Arkansas

Arkansas football positional previews: Explosive Taylen Green is unquestioned QB starter

Published

2 years ago

June 11, 2024

Arkansas football positional previews: Explosive Taylen Green is unquestioned QB starter

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — There are 11 weekends remaining until the return of Arkansas football.

The Razorbacks open the 2024 season in Little Rock against UAPB. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Arkansas is coming off a disappointing 4-8 campaign that saw offensive coordinator Dan Enos get fired midseason and the eventual departures of KJ Jefferson and Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders, two faces of the program.

In response, the Hogs hired Bobby Petrino and hit the transfer portal, bringing in plenty of newcomers for what feels like an all-important season for head coach Sam Pittman.

More: Taylen Green shines as Arkansas football closes spring with Red-White Game

More: Tyrone Broden caps off sensational spring in Arkansas football’s Red-White Game

Over the next month, the Southwest Times Record will run positional previews twice a week, asking two questions and providing one bold prediction.

Here’s a look at the quarterbacks entering 2024.

Is there a clear starter at quarterback for Arkansas football?

Pittman had fans and media members expecting a wide-open competition this spring, but in reality, the job always belonged to Taylen Green.

The Boise State transfer threw for 3,794 yards and ran for 1,022 across 26 games with the Broncos. He exclusively took reps with Arkansas’ first-team offense this spring and completed 17 of 22 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the annual Red-White Game. He was able to blend explosiveness with efficiency and leave a lasting impression heading into the fall.

Green was Bobby Petrino’s top target in the transfer portal, and it’s a safe bet the offense will be catered to the redshirt junior’s strengths. Look for Arkansas to be aggressive hunting big plays and trying to make the intermediate passing game as easy as possible for Green.

Who is next in line?

Pittman and Petrino will hope that Green stays healthy, lives up to expectations and limits the backup quarterbacks to mop-up duty in garbage time this season.

Jacolby Criswell transferred back to North Carolina after spring practices, leaving the No. 2 job to redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton. The former four-star prospect impressed coaches during the spring and usurped Criswell before his eventual transfer.

Singleton will compete with true freshman KJ Jackson to become the Hogs’ next starting quarterback whenever Green leaves the program. Jackson is a dynamic athlete who was a priority recruit during Petrino’s first high school cycle.

Fall practices and any game reps could play a factor in future quarterback competitions, but both players are ideally a year away from making a major impact on the field.

One bold prediction: Green rushes for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns

Lamar Jackson ran for 3,172 yards across his final two seasons under Petrino at Louisville. Green isn’t as dynamic a player as the former Heisman Trophy winner, but he does possess elite athleticism for a quarterback, and Petrino’s shown a willingness to turn his running quarterbacks loose.

KJ Jefferson was a terrific runner, but he never crossed the 700-yard threshold at Arkansas. The most rushing touchdowns Jefferson scored in a season were nine in 2022.

Green didn’t get to show off his abilities in the run game this spring. Pittman and Petrino saw enough on film to withhold that part of the playbook and make sure they avoided any preseason injuries to their most important player.

Come fall, the training wheels will come off, and Green will be one of the top rushers on the team.

What the coaches said this spring

“(Green) has a pro type of mentality the way he goes about his business, and he’s a good person. Let’s just start there and once you go on the field, he runs like a gazelle. He can run, run and he’s throwing the ball, he’s got some accuracy on his throws. Glad he’s on our team, but it starts with the person that he is and the work ethic that he has. Very pleased with what I’ve seen out of him.”
— Defensive coordinator Travis Williams on what it’s like to go against Taylen Green in practice.
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Projected depth chart

Taylen Green, redshirt junior
Malachi Singleton, redshirt freshman
KJ Jackson, freshman
Blake Boda, redshirt freshman
Austin Ledbetter, redshirt freshman

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Arkansas

What John Calipari said about Dairus Acuff after Arkansas basketball’s Sweet 16 exit

Published

2 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

What John Calipari said about Dairus Acuff after Arkansas basketball’s Sweet 16 exit

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A humbling loss to Arizona means Darius Acuff Jr.’s career with Arkansas basketball is likely over.

Acuff is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He scored a game-high 28 points as the No. 4 Razorbacks (28-9) fell to the No. 1 Wildcats (35-2) 109-88 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 26.

After the loss, John Calipari reflected on Acuff’s historic season. The Hall of Fame coach will remember the Detroit native’s fierce spirit while hunting victories.

“(Acuff) was the ultimate competitor. He had a will to win and would make baskets because he wasn’t afraid to miss late in games,” Calipari said. “He and Meleek (Thomas) and the other guys, they set the stage for growth. You’re going to have an opportunity to get better, but it’s hard. The league is hard. You’ve got to be a gym rat if you really want to do this. Those guys proved it. I had a ball coaching them.”

