Hogs, Tigers, and the Rivalry that Divides the fanbase of Arkansas

DALLAS, T.X. (PIG TRAIL NATION) – If anyone knows about the history of Arkansas football, it’s Eli Drinkwitz.

While the current Missouri coach was born in Oklahoma, his family moved to Alma when he was young. When Drinkwitz got into coaching at the high school level, his career also began in that same River Valley town back in 2005.

He considers Alma his home town.

“I know in Arkansas, obviously, when I used to live there, there’s a deep rivalry toward to University of Texas,” Drinkwitz said in the electronic media room. “Arkansas and the Battle Line Trophy is a big deal for us.”

The rivalry itself is young compared to the Battle for the Golden Boot or the Hogs longstanding rivalry with the Longhorns. While the two teams met for the first time in 1906, they have only faced each other 14 times.

The trophy itself got handed out for the first time in 2015, since then the Tigers are 7-2 in the series with the 2023 rendition ending with a 48-14 blowout win for Drinkwitz’s program.

With the lack of history between the programs overall, Hog fans are split whether or not this is a true rivalry between the teams.

“It’s a rival for a reason,” Missouri defensive lineman Kristian Williams told reporters Tuesday afternoon. “Guys compete with each other at the highest level.”

But the competition does not always bring out the best in people. In the second quarter of last November’s game, three players were ejected after a fight broke out following a Missouri touchdown.

“Emotions flare up,” Williams added on the matter.

Williams’ head coach, on the other hand, is hoping to avoid seeing tensions rise during the 2024 season.

“It’s very important and, you know, disappointed obviously for us last year and that our actions got out of control,” Drinkwitz discussed on the matter. “I’ve got to do a better job of coaching in that situation.”

Emotions and tempers aside, the SEC announced that Arkansas and Missouri will remain permanent rivals for at least the near future. Even though divisions in the league no longer exist, don’t expect the Battle Line Trophy game to go away anytime soon as the Hogs and Tigers play on November 30, in Columbia.