FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Razorback football is almost back, and almost everything about it will be new.
Arkansas opens the 2026 season Saturday, Sept. 5 against North Alabama at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network.
It will be the first game of the Ryan Silverfield era. The former Memphis head coach took over after a 2-10 season in 2025 that saw Sam Pittman fired following a 2-3 start and Bobby Petrino go winless in seven games as interim coach. The Razorbacks did not win an SEC game last year.
Silverfield opened his first fall camp Aug. 5. The team is scheduled for 25 practices before the opener.
Quarterback job still up for grabs
The biggest question of camp is who will take the first snap. Redshirt sophomore KJ Jackson and redshirt freshman AJ Hill are competing for the starting job, and Silverfield has said the battle could run all the way to the season opener.
Jackson, a 6-foot-4 left-hander, saw limited action last season. He completed 27 of 46 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in games against Texas and Missouri.
Hill, a former four-star recruit, followed Silverfield and offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey from Memphis. He has two years of experience in Cramsey’s system.
Stadium getting a light show
Fans will notice changes before the first snap. The university announced July 24 that Razorback Stadium is being upgraded with more than 250 new LED lights and eight lasers through a partnership with Musco Sports Lighting.
The system will power custom logo projections, laser effects and choreographed light shows during games. Athletic director Hunter Yurachek said the additions are aimed at improving the gameday atmosphere. The stadium is also getting a new audio system.
It is the first lighting setup of its kind at the stadium.
What comes next
Arkansas plays seven home games in 2026. After the opener, the Razorbacks travel to Utah on Sept. 12, then return home to face Georgia on Sept. 19 in an 11 a.m. kickoff on ABC.
Tulsa visits Fayetteville on Sept. 26 before the Razorbacks open October at Texas A&M. Tennessee comes to Razorback Stadium on Oct. 10.
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