No. 15 Arkansas Faces Oklahoma in Norman for First Time Since 2011

Razorbacks look to continue momentum behind star freshman Darius Acuff Jr. in SEC matchup

Jan. 27, 2026 at 1:23pm

The 15th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks will travel to Norman, Oklahoma to face the Oklahoma Sooners in a Southeastern Conference basketball matchup on Tuesday night. This will be Arkansas' first appearance in Norman since 2011, when Oklahoma earned a 78-63 victory. Arkansas holds a 17-15 edge in the all-time series, but Oklahoma has dominated at home with an 8-3 record. The Razorbacks enter the game riding momentum behind standout freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr., who has earned six SEC Freshman of the Week honors in the past seven weeks.

Why it matters

This SEC matchup between two longtime border rivals will provide an early conference test for both teams as they look to improve their postseason positioning. Arkansas is ranked 15th nationally and looking to build on its strong start to conference play, while Oklahoma is seeking its first SEC win of the season.

The details

Arkansas (15-5, 5-2 SEC) will face Oklahoma (11-9, 1-6 SEC) at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Tipoff is set for 6 PM CT and the game will be televised on ESPN. The Razorbacks are led by standout freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr., who has averaged 24 points and 5.5 assists in recent wins over ranked opponents. Oklahoma will look to protect its home court advantage, having won 8 of the 11 all-time meetings between the schools in Norman.

  • The game will tipoff at 6 PM CT on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
  • This will be Arkansas' first appearance in Norman since December 10, 2011, when Oklahoma earned a 78-63 victory.

The players

Darius Acuff Jr.

A standout freshman guard for Arkansas who has earned six SEC Freshman of the Week honors in the past seven weeks, tying a league record.

John Calipari

The head coach of Arkansas who is nearing a milestone of 900 career Division I wins, currently sitting at 892.

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What’s next

Following Tuesday's contest, Arkansas will return home to host Kentucky on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena before embarking on a stretch that includes three road games in a four-game span.

The takeaway

This game represents an important early-season SEC matchup between two programs with a long history of competition. Arkansas is looking to continue its strong start to conference play behind its talented freshman guard, while Oklahoma hopes to earn its first SEC win of the season on its home court.