| Year: | 1979 |
| Team: | Arkansas Razorbacks |
| Sport: | football |
| Logo Alt: | Arkansas Razorbacks logo |
| Conference: | Southwest Conference |
| Short Conf: | SWC |
| Coachrank: | 9 |
| Aprank: | 8 |
| Record: | 10–2 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Head Coach: | Lou Holtz |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Coach: | Monte Kiffin |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Captain: | Jim Howard |
| Captain2: | Roland Sales |
| Stadium: | Razorback Stadium War Memorial Stadium |
| Champion: | Southwest Conference co-champion |
| Bowl: | Sugar Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 9–24 vs. Alabama |
The 1979 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Razorbacks compiled a 10–2 record (7–1 against SWC opponents), finished in a tie with Houston for the SWC championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 284 to 132. The Razorbacks' only regular season loss was to Houston by a 13–10 score. The team advanced to the 1980 Sugar Bowl, losing to undefeated national champion Alabama by a 24–9 score.[1] [2] Arkansas was ranked #8 in the final AP Poll and #9 in the final UPI Coaches Poll.
Offensive tackle Greg Kolenda was a consensus All-American for the Razorbacks in 1979.[3] Placekicker Ish Ordonez led the nation in field goals with 18 and lead the Southwest Conference in scoring for the second year in a row with 80 points. He broke the NCAA record of 12 consecutive field goals making 16 and hit 18 of 22 field goals on the season, for an 82% average and was second-team All-American. All SWC Quarterback Kevin Scanlon was selected the Southwest Conference Player of the Year and honorable mention All American. As a defense, Arkansas was tied for 6th in scoring defense in the 1979 season, giving up 108 points in 11 games (9.8 ppg).
Texas' John Goodson missed a 51-yard field goal into a 24-mile per hour wind with 1:29 left to play as Arkansas beat the Longhorns for the first time since 1971.[4]