Acuff became just the third person to win the SEC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards handed out by both the coaches and media, joining Anthony Davis (2012) and Brandon Miller (2023). He became the league’s first player since Pete Maravich to lead the SEC in both scoring and assists.

His final season-long stats were 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game. He shot 48.4% from the field and 44% on 3-pointers.

Acuff was short on words in his final press conference with the Hogs, but he didn’t bring up his individual accolades when asked what he will remember the most from a dynamic collegiate season.

“Brotherhood, for sure,” Acuff said. “With the team, great support from the fans. I don’t know, a lot of good stuff. It was a great year, for sure.”

Arkansas fans won’t soon forget his dominance.

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.

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Arkansas

What channel is Arkansas basketball vs Arizona on today? March Madness game time, TV, streaming

Published

14 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

What channel is Arkansas basketball vs Arizona on today? March Madness game time, TV, streaming

Darius Acuff Jr. and the fourth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks will face Brayden Burries and the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats as the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament continues with the Sweet 16 Thursday in San Jose, California.

The Razorbacks (28-8) reached the West Region semifinals by beating Hawaii and High Point. Meanwhile, the Wildcats (34-2) beat Long Island and Utah State.

Here’s how to watch the Razorbacks-Wildcats game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

Watch March Madness live with Sling TV

What time is Arkansas vs Arizona today? When is NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game today?

Date: Thursday, March 26
Start time: 8:45 p.m. CT
Where: SAP Center in San Jose, California

What channel is Arkansas vs Arizona on today? How to watch, stream NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

TV: TBS/truTV
How to watch online: Sling (free trial)

Arkansas vs Arizona betting odds for March Madness Sweet 16 game

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, March 26:

Moneyline: ARI -375 | ARK +290
Spread: Arizona (-8.5)
Over/under: 165.5

All times CT

Print your own March Madness bracket for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament

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Arkansas

Arkansas vs. Arizona Prediction, Odds, Best Prop Bet for NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas vs. Arizona Prediction, Odds, Best Prop Bet for NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Arkansas Razorbacks parlayed an SEC Tournament Championship into two straight wins to start their NCAA Tournament run, getting past Hawaii and High Point in impressive fashion. Now, they’ll face their toughest challenge yet, a Sweet 16 showdown with the 1-seed Arizona Wildcats.

Arizona cruised past both Long Island University and Utah State in the first two rounds, and still has just two losses on its record all season. As you’d expect, they’re favored in this SEC vs. Big 12 showdown. Let’s take a look.

Arkansas vs. Arizona Odds, Spread, and Total

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

Spread

Arkansas +7.5 (-110)
Arizona -7.5 (-110)

Moneyline

Arkansas +278
Arizona -355

Total

OVER 166.5 (-110)
UNDER 166.5 (-110)

Arkansas vs. Arizona How to Watch

Date: Thursday, March 6
Game Time: 9:45 pm ET
Venue: SAP Center at San Jose
How to Watch (TV): CBS
Arkansas Record: 28-8
Arizona Record: 34-2

Arkansas vs. Arizona Betting Trends

The OVER is 9-2 in Arkansas’ last 11 games
The OVER is 5-1 in Arkansas’ last six games vs. Big 12 opponents
Arkansas is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 games as an underdog
Arizona is 4-1 ATS in its last five games
The OVER is 4-2 in Arizona’s last six games
Arizona is 5-1 ATS in its last six games vs. SEC opponents

Arkansas vs. Arizona Best Prop Bet

Brayden Burries OVER 17.5 Points (-106) via FanDuel

Brayden Burries has a chance to have a phenomenal performance on Thursday night. Arkansas may be a strong offensive team, but its defense leaves a lot to be desired. They rank 200th in the country in defensive efficiency and are allowing 80.3 points per game this season, which ranks 325th. If Burries brings his best stuff, the Razorbacks are going to be in trouble.

Arkansas vs. Arizona Prediction and Pick

Let’s try our best not to overreact to Arkansas being in the Sweet 16. They had a relatively easy path to win the SEC Championship, squeaking by both Oklahoma and Ole Miss by just three points before beating Vanderbilt in the final, completely avoiding the Florida Gators. Then, in the NCAA Tournament, they had the easiest path to the Sweet 16, getting to face a 13-seed and a 12-seed in the first two rounds.

The Arizona Wildcats are no joke and will be by far the Razorbacks’ biggest challenge. There’s a case to be made that Arizona is the best team in the country, and they have the interior defense to completely shut down the Arkansas offense. The Razorbacks rank 50th in the country in two-point shot rate. Now, they have to face an Arizona defense that ranks second in the country in opponent two-point field goal percentage, keeping teams to shooting just 43.7% from two-point range.

Arizona also mainly shoots two-point shots, ranking third in two-point shot rate, and now they get to face an Arkansas team that ranks 278th in opponent two-point field goal percentage, allowing teams to shoot 54% from two-point range.

This is a nightmare matchup for Arkansas.

Pick: Arizona -7.5 (-110)

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