The college football game between Arkansas and Texas A&M was delayed by two hours because of wicked weather. A vicious thunderstorm brought heavy winds, rain and hail to Fayetteville right as the tailgate got underway.
70,000+ fans in town for the rivalry game were forced to seek shelter.
Some of them hid inside the local bars and restaurants, which created an unexpected rush for the wait staff. Other more dedicated college football sickos huddled together under their tents.
Arkansas and Texas A&M typically play its rivalry college football game indoors.
The Southwest Classic has been played 81 times since 1903. Arkansas currently leads the all-time series 42-36-3, but Texas A&M won each of the last three.
This year is different!
These two programs played 13 of their last 16 games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Jerry Jones, an Arkansas alum, facilitated the agreement to get both programs (mostly his own) additional exposure in the Dallas-For Worth area in an effort to boost student and athlete recruitment.
Plus, AT&T Stadium has a roof. Games can be played rain or shine.
However, the contract between the venue and the two programs expired with last year’s game. Former Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork chose not to renew.
Thus, the Southwest Classic will now be played on each school’s respective campus moving forward as part of the SEC’s schedule system. It is just another conference game.
Rain and hail wreaked havoc on Fayetteville.
With the contract now expired, Saturday’s game was scheduled to be played at 2:30 p.m. CT. That did not go according to plan.
Kickoff was moved back by two hours due to weather.
A massive thunderstorm rolled through the Fayetteville area right as fans arrived to their tents for the tailgate.
Tailgating scene is about to get real interesting with some pretty strong storms moving in.
— Zachary Hall (@WxZachary) October 18, 2025
BUNCH of lightning! Be safe guys! @DanFair88 @JohnNaborsShow @CurtWilkerson_ @k_sutherlandAR @DannyWest247 pic.twitter.com/Xgy5V81e1b
It started with heavy rain.
See y’all on the other side 🫡 pic.twitter.com/3PS6ymAI2O
— John Nabors (@JohnNaborsShow) October 18, 2025
It very quickly turned to hail.
We got hail pic.twitter.com/zHz1xNkGXw
— John Nabors (@JohnNaborsShow) October 18, 2025
Most people decided to hit the nearest restaurant and/or bar. The true sickos stood strong. The party must go on! Razorbacks might lose the game but they won’t lose the party.
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium holds a maximum capacity of 76,212. Every single seat was sold for this edition of the Southwest Classic so more than 75,000 fans were displaced for two hours.
Not only is that a lot of extra time to booze, it surely created chaos for local establishments. Keep your thoughts with the wait staff in Fayetteville today. They need prayers of patience!!!