Arkansas' annual game at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium is today and there will be several prospects in attendance.
While the Razorbacks can't host official visitors away from campus, they do have the chance to host prospects unofficially in central Arkansas at least once every two years.
That's because they also have the opportunity to be the home team in the Southwest Classic -- the yearly game against Texas A&M held at Arlington, Texas -- every other year.
The Razorbacks are recruiting Cisco Junior College defensive tackle Michael Clemons (6-foot-7, 240 pounds, 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash), who had a bye this weekend and wanted to take an official visit to Arkansas.
But the Razorbacks won't be home -- at least on campus -- so Clemons will head to Oklahoma State on an official visit instead.
He's also set up visits with Ole Miss and Missouri in January while working to find a date with Arkansas.
"You only have so many of those opportunities," Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said last year. "You love to bring kids in on official visits for home games and obviously this is one where we can't do it. We have thrown around the idea with a couple kids that if this was their only free date to bring them into Fayetteville and have them waiting on us to get back from Little Rock and be able to have an official visit.
"But obviously they don't get to see home game environment and we really feel that is critical. It eliminates one ... but unfortunately it is a big one because kids sometimes only get one bye a year, and if this one is it, it just kind of messes everything up."
There is no true data to suggest which is better for the program, but Razorback assistant coach Barry Lunney Jr. -- who is Arkansas' chief in-state recruiter -- does certainly see some positives from playing in Little Rock.
"It makes it easier for kids in Louisiana and central and eastern Arkansas to get to the games," Lunney said. "Anytime that you can take advantage of that and reach a kid that can't get to Fayetteville, it is a good thing that they can still get exposed to Razorback football and our fan base and how passionate they are and our product so that's a good thing."
The Razorbacks are contracted to play in Little Rock through 2018 and in Arlington through 2024.
Arkansas vice chancellor and athletic director Jeff Long was asked recently about extending the contract or having all in-state games in Fayetteville.
"Either way it goes, it will be difficult," Long said. "We'll have to face that at some point. That's what leaders do; we'll face that question.''
Long is clearly aware of what taking games out of Little Rock completely could do even as games in Fayetteville generate millions more dollars than those in central Arkansas.
"I certainly hope this state doesn't turn the decision about Little Rock [and] about adding to [Razorback Stadium] into a great stadium debate," Long said. "To divide makes no sense to me."
Sports on 10/01/2016