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FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek thinks the Razorbacks’ tough schedule, their rugged style of play and various injuries have played a role in the team’s three-game skid after opening 4-0 and peaking at No. 8 in The Associated Press top 25 under second-year Coach Sam Pittman.

“Obviously Sam takes every loss really, really hard as do our players,” Yurachek told the Arkansas DemocratGazette when asked how Pittman is handling the losing streak.

“We got out to an incredible start, 4-0 I would say exceeded all of our expectations with that and being ranked in the top 10 in the country. But when you’re in the Southeastern Conference and you go on a string where you play Texas A&M, then you play Georgia, then you play Ole Miss and then you play

Auburn …”

The Razorbacks’ threegame run against then No. 7 Texas A&M, then No. 2 Georgia and then No. 17 Ole Miss was rated the toughest three-game stretch of any team in the country.

Auburn re-entered the top 25 this week at No. 19 after beating Arkansas 38-23 last week.

“As hard as our young men played it takes its toll on them,” Yurachek said. “We’re not built like other SEC teams yet, but we play really, really hard. When you’re not built that way, that playing really, really hard is going to come back at you.

“We’ve seen that over the past couple of weeks. Not making any excuses for Coach Pittman or our team because they’re not making any excuses. But the opportunity to step out of conference, and play the game this weekend, and then have a bye week next week comes at a really good time for our program.”