1977 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks football Southwest Conference SWC 3 3 11–1 7–1 Lou Holtz 1st Veer Monte Kiffin 1st 5–2 Leotis Harris Steve Little Howard Sampson Razorback StadiumWar Memorial Stadium Co-national champion (Rothman (FACT))Orange Bowl champion Orange Bowl W 31–6 vs. Oklahoma The 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their first year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Razorbacks compiled an 11–1 record (7–1 against SWC opponents), finished in second place in the SWC, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 389 to 101. The Razorbacks' only loss was to SWC champion Texas by a 13–9 score. There was controversy during that game, when Arkansas QB Ron Calcagni's facemask was grabbed by a Texas player during a key drive, but the officials did not call the penalty, and Arkansas was forced to settle for a field goal. The team advanced to 1978 Orange Bowl, defeating No. 2 Oklahoma by a 31–6 score.1977 Arkansas Razorbacks Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 3, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arkansas/1977-schedule.html Arkansas was ranked No. 3 in both the final AP poll and the final UPI Coaches Poll. Offensive guard Leotis Harris and placekicker Steve Little were both consensus first-team picks for the 1977 College Football All-America Team. Little punted 48 times for 2,127 yards, and had the fourth-best average in college football, with 44.3 yards per punt. Little scored an average of 8.5 points per game for the Razorbacks, including 19 field goals (30 attempted) and 37 extra points. This was the eighth-best average per game, and the second-best among kickers. His 1.73 field goals per game was second-best to Paul Marchese of Kent State. The Razorbacks also had the third-best scoring defense and tied for the fourth-best pass defense. The Hogs, along with the Indiana Hoosiers, gave up only 89.5 yards per game through the air, and the Hogs only surrendered 8.6 points per game. Only North Carolina and Ohio State allowed fewer points in 1977. The Hogs were ranked third by the AP, behind runner-up Alabama and champion Notre Dame. Rothman (FACT), a mathematical rating system in use since 1968 and NCAA-designated major selector, selected Arkansas as co-national champions with Notre Dame and Texas.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2017/FBS.pdf 2017 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records The National Collegiate Athletic Association July 2017 Indianapolis August 23, 2018 114 Schedule 1977 AP September 10 w y New Mexico State War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR 53–10 53,167 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-razorbacks-stam/169159228/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Razorbacks stampede past New Mexico St. 53–10 September 11, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com September 17 w y Oklahoma State 15 War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR 28–6 54,280 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marshall-news-messenger-razorbacks-s/169159297/ The Marshall News Messenger Razorbacks shut down Oklahoma State, 28–6 September 18, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 w y 16 Tulsa Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR 37–3 43,524 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-razorbacks-blast-by-tu/169159364/ The Victoria Advocate Razorbacks blast by Tulsa, 37–3 September 25, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 1 w y 12 TCU Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX 42–6 22,713 https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-hogs-crush-tcu/169159460/ Longview Morning Journal Hogs crush TCU October 2, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 l 8 Texas 2 Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR rivalry ABC 9–13 44,296 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-waxahachie-daily-light-texas-defeats/169157915/ The Waxahachie Daily Light Texas defeats Arkansas in stirring 13–9 battle October 16, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 w 9 Houston War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR 34–0 53,924 https://www.newspapers.com/article/corsicana-daily-sun-hogs-slaughter-uh-3/169159551/ Corsicana Daily Sun Hogs slaughter UH, 34–0 October 23, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 w y 8 Rice Rice Stadium Houston, TX 30–7 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-razorbacks-bowl-ov/169159637/ Abilene