(Photo credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images)

Arkansas begins a critical season for coach Sam Pittman when the Razorbacks meet Alabama A&M on Saturday afternoon at Fayetteville, Ark.

Arkansas hasn't had a winning mark in Southeastern Conference play in five seasons under Pittman, a former Georgia assistant coach. So coming off last year's 7-6 overall record, the Razorbacks are looking to make strides.

'During camp, I think we've done everything as a staff that we wanted to get accomplished,' Pittman said. 'Each year, you've got to get better.'

The Alabama A&M program is at a different stage with the Football Championship Subdivision team under first-year coach Sam Shade. The Bulldogs were 6-6 last season.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the teams.

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green is trying to build on the 2024 season in which he threw for 3,154 yards and totaled 23 total touchdowns (15 passing, eight rushing). Green joins Oklahoma's John Mateer as the lone active QBs in the country to have thrown for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for more than 600 yards last year.

Green should have plenty of weapons with the Razorbacks in their second season since former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino returned to the team as offensive coordinator.

'We're learning that we have a pretty dang good group of wideouts,' Pittman said.

One of the compelling storylines involves sophomore receiver Monte Harrison, a former major league baseball player who turned 30 earlier this month. He made two catches in his first season with the Razorbacks.

'He kept working and now he's one of those guys you want to go to,' Pittman said. 'He really is a guy you want to go to.'

Shade spent the past three seasons at Division II Miles before he was hired at Alabama A&M.

Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV will remain the starter for the Bulldogs, giving the new staff a level of comfort.

'He has played so much football so it's hard for other guys behind him to push to be in that spot right now because he has just played so much ball,' Shade said. 'We're kind of leaning on that experience.'

Quarterback JD Davis II, a transfer from Western Michigan, will be one of the backups.

'He has made a lot of improvement from spring ball up until now,' Shade said. 'He wants to be out there.'

Alabama A&M receiver Duke Miller has missed preseason practice time with a boot on his foot, so his status is murky. Shade said he liked how the rushing attack clicked for the Bulldogs during some of their scrimmage work late in the preseason.

--Field Level Media