Arkansas had to be one of the most surprising teams to ever finish dead last in the SEC over the past decade in 2025.
There was plenty of talent on the offensive side of the football with its representation at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. However, the program stumbled to a 2-10 overall record, fired its coach and landed a coach in Ryan Silverfield from Memphis who has pledged to turn things around for good in Fayetteville.
It’s certainly going to be a tall task given new Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator Ron Roberts must overhaul a defense that was among the worst in the country with little talent along the defensive line.
Between Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi State, it was going to be tough to rank each team last, but someone has to be here. The Razorbacks have the highest ceiling of anyone in the bottom half of the conference and it’ll be dictated by how quickly the coaches can identify a starting quarterback among a talented group.
They’ll also have to field a competitive defense that ranks in the top-75 in order to reach at the very least bowl eligibility in 2026.
Best Addition: Jahiem Johnson, Defensive Back
The man who calls himself Joker is arguably one of the best additions not only on defense but enhances the Razorbacks talent overall. He picked off four passes for a Tulane team that went to the College Football Playoff last season and will certainly be a playmaker in the SEC next season.
Biggest Loss: Tavion Wallace, Linebacker
While he didn’t receive much playing time as a true freshman, Wallace was the top addition of Arkansas’ 2025 signing class and was at one point a top-40 prospect in the nation going into his senior year of high school. He moves on to play at Kentucky for new coach Will Stein and will have an opportunity to play for a solid defense in Year One.
2026 Schedule
Sept. 5 North Alabama
Sept. 12 at Utah
Sept. 19 Georgia
Sept. 26 Tulsa
Oct. 3 at Texas A&M
Oct. 10 Tennessee
Oct. 17 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 31 Missouri
Nov. 7 at Auburn
Nov. 14 South Carolina
Nov. 21 at Texas
Nov. 28 LSU
Spring Practice Storylines
• What will the secondary look like?
Arkansas will have a fully revamped defensive backfield with 18 new faces and one returnee in Miguel Mitchell. The Razorbacks coveted players who proved to be playmakers at their last stop, forcing turnovers and often scoring off them.
If the Hogs’ new coaching staff can figure out how to field a competent pass defense then it could lead to a big turnaround season in 2026.
• Can the front generate pressure without selling out?
For better or oftentimes worse, Arkansas blitzed teams early and often under the previous regime. With a few extra bodies in the middle, perhaps to go along with a few talented pieces on the edges there’s reason for optimism in a defensive turnaround.
• Who is QB1?
The Razorbacks move on from Taylen Green, who’s now looking to be selected in this year’s NFL Draft. That leaves the returning KJ Jackson who started against Missouri and took the majority of snaps over the final two games.
Silverfield and offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey bring Memphis quarterback and former top-150 prospect AJ Hill over with them. Arkansas has a talented room and there’s positives to having either of them start next season.
SEC Rankings
16. Arkansas
