Arkansas basketball entered the preseason with the kind of roster that usually forces a rethink in the rankings, but the AP didn’t budge much. The Razorbacks landed at No. 12 in the AP Preseason Top 25 despite owning the nation’s unanimous No. 1 recruiting class heading into the 2026-2027 season.
That slot feels light after what John Calipari has already done in Fayetteville. In his first year leading Arkansas, he took the Hogs to the Sweet 16.
Last season, he added an SEC Tournament Championship and another Sweet 16 run. Now, heading into his third season, he’s reloaded again the way he always seems to - with elite talent and another roster that looks built to matter.
Even with Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile, and Darius Acuff Jr. off to the NBA, Arkansas still brings in the top recruiting class in the country. That alone would turn heads.
Add in what the Razorbacks have returned and added, and the No. 12 label starts to look even more off. Billy Richmond III is back, and Georgia transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson gives Arkansas another scoring option.
Wilkinson averaged 17.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 41.0% from the field, 35.7% from behind the arc, and 78.6% at the charity stripe.
The bigger argument here is that Arkansas should already be living in the top 10 conversation. The case becomes strongest for the No. 7 spot currently held by Tennessee.
That ranking took a hit when the Volunteers traveled to Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 20, 2026, and got thumped by No. 2 Duke, 103-64, in an exhibition game.
Yes, it was an exhibition. But a 39-point loss still says something. Tennessee’s showing undercut its case for being that high, especially when Arkansas turned around and handled its own exhibition test in much stronger fashion.
On Saturday, the Razorbacks beat No. 15 Gonzaga 76-72 in Bud Walton Arena.
That result carried weight because Gonzaga is an elite program and the Hogs had to earn it. It also gave Arkansas a better-looking résumé than Tennessee’s, at least in the context of these preseason rankings.
The comparison is hard to ignore. Duke looked the part.
Tennessee did not. Arkansas, meanwhile, looked like a team with enough depth and enough talent to challenge anybody.
The source points to a roster that can go 11 deep and even has two starting fives worth of pieces, which makes the Hogs a problem for opponents all over the floor.
That’s why the argument lands on Arkansas as the better No. 7 candidate. The Razorbacks have the kind of depth that can absorb an uneven night and still beat quality teams. They also have enough firepower to believe they can push Duke, while Tennessee’s performance in Durham made its own ranking look shaky.
The broader complaint is about timing. The AP released preseason rankings before all the exhibition games were finished, and that left the list open to criticism.
The source argues those rankings should wait until the exhibition slate is complete, especially now, when preseason placement carries extra weight in the NIL and transfer portal era. Rankings affect how recruits view programs, including where they think they can win and get noticed by NBA front offices.
For Arkansas, though, the preseason ranking itself might just be fuel. Calipari has always seemed to like being underestimated, and the source makes clear he welcomes that kind of outside noise. If the Hogs play to their talent, the AP’s No. 12 tag may not look right for long.
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Arkansas Still Has One Offensive Problem It Can't Shake
Arkansas has found a little rhythm coming out of halftime, scoring touchdowns on the opening drive of the second half in consecutive games. The opening possession of games, though, has been a different story entirely, and that has remained one of the more frustrating blind spots for an offense trying to build momentum early instead of chasing it.
Offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey has pointed to the basics as the fix, stressing the need to cut down on penalties, negative plays and sacks that can derail a drive before it gets started. There was also a notable development up front against Vanderbilt, where backup center Kash Courtney filled in for injured captain Caden Kitler and earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors, even as Kitler stayed listed as the starter on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Gets A Real Opening Against Missouri In A Brutal SEC Test
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On the personnel front, the Tigers at least got a useful sign from Ahmad Hardy, who has returned to full practice after dealing with an injury. There still isnt a timetable for when he might be back in a game, which leaves one more layer of uncertainty for Missouri as it tries to steady itself before facing an Arkansas team looking for any opening it can find. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Gets One More Frontcourt Test As Memphis Waits On Key Big Man
Arkansas gets one more chance to sharpen its frontcourt before the games start counting, and the exhibition against Memphis should offer a useful look at how the Razorbacks handle size, length and physical play in the paint. For a team still sorting out its early identity, these tune-up games matter because they expose problems that can be hidden in practice, especially on the glass and around the rim.
Memphis brings its own uncertainty into the matchup, with forward Nemanja Popovic at the center of an NCAA eligibility dispute that could affect his availability when the regular season arrives. He just turned in a strong showing in an exhibition, which only adds to the intrigue for Arkansas as it tries to evaluate its interior defense against a frontcourt that may look different from one week to the next. [Read more 🡒]