Tag: Arkansas Razorbacks

Darius Acuff Jr. erupts for 37 as Arkansas survives Oklahoma to reach SEC semifinals

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3/14/2026

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Darius Acuff Jr. erupts for 37 as Arkansas survives Oklahoma to reach SEC semifinals

The Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball are headed to the SEC Tournament semifinals thanks to a massive performance from their star guard.

Darius Acuff Jr. poured in 37 points Friday night as No. 17 Arkansas held off the Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball for an 82-79 victory.

The Razorbacks, seeded third in the tournament, improved to 24-8 on the season and advanced to their 17th semifinal appearance in the conference tournament.

Acuff carries Arkansas offense

Acuff, the SEC’s scoring leader and both the conference’s Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, led the way from the opening tip.

He scored 21 points in the first half alone, keeping Arkansas within striking distance as the teams battled to a 39-37 halftime score in favor of Oklahoma.

The back-and-forth contest featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties, highlighting just how evenly matched the teams were throughout the night.

Trevon Brazile added 12 points for Arkansas, while Meleek Thomas struggled offensively, finishing with eight points on 2-of-10 shooting despite entering the game averaging 15.4 points per contest.

Razorbacks take control late

The game remained tight deep into the second half.

Dayton Forsythe’s layup tied the score at 67 with 5:38 remaining before Malique Ewin’s dunk gave Arkansas the lead for good with just over five minutes left.

The Razorbacks then surged with nine of the next 11 points, capped by an Acuff three-pointer with 2:27 remaining that pushed the lead to 76-69 — their largest advantage of the night.

Oklahoma had one final opportunity in the closing seconds after Acuff missed the second of two free throws with 10 seconds remaining.

However, Nijel Pack’s potential game-tying three-point attempt missed, and Arkansas secured possession with just 0.6 seconds left to seal the win.

Sooners fall just short

Pack led Oklahoma with 19 points, while Derrion Reid and Tae Davis each added 17 points. Mohamed Wague contributed 13 points for the Sooners.

The loss snapped Oklahoma’s six-game winning streak and left the Sooners at 19-15 overall. After an early nine-game skid in conference play, Oklahoma had rallied late in the season and hoped a tournament upset could strengthen its NCAA Tournament résumé.

What’s next

Arkansas will now face the Ole Miss Rebels men’s basketball in the SEC Tournament semifinals after the Rebels upset Alabama earlier Friday.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma must now wait to see whether its late-season surge will be enough to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament field.

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Arkansas Lands Major Tyson Foods Partnership Featuring Jersey Patch Sponsorship

The Arkansas Razorbacks are stepping deeper into the modern business era of college sports.

Arkansas announced a five-year partnership with Tyson Foods that will place the company’s logo on uniforms across all Razorbacks athletic programs beginning in 2026, a move first noted by On3Sports’ Steve Samra. The agreement represents one of the most comprehensive jersey sponsorship deals in college athletics since the NCAA recently allowed programs to sell patch placements. (Source)

NIL Opportunities Central to the Agreement

Beyond uniform branding, the structure of the deal places a major emphasis on athlete compensation.

Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said approximately 90 percent of the revenue generated from the partnership is expected to flow directly to Razorbacks athletes through name, image and likeness opportunities tied to Tyson Foods.

“The intention is that every student-athlete will be positively impacted by this partnership,” Yurachek said. “That was really important to Mr. Tyson and Donnie King, their president and CEO, and Kristina Lambert, their chief growth officer. And it’s really important to us as well.”

Yurachek described the agreement as “the largest true sponsorship agreement in college athletics right now,” highlighting its potential impact across the department.

Financial Details Remain Private

Specific financial terms were not disclosed.

However, Tyson Foods chairman John Tyson addressed speculation about the value of the partnership.

“It’s not $100 million, let’s put it that way,” Tyson told CBS Sports.

Even without exact numbers publicly released, the structure of the agreement could make it one of the most influential NIL-driven sponsorship models currently operating in college sports.

“The game’s changing so quickly,” Tyson added. “NIL sponsorships, funding for universities — the model is moving really, really quickly.”

Branding Extends Beyond Jerseys

The partnership reaches far beyond uniform patches.

Tyson Foods will receive branding placements across Arkansas athletic facilities, including courts and playing fields, while also becoming the “Official Protein of the Razorbacks.”

The company also plans to involve Arkansas student-athletes in brand ambassador programs. Those marketing roles will serve as the primary vehicle for NIL compensation tied to the agreement.

A Growing Trend in College Athletics

Arkansas becomes only the second major college program to announce a comprehensive all-sport jersey sponsorship since the NCAA approved the concept earlier this year.

LSU Tigers reached a seven-year jersey patch agreement with Woodside Energy in February. Meanwhile, UNLV Rebels signed a five-year, $11 million deal with Accesso Biologics in December.

NCAA rules allow programs to sell up to two jersey patch sponsorships, though Yurachek indicated Tyson Foods will serve as the exclusive partner across all Razorbacks teams.

“Mr. Tyson and I had some conversations about how this might look specific to men’s basketball, and then that opened up a broader conversation for the inclusion of all 19 of our sports,” Yurachek said.

Local Ties Driving the Partnership

Tyson Foods, headquartered in nearby Springdale, has longstanding ties to Arkansas and the surrounding region.

Yurachek said the company’s involvement reflects both its regional connection and its commitment to supporting Razorbacks athletics.

“I think they’re stepping up and really want to show their support,” Yurachek added. “Hopefully, that support encourages others to continue to support at an even higher level than they already are.”

A Model for the Future

With NIL compensation, brand integrations and jersey patches spread across 19 sports, the Arkansas–Tyson partnership could serve as a blueprint for future sponsorship structures in college athletics.

As schools continue navigating the evolving NIL landscape, agreements like this highlight how universities and corporate partners are beginning to reshape the financial model supporting student-athletes.

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