| Year: | 1979 |
| Team: | Arkansas Razorbacks |
| Sport: | football |
| 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: | SWC 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 No. 8 in the final AP poll and No. 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. Arkansas was tied for sixth in scoring defense, giving up 108 points in 11 games (9.8 points per game).
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]