Arkansas will head into the 2026-27 season with plenty of buzz, and the SEC preseason poll backed that up Monday.
The Razorbacks were slotted third in the league behind Florida and Texas, marking the highest preseason placement Arkansas has received during John Calipari’s time in Fayetteville. The Hogs were picked fourth in 2024-25 and fifth last season.
Two Arkansas players also landed on preseason All-SEC teams. Jordan Smith Jr. was named to the preseason Second Team All-SEC, while Billy Richmond III earned Third Team All-SEC honors. No other Razorbacks made the list.
Richmond is entering his third season in Arkansas and has already carved out a strong following with fans. The aggressive guard has stood out as one of Calipari’s best defenders in Fayetteville, and he’s taken a clear step forward, particularly as a shooter.
Smith arrived with major credentials, ranked the No. 1 player in Virginia and a consensus top-five national prospect. ESPN and 247 Sports both had him as high as No.
- He is part of Calipari’s loaded recruiting class, which also includes Davion Thompson, JJ Andrews, Caleb Ourigou, Abdou Toure, Ilia Frolov, Miikka Muurinen and Maper Maker.
Arkansas will first test itself against Gonzaga in an exhibition at Bud Walton Arena on Oct. 24.
The second and final exhibition comes Oct. 28 in Fayetteville against Memphis. The regular season opens Nov. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and SEC play starts Jan. 2 with Missouri visiting Fayetteville.
SEC Basketball Media Days are set for Tuesday and Wednesday, with Calipari, Richmond and transfer big man Cooper Bowser scheduled to speak.
Arkansas is coming off consecutive Sweet 16 appearances under Calipari.
In Other News...
Arkansas Let Another Winnable SEC Game Slip Away Again
Arkansas had enough in front of it Saturday to make No. 15 Tennessee sweat, and for stretches it looked like the Razorbacks were positioned to cash in on one of those conference games they have to turn into a win. The defense gave them a real chance, forcing three turnovers and keeping the Vols within reach long enough for Arkansas to hold a lead during the game.
But the familiar ending arrived anyway, with the offense unable to sustain enough drives or finish enough opportunities in a 24-17 loss. Third-down struggles and missed chances left the Razorbacks searching for answers again, and the defeat stretched their SEC skid to 14 straight as the gap between competitive and finished keeps showing up at the worst possible time. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Heads To Vanderbilt With One Bigger Problem Looming
Arkansas left its game against No. 15 Tennessee with something it has been searching for much of the season: a performance that felt competitive from start to finish and offered a clearer glimpse of what the Razorbacks can be when things are clicking. Even in a late loss, it stood out as their best showing of the year, the kind of night that can steady a teams confidence heading into the next stretch of SEC play.
Now comes Vanderbilt, a matchup that looks manageable if Arkansas keeps trending in the right direction. The bigger challenge may be less about the opponent and more about what the Razorbacks are still trying to become, as a roster full of new faces and a staff still taking shape works to build cohesion fast enough to turn one encouraging effort into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Fans Still Wont Agree On Silverfields Late Punt Logic
Ryan Silverfields late-game punt against Tennessee is still the kind of call Arkansas fans are replaying long after the final whistle. Faced with a fourth-and-10 situation, the Razorbacks coach chose field position over a risky try at the line to gain, and the decision immediately lit up social media and the broader fan base watching a game that already had enough tension on the sideline.
Silverfield said the choice came down to the distance, Arkansas struggles on previous third-down snaps, and the danger of handing Tennessee a short field and an easy path to points. He also made it clear the calculus would have changed with a shorter situation, which only sharpens the debate for fans who wanted more aggression in the moment and others who saw the punt as the safer football call. [Read more 🡒]