Arkansas will open the 2026 cross country season with a spot near the top of the SEC conversation, landing fourth in the conference preseason coaches’ poll with 73 points.
Marc Burns is heading into his second year as the Razorbacks’ coach, and the league’s coaches see his group as part of the upper tier behind Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. Alabama took the top spot with nine first-place votes and 21 points, while Florida finished second with six first-place votes and 24 points. South Carolina grabbed one first-place vote and sits third with 51 points.
The next cluster in the 16-team voting shows how tight the middle of the league could be, with Kentucky at 117 points, Tennessee at 96, Oklahoma at 88 and Missouri at 86. The coaches’ ballot used a 1-through-15 point scale, and no coach was allowed to vote for his or her own team.
Rounding out the preseason rankings are LSU with 129 points, Texas A&M with 140, Mississippi State with 154, Texas with 168, Vanderbilt with 177, Ole Miss with 189, Georgia with 191 and Auburn with 216.
Florida is the reigning SEC team champion after winning the 2025 title with 45 points. Alabama followed with 117, South Carolina with 130 and LSU with 159.
Arkansas does have some proven pieces back in the lineup. Olivia Pielemeier is the Razorbacks’ top returning runner from last year’s SEC meet after placing 24th. In the NCAA South Central Region, Josphine Mwaura was Arkansas’ highest finisher, coming in 10th, with Pielemeier right behind in 13th.
The Razorbacks also get Paityn Noe back after she sat out last season. Her 2024 run was a big one: third at the SEC Championships, first at the NCAA South Central Region and seventh at the NCAA Championships, good for All-America honors.
Another major addition is Isca Chelangat, who arrives as a transfer from Oklahoma State. Chelangat placed seventh at the 2025 NCAA Championships after finishing fourth at the Big 12 Championships and winning the NCAA Midwest Region.
Arkansas will begin the season in Columbia, Missouri, for the Gans Creek Classic on Friday, September 25. The team returns to its home course at Agri Park on Saturday, October 3, for the Chile Pepper Festival. The SEC Championships are set for Friday, October 30, at the Gans Creek course in Columbia, Missouri.
In Other News...
Arkansas Just Took Another Recruiting Hit Fans Wont Ignore
Arkansas took a recruiting stumble with Odaefe Oruru, the 3-star offensive lineman from Jenks, Oklahoma, moving away from the Razorbacks after originally committing to the program. Orurus change of heart came down to wanting to stay close to home and represent his state, a familiar kind of blow for any staff trying to build traction beyond its borders.
For Arkansas, it is another reminder that early pledges in a future class can still be fragile, especially when nearby schools enter the picture. The Razorbacks still sit at 23 commitments in the 2027 class and are ranked No. 40 nationally, but losing an offensive line prospect with regional ties leaves a small dent in a group that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Set For Huge Recruiting Chance With Elite Guard Target
Cayden Daughtrys fall visit schedule has given Arkansas a clear opening in one of the most watched recruitments in the country. The five-star guard, whose quickness and scoring ability have made him one of the top names nationally, is taking official trips to seven schools, with the Razorbacks set to get their chance to make a strong impression alongside Florida State, Tennessee, Iowa, UConn, Florida and Miami.
Daughtry backed up the hype all summer by helping his EYBL team win the Peach Jam championship, while standing out in scoring, assists and steals. For Arkansas, the appeal is obvious: he brings the kind of pace and shot-making that can change an offense, even with his smaller frame, and the upcoming visit gives the program a real shot to sell itself to a prospect who should have no shortage of options. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Home Saturdays Just Got Their Full Pregame Atmosphere Back
HogTown on Maple Street is coming back for the 2026 Razorback football season, restoring one of the most recognizable parts of Arkansas home Saturdays. The free, open-to-the-public gathering will start four hours before kickoff before every home game and again give fans a place to settle in with live music, food, family activities and the kind of pregame energy that has long helped define the atmosphere around Razorback Stadium.
The return also brings back the full run of gameday staples, from the live mascot to the Hog Walk with the team and head coach Ryan Silverfield, along with the street closures and parking access plans that shape the flow around campus. A concert series featuring regional bands and performers is scheduled for each home date, giving the buildup to kickoff a more complete feel as Arkansas tries to turn every Saturday into more than just the game itself. [Read more 🡒]