Arkansas enters the 2026 cross country season with a national number beside its name and the regional crown in hand.
In the USTFCCCA preseason coaches’ poll, the Razorbacks check in at No. 19 nationally and No. 1 in the South Central Region as they begin their second season under coach Marc Burns. Arkansas is one of five SEC teams in the nation’s top 30, joining Alabama at a tie for No.
11, Florida at No. 14, South Carolina at No. 16 and Missouri at No.
- Tennessee, LSU and Texas A&M also received votes.
North Carolina State opened the preseason women’s poll at No. 1 with 11 first-place votes. The rest of the top 10 includes New Mexico, Iowa State, BYU, Oregon, Notre Dame, West Virginia, Northern Arizona, Stanford and Penn State.
Arkansas also sits atop the South Central Region rankings ahead of Texas A&M, Tulane, LSU, SMU, Stephen F. Austin, UT Arlington, Texas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Rice.
The Razorbacks’ schedule includes the Gans Creek Classic on Friday, September 25 in Columbia, Missouri, then the Chile Pepper Festival on Saturday, October 3 at Agri Park in Fayetteville. Arkansas will also compete at the Arturo Barrios Invitational on Friday, October 16 in College Station, Texas, before the SEC Championships on Friday, October 30 in Columbia, Missouri.
From there, the Razorbacks head back to College Station for the NCAA South Central Region meet on Friday, November 13, with the NCAA Championships set for Saturday, November 21 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
In Other News...
Arkansas Is Trying To Fix A Gameday Problem Fans Know Well
Ryan Silverfield has spent part of the offseason focused on more than just the playbook, working closely on changes meant to improve what fans experience once they walk into Razorback Stadium. After complaints from supporters, Arkansas has already rolled out a series of upgrades for the upcoming season, including a new LED lighting system, revamped audio, expanded concession options and a new trophy room, all aimed at making game day feel bigger and better around the football program.
For Silverfield, the point is clear: the atmosphere around the team matters as much as the product on the field. Arkansas is trying to strengthen both at once, hoping the stadium experience starts to match the expectations that come with the Razorbacks fan base, and the early signs are that the athletic department is treating those concerns as something worth fixing now. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Depth Chart Settles Plenty But One Opener Concern Still Lingers
Arkansas first depth chart under Ryan Silverfield offered a fairly clear snapshot of where things stand as the Razorbacks head into the opener, with upperclassmen filling many of the key spots on both sides of the ball. KJ Jackson is listed as the starting quarterback, AJ Hill sits behind him, and much of the two-deep looks settled in a way that suggests this group has given the staff enough clarity to move forward.
The one area still carrying some unease is along the defensive line, where the tackle rotation remains a true competition rather than a finished product. Silverfield has sounded confident in the players he has, but the early test still asks a real question: whether Arkansas can sort out that interior before North Alabama starts throwing different defensive looks at the offense and forcing answers on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
KJ Jackson Already Knows Arkansas Fans Need More Than A Starter
Arkansas has its starter in place, with redshirt sophomore KJ Jackson officially getting the nod at quarterback after a fall camp battle with redshirt freshman AJ Hill. Head coach Ryan Silverfield has already pointed to Jacksons leadership and work ethic heading into the opener against North Alabama, a sign the staff believes the job is about more than simply taking snaps and handing off the next chapter of the offense.
Jackson also knows the assignment goes beyond winning the competition. Razorback fans will want to see consistency, command and a quarterback who can settle the offense from the start, especially in a season where the position will be under a close spotlight from the first whistle. The next question is how quickly Jackson can translate that trust into production when the games begin to count. [Read more 🡒]