the Thanksgiving tournament, including a key win over Oregon and a bounce-back victory against No.
15 St. John's.
But the Tigers have struggled to maintain consistency against top-tier competition. Losses to Arizona, Purdue, and Michigan highlighted some defensive vulnerabilities, while close SEC losses to Georgia and Texas A&M showed how thin the margin for error can be in this league.
Still, Auburn has shown flashes of what it can be-like the 95-73 dismantling of Arkansas in their first meeting, or the 88-82 win over Texas. The question is whether they can recapture that form on the road in one of the SEC’s toughest environments.
What’s Ahead
After Saturday’s showdown in Fayetteville, Auburn’s schedule doesn’t get any easier. They’ll travel to Mississippi State next, then return home for a marquee matchup with Kentucky. There’s also a trip to Oklahoma and a home finale against LSU before the SEC Tournament kicks off.
If Auburn wants to punch its ticket to March Madness without sweating it out on Selection Sunday, it needs to start stacking wins-starting with this rematch against Arkansas.
This isn’t just another game. It’s a gut check. And how Auburn responds could define the rest of its season.