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· collected 2026-08-20 · by Eric W. Bolin The Associated Press
Ryan Silverfield, the new coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team, is seeking to turn around the program's fortunes after a dismal 2025 season where they finished with a 2-10 record. The team has struggled in recent years, producing only one winning conference season since 2011 and finishing with zero or one SEC wins five times in nine seasons. Silverfield inherits a team that has several strengths, including a defensive line led by returning player Quincy Rhodes Jr., who had eight sacks last year. However, the team's weaknesses include a lack of clarity and depth at many positions, particularly quarterback and linebacker.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Arkansas football coach Ryan Silverfield has been tasked with turning around the team's fortunes after a disappointing 2-10 record in 2025, including just one or zero Southeastern Conference (SEC) wins in five of the last nine seasons. The Razorbacks have struggled to find success, producing only one winning season in conference play since 2011. Silverfield is the fifth coach since that year, following Bobby Petrino's departure and return as interim coach. With a challenging schedule ahead, including games against powerhouses like Georgia, Texas, and LSU, the team's goal should be to achieve a .500 season in league play, which would be considered an excellent accomplishment. Beating smaller opponents like Vanderbilt, Auburn, and South Carolina is seen as a more realistic target. If the team fails to improve its record in the SEC, it could lead to job losses beyond just the head coach, including athletic director Hunter Yurachek who has been criticized by some fans.
Written for “Arkansas Football Struggles” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 1583 · logged 2026-08-21
New coach Ryan Silverfield arrived at Arkansas in November to coach a team that has finished with either one or zero Southeastern Conference wins in five of the last nine seasons.
asserted
that → arrive → seasons
Almost no one is expecting the Razorbacks to make a bowl much less contend in the rugged SEC.
asserted
Razorbacks → expect → SEC
What the Arkansas faithful would like to see is competitiveness.
asserted
like → like → What
The team has produced just one winning season in conference play since 2011.
asserted
team → produce → 2011
Even Petrino has already returned and left again, exiting in the offseason after serving as offensive coordinator then interim coach for much of 2025 when Sam Pittman was fired Sept. 25.
asserted
Pittman → return → 2025
Given the difficulty of the schedule, a .500 season in league play would be considered an excellent accomplishment.
asserted
season → give → play
Beating the likes of Vanderbilt, Auburn and South Carolina should be the realistic focus, not trying to upset Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M and LSU.
asserted
Beating → beat → Georgia
Another winless year in the SEC might cost jobs higher up the chain than head coach, as athletic director Hunter Yurachek is a divisive figure to some of the fan base.
uncertain
Yurachek → cost → base
Strengths include defensive line, wide receiver
The Razorbacks were granted a gift when defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr. decided to return for his senior year.
asserted
Jr. → include → year
The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder recorded eight sacks and 15 1/2 tackles-for-loss, the highest totals for an Arkansas player since 2016 and 2014, respectively.
asserted
pounder → record → 2016
And while he’s the lone returning player on the defensive line penned in as starter, Arkansas has experience with returnees David Oke and Charlie Collins rotating in, plus Kentucky transfer Steven Soles Jr. and Virginia transfer Hunter Osborne expected to bolster the unit.
asserted
Oke → ’ → unit
Offensively, whoever wins the quarterback job has options at wideout: Chris Marshall is a former five-star recruit who transferred from Boise State.
asserted
who → win → State
Jamari Hawkins knows Silverfield’s system having played with him at Memphis.
asserted
Hawkins → know → Memphis
And CJ Brown is the leading returning wide receiver.
asserted
Brown → lead → ?
All three caught about 30 passes at their respective schools last year.
asserted
three → catch → schools
Weaknesses include lack of clarity and depth at many positions
It depends how the two-deep roster shakes out, but likely fewer than eight players in the group of 44 played for the Razorbacks last year.
asserted
players → include → Razorbacks
That isn’t totally unexpected given the coaching change combined with the Razorbacks’ lack of success, but it makes for a lot of open competition.
asserted
it → give → competition
Quarterback KJ Jackson is likely to win the job after impressing in two late-season games last year, but as of mid-August, Silverfield hadn’t announced a starter.
asserted
Silverfield → win → starter
The interior part of Arkansas’ offensive line appears set, but both tackle positions remain in flux.
asserted
positions → appear → flux
