When the game time was announced for Utah’s matchup against Arkansas, Razorbacks athletic director Hunter Yurachek took issue with the scheduling.

Not only will the contest kick off at 8:15 p.m. MDT (9:15 p.m. CDT), but the Razorbacks also have a scheduled matchup against Georgia the following weekend at 11 a.m.

“I am extremely concerned and displeased about the recently released kickoff times for our football program in consecutive weeks this September and the impact it will have on the well-being of our student-athletes,” Yurachek said in a statement in May.

“ESPN has set our game at Utah for 9:15 p.m. Central Time on Sept. 12. We anticipate returning to campus at approximately 6 a.m. on Sunday.”

The late start could rival the latest kickoff time in Arkansas history: a 9:25 p.m. CT kick against USC in 2005.

The result of that game? USC 70, Arkansas 17. Though that likely had more to do with a couple of guys named Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush playing for the Trojans than the late start.

So how have the Razorbacks prepared for their trip to Salt Lake City?

This week, Arkansas held a 9:15 p.m. CT scrimmage to mimic the late kick. As for the high altitude, Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield said he doesn’t think that will impact his players too much.

“You want to stay within a routine,” he said. “We’re going to let them sleep in as late as they can. We’re still going to wake them up — we have to feed them. Then there’s going to be that lull in the afternoon.

“It’s that fine line of how much you want them lying around. … Get them some downtime, some nap time in the afternoon.”

Arkansas offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, who coached at Montana State, said playing at a higher elevation was “a little factor, but it’s not something we are preaching except for let’s continue to hydrate.”

Something that might be a much larger — or at least louder — issue: Utah’s crowd noise.

Arkansas has tried to simulate the hostile environment it’ll face Saturday night by pumping crowd noise through speakers on the practice field, with the volume reaching about 100 decibels.

But they have taken it a step further: An assistant coach has held a large speaker next to quarterback KJ Jackson and blasted rap music while Jackson and Cramsey try to communicate.

“Is that realistic? No, but it would put us in the worst possible situation,” Cramsey said. “So when we get into Utah’s deal, then it’s fourth-and-6, and the crowd’s going nuts. Blah blah blah.”

Consider it all a sign of respect for Utah.

“They’re a Top 25 team for a reason,” Silverfield said. “You look at their head coach; he’s been there for 19 years. They’re really, really good in all three phases.

“They’ve obviously had a tremendous defense for many, many years.”

He also had high praise when talking about senior star quarterback Devon Dampier, who finished with 176 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Utes’ win over Idaho.

“That quarterback can do it all,” he said. “Not only is he a tremendous thrower, but he obviously does a great job with his legs.”