Reporter-News Razorbacks bowl over hapless Owls October 30, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 5 w 8 Baylor War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR 35–9 53,620 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-razorbacks-humbl/169159697/ The Tyler Courier-Times Razorbacks humble Baylor November 6, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 12 w y 8 Texas A&M 11 Kyle Field College Station, TX rivalry 26–20 54,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monitor-hogs-halt-am-2620/169159773/ The Monitor Hogs halt A&M, 26–20 November 13, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 w 8 SMU Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR 47–7 43,791 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-arkansas-drubs-smu-acc/169159848/ The Miami Herald Arkansas drubs SMU, accepts OB bid November 20, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 24 w 6 Texas Tech Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX rivalry ABC 17–14 32,856 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pampa-daily-news-razorbacks-edge-tech/169159957/ Pampa Daily News Razorbacks edge Tech November 25, 1977 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com January 2, 1978 w y y 6 Oklahoma 2 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Bowl NBC 31–6 60,987 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-memphis-press-scimitar-arkansas-beat/169159146/ The Memphis Press-Scimitar Arkansas beats adversity first, favored Sooners later January 3, 1978 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries Orange Bowl #6 Razorbacks 14 0 10 7 #2 Sooners 0 0 0 6 The 1978 Orange Bowl was played between No. 6 Arkansas and No. 2 Oklahoma. Entering the game, the Hogs were twenty-one point underdogs against the Sooners.Whitmire, Keith. "Remember win Short-handed Arkansas' upset of OU in '78 Orange Bowl is still on the minds of many." Story. December 7, 2001. The Dallas Morning News Retrieved on November 16. Arkansas had three offensive starters suspended for the contest and another injured in bowl practice, which also led fans to believe the Sooners would roll."The Orange Bowl – 1978." Game Recap. https://web.archive.org/web/20150601100405/http://www.mmbolding.com/bowls/Orange_1978.htm 2015-06-01 Retrieved on November 16. Roland Sales of Arkansas rushed for 205 yards on 23 carries, setting an Orange Bowl record. Sales would hold the record until Ahman Green carried for 206 yards in 1998, beating Sales by a single yard."Orange Bowl Records-Single Game Leaders." Record Book.May 2020 InternetArchiveBot yes Orange Bowl. Retrieved on November 16, 2008. He came in relief of star running back Ben Cowins, who the Hogs left in Fayetteville for a violation of team rules. Sales began the scoring on a one-yard run after a Billy Sims fumble. Hog QB Ron Calcagni would score next, after a fumble by Oklahoma fullback Kenny King. Steve Little completed a field goal to give the Hogs a 17–0 cushion in the third quarter. Sales scored on a four-yard run to stretch the Hog advantage to 24–0. Oklahoma would score on an eight-yard touchdown pass, but the Hogs would stop the two-point conversion. Barnabas White would tack on another Razorback touchdown, getting the ball from Mike Scott playing quarterback for the Hogs. ARK OU collapsed 1 13:01 ARK 9 2 RushTD Roland Sales 1 good Steve Little 7 0 1 ARK 58 7 RushTD Ron Calcagni 1 good Steve Little 14 0 3 ARK 66 11 FG 32 Steve Little 17 0 3 4:04 ARK 82 7 RushTD Roland Sales 4 good Steve Little 24 0 4 OU 95 10 RecTD Hicks 8 Dean Blevins run failed 24 6 4 ARK 70 9 RushTD Ben White 20 good Steve Little 31 6 31 6 Personnel Coaching staff Name Position Arkansas Years Alma mater Lou Holtz Head coach 1st Kent State (1957) Don Breaux Quarterbacks coach 1st McNeese State (1962) Jesse Branch Wide receivers coach 1st Arkansas (1962) Larry Beightol Offensive line coach 1st Catawba College (1963) Monte Kiffin Defensive coordinator 1st Nebraska (1963) John Mitchell Defensive ends coach 1st Alabama (1972) Bob Cope Defensive backs coach 1st Carson–Newman (c. 1960) Pete Carroll Graduate assistant 1st Pacific (1972) Roster 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks f 43 Jr Jerry Eckwood RB y 72 Sr Leotis Harris G y 10 Jr Mike Scott QB 86 Jr Dan Hampton DT y 31 Sr Howard Sampson S y 12 So Steve Little Steve Little (American football) P K y *Lou Holtz References Arkansas Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football seasons Category:Orange Bowl champion seasons Arkansas Razorbacks football