FAYETTEVILLE — There are just two weeks remaining until Arkansas football's 2026 season kicks off against North Alabama Are the Razorbacks in store for another disappointing campaign? Or will coach Ryan Silverfield and a roster filled with turnover push back against the low expectations to deliver a surprising fall? As we get closer to kickoff, the Southwest Times Record is running a slew of preview content. We've already published our game-by-game picks and a look at the best-case scenario for the Hogs this fall. We'll also dish out some bold predictions later this week. But any optimisim must have some balance. Here's a look at the worst-case scenarios for the Razorbacks in 2026.
Another year near the bottom in sacks allowed Nothing ruins a passer's development like an unbearable pass rush. Newly named starter KJ Jackson needs protection from the offensive line. The Hogs ranked 99th, 114th and 126th nationally in sacks allowed during the last three seasons. This year's offensive line has a solid foundation on the interior with returning starters Kobe Branham and Caden Kitler, but the other three positions will be filled by players set for their first meaningful action in the SEC. Outside of quarterback, no position will be under more scrutiny during the Week 2 clash at Utah. There aren't enough explosive weapons on offense Mike Washington Jr. could be sorely missed if Sutton Smith can't carry over their production into the SEC. Smith is the biggest home-run threat on the roster, but he's only had one previous season with more than 350 rushing yards. It came last year during his final campaign with Memphis. Outside of Smith, there aren't any obvious weapons who can stretch the defense. Braylen Russell is more of a bruiser out of the backfield, and wide receiver Chris Marshall must prove he can live up to his five-star billing coming out of high school. This will be his fifth attempt after spending time at Texas A&M, Kilgore College and Boise State. A revolving door at quarterback We mentioned in the best-case scenarios article why it would be beneficial for Arkansas to use the winner between Jackson and AJ Hill throughout the fall. Jackson has since been named the starter. If the starting quarterback goes through multiple changes in 2026, it will hurt Arkansas' future. Both players still have multiple years of eligibility remaining. If neither is the answer, Silverfield will have to dramatically reshape his room this offseason, and that is an expensive position to overhaul. The head coach might also be motivated to throw freshman Hank Hendrix into the fire, but he should still be a senior in high school. The Razorbacks need consistency from one of their older players. Defense gets let down by depth Our first three doomsday scenarios all involved the offense. There are more questions on that side of the football. But the defense is just a couple of injuries away from having similar concerns, particularly in the secondary and at linebacker. At safety, the backups to Christian Harrison and Miguel Mitchell are a transfer from West Georgia (Kyeaure Magloire) and a freshman (Tay Lockett). Silverfield has expressed confidence in starting linebackers Brad Shaw and Jo'Quavion Smith, but there's been a constant rotation behind that duo. It remains unclar if there is enough depth on defense. Zero SEC victories A second consecutive season without a conference win would push Arkansas' record in the league to 4-29 across the last five years. There's a chance the Razorbacks are underdogs in every league game this fall. They're going to need to pull off an upset, preferably in front of a home crowd, to create some momentum for the Silverfield era. Failing to do so would be a stain on the start of his tenure. Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: What are Arkansas football's worst-case scenarios in 2026?