Could the Arkansas tailgate trend of the 2024-2025 season be Razorback-shaped frozen chicken nuggets from Tyson Foods? 

That seems to be the idea behind the partnership between the University of Arkansas and the the Northwest Arkansas-based poultry producer. A news release from Tyson Foods (that everyone I know has sent me today) says fans can express their love for tailgating and game day parties this fall with the launch of Tyson’s white meat nuggets designed in the shape of the University of Arkansas’s iconic hog mascot. 

“When Arkansas fans cheer on our teams this season they will be inspired by their passion for the Hogs and fueled by the new Tyson Razorback Nuggets,” UA Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek said.

Most of us know what Tyson’s frozen chicken nuggets taste like, and we probably wouldn’t bring them to parties, not even the dinosaur-shaped Dino Fun Nuggets. But this could definitely become a trend amongst the Hog faithful. Razorback Twitter was hyping Tyson Chicken nuggets and using them to taunt Kentucky fans back in April, not long after the story broke that Yurachek hired former Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari. 

Many Arkansas fans already knew that Calipari and Tyson Chairman John H. Tyson were good friends and that Tyson Foods is a major donor to Arkansas Athletics. But the company’s future contributions to the basketball program’s NIL collective was a major bargaining chip for Yurachek to lure Calipari to Fayetteville. During Calipari’s introductory press conference at Bud Walton Arena, Tyson received one of the loudest ovations from the estimated 7,000 fans in attendance that rainy Wednesday evening. Just imagine how many Hog fans would’ve celebrated that night by preheating the oven to 350 degrees for some Razorback-shaped, breaded, piping hot all white meat chicken delights. 

Razorback Nuggets can be found in the freezer aisle of select Walmart stores in early August and select Sam’s Club locations in September and at a future tailgate near you. 

Here’s the full release: 

Football fever is kicking into high gear, and two treasured Arkansas brands are teaming up to let fans express their love for tailgating and game day parties with the launch of Tyson® Razorback™ Nuggets. Fans can support their team this fall with Tyson® brand’s white meat nuggets designed in the shape of the University of Arkansas’s iconic hog mascot.

Headquartered in Northwest Arkansas, home to the University of Arkansas, the Tyson team is steeped in the Razorback® fandom that inspired the creation of the special nuggets. The announcement just three months ago that legendary Hall of Fame coach John Calipari would take over as the Razorback® head basketball coach sparked a new level of excitement among tried-and-true Hogs fans and a steady chorus of calls arose to do something to celebrate their beloved Razorbacks® in a special way.

“Tyson Foods is in Razorback® Country, most of our team members are huge Razorback® fans and our consumers have been calling for a way to celebrate their team. We’ve listened and are excited to deliver Tyson® Razorback™ Nuggets to Arkansas fans in time for the football season,” said Kristina Lambert, SVP & GM Retail Value Added Poultry, Tyson Foods. “These nuggets are perfect for upcoming game day events and just in time for tailgating, so stock up!”

“When Arkansas fans cheer on our teams this season they will be inspired by their passion for the Hogs and fueled by the new Tyson® Razorback™ Nuggets,” said Hunter Yurachek, University of Arkansas Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics. “With these two iconic Arkansas brands teaming up, the Razorback™ Nation will be primed and ready to ‘Call the Hogs’ from pre-game to post-game while showing their loyal support of our more than 460 Razorback™ student-athletes.”  

The Razorback™ Nuggets join the collection of Tyson Foods fun nuggets that also includes Spooky Nuggets shaped like ghosts, bats and pumpkins, and the perennial kid-favorite Dino Nugget. They are an excellent source of protein with 13 grams per serving, fully cooked and skillfully breaded, and are ready in under seven minutes in an air fryer. They can be found in the freezer aisle of select Walmart stores in early August and select Sam’s Club locations in September.   

Rhett Brinkley is the food editor at the Arkansas Times. Send restaurant tips and food selfies to rhettbrinkley@arktimes.com