FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas will open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 with a home game against Western Carolina at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette received a copy of the game contract, with the game guarantee redacted, on Wednesday via a public records request.

More from WholeHogSports Arkansas' future non-conference games

Western Carolina is a Football Championship Subdivision school based in Cullowhee, N.C. The Catamounts, coming off a 3-8 season, compete in the Southern Conference, where they posted a 1-7 league record last year.

The Razorbacks and Catamounts have never played in football.

Second-year Arkansas Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek was a senior associate AD at Western Carolina from 2000-04.

Arkansas has two known non-conference games in 2023. The Razorbacks will host BYU on Sept. 23 as the return game on a home-and-home agreement, with Arkansas traveling to Provo, Utah, for a game on Oct. 15, 2022.