Game week has arrived for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and the Golden Lions are facing their stiffest test in three years to open the season.
The UAPB football team will play No. 23 Texas Tech at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, on ESPN-Plus.
Texas Tech (8-5 in 2024) will be the first ranked FBS opponent for UAPB since the Golden Lions traveled to No. 8 Oklahoma State in 2022. The Cowboys won 76-3.
UAPB (3-9) coach Alonzo Hampton said it will take a team effort against the Red Raiders.
“We can’t go out there and get caught up in one-on-one battles,” Hampton said. “I’m not asking one player to go win the game. I’m not asking one side of the ball to win the game for us. I’m asking every unit to do their part. If we do that, that’s going to give us an opportunity to have a good showing.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Golden Lions have opened each season on the road against an FBS opponent since Hampton’s first year with UAPB in 2023. This will be the second-straight time they face one from a Power Four conference. Last year, the University of Arkansas defeated UAPB 70-0 after scoring on each of its offensive possessions.
The disparity in money and resources between the SWAC and Power Four conferences always make these matchups tough for SWAC schools and often lead to lopsided scores, but that doesn’t mean the Golden Lions are afraid.
Hampton on Monday brought up the comments former UAPB wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson made before the Arkansas game last year.
“Last year, we had a young man said he wasn’t afraid of Arkansas,” Hampton said. “He thought he was the better player, and that was JaVonnie Gibson. He didn’t catch any balls, but he was open. Now, he’s at Oklahoma. We have a lot of kids on the roster this year, they have that same mindset.”
Hampton went on to say he told Gibson afterward that he understood what Gibson meant, but Gibson didn’t need to say it publicly.
The gap in resources between the SWAC and Power Four has only increased since the introduction of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) to the NCAA. Texas Tech has made headlines for how much NIL money it has used to build its roster.
The UAPB coaches have not shied away from bringing up the large sums of money Texas Tech has spent. Offensive coordinator Tony Hull said during fall camp facing this squad will be different from facing the Razorbacks last year, because the Red Raiders need to show the money they spent was worth it.
“What’s the easiest way to justify what you spending? Go out and embarrass your week one opponent,” Hull said. “So, we gotta get those guys prepared for that. We know what it is. We know they gotta feel good about themselves. We just gotta do our part to go in and prepare our kids to be able to play to the best of their ability.”
Although Tech should have every advantage on paper against UAPB, last year showed an FCS opener isn’t always easy.
In 2024, the Red Raiders opened the season against Abilene Christian. Rather than cruising to an easy win, Tech needed overtime to slip past the Wildcats 52-51.
Tech coach Joey McGuire said in his Monday news conference every year’s team is different, and he believes this team won’t overlook UAPB.
“We have a very old, veteran team,” McGuire said. “I will be shocked if our older guys allow this team not to be ready to play Saturday. This is a player-led team, and we’ve allowed them to lead us and help me make sure everything is going in the right direction.”