FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Like most betting sites, ESPN lacks much confidence in the Razorbacks this fall, per its Football Power Index model.
Arkansas sits with a 4.6 grade which ranks No. 44 amongst college football as a whole. That number doesn’t sound terrible until realizing that equates to No. 14 in the newly expanded SEC. The Razorbacks are projected to finish with a record of 5.5-6.5. Basically, that projects a third losing season under coach Sam Pittman and second straight regular season under .500.
Strength of schedule and other indicators go into this system. To be frank, being the No. 44 ranked team preseason wise isn’t too bad. However, seeing teams like Rutgers, Oregon State, Nebraska, Cal, Iowa State and Maryland all around Arkansas with projected win-loss records indicating bowl eligibility with seven to eight wins is frustrating.
There are plenty of internal factors which work against Arkansas this season. New coaches, influx of more than 20 transfers, former starters transferring and other questions abound for the Razorbacks this fall. Honestly, a 5-7 record this early in June is a fair projection.
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Eight teams that Arkansas is scheduled to face this fall rank ahead of them including non-conference foe Oklahoma State. The week two matchup is in Stillwater with the Cowboys likely home favorites.
As expected, the Razorbacks have no chance to go undefeated by FPI metrics. There’s a few other SEC teams lumped into the category including Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and South Carolina. Auburn has next lowest odds of winning out at 0.1%.
Three other teams are ahead of Arkansas when it comes to reaching the six win threshold. The Razorbacks hold a 48.4% chance of making a bowl game this fall behind Wyoming, Southern Miss and Northwestern. UCLA is projected as the final bowl eligible team with a 50.9% chance to win six games.
All three teams ahead of Arkansas in this rating system rank behind the Razorbacks. That means if the Hogs played the likes of Wyoming, Southern Miss or Northwestern they would be favored on a neutral field.
Other notes of interest from ESPN’s FPI includes chances on winning divisions and conference. The SEC has now done away with its eastern and western divisions which means every team will bid for a sole conference title. Arkansas is given a slim shot at 0.1% to win its first SEC title.
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Should Arkansas make its unprecedented run through the rigorous SEC, the College Football Playoffs could come calling. Pittman’s team is given a solid percentage of making the expanded 12-team playoff at 2.6%. Even Vanderbilt was given a shot at 0.2%.
Teams with the best odds are regular bidders of course. Georgia received the highest likelihood at 79% with Oregon, Texas and Ohio State favorites to earn first round byes. Arkansas’ outside shot of making the playoffs is a dream scenario but a potential championship game appearance or even a national title is out of the question.
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• Arkansas fans should see beauty in hurting right now
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The Arkansas Court of Appeals released opinions Wednesday. The court’s ruling and the names of the cases are reprinted here. The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the internet at arcourts.gov.
PROCEEDINGS OF Jan. 7, 2026
CHIEF JUDGE N. MARK KLAPPENBACH
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CR-23-821. Kenneth Steward v. State of Arkansas, from Benton County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Brown, JJ., agree.
JUDGE ROBERT J. GLADWIN
CR-25-24. Bryce Anderson v. State of Arkansas, from Benton County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Virden and Harrison, JJ., agree.
JUDGE CASEY R. TUCKER
CV-24-537. Flywheel Energy Production, LLC v. Van Buren County, Arkansas; and Van Buren County Judge Dale James, in His Official Capacity as Van Buren County Judge, from Van Buren County Circuit Court. Reversed and dismissed. Abramson and Harrison, JJ., agree.
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JUDGE WENDY SCHOLTENS WOOD
CV-24-209. LRS South, LLC v. Benton County Solid Waste Management District and the Benton County Solid Waste Management District Board, from Benton County Circuit Court. Reversed and remanded. Hixson and Murphy, JJ., agree.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas continued its offseason roster work by adding a transfer defensive back and securing a future offensive line piece from Texas, addressing both immediate depth and long-term development.
The Razorbacks announced the signing of Georgia State defensive back Tyler Scott, a transfer with multiple years of eligibility remaining, while also landing Carey Clayton, an offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll High School, as part of the 2026 recruiting class.
Scott joins the Hogs after spending the 2025 season at Georgia State, where he appeared in two games and recorded four tackles. He arrives in Fayetteville with three years of eligibility remaining, giving Arkansas flexibility in how he’s developed and used in the secondary.
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Before his time at Georgia State, Scott spent two seasons at Auburn. One of those seasons was cut short due to an ACL injury, limiting his opportunity to contribute on the field.
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The Razorbacks now provide him with a chance to reset and compete in a defensive back room that continues to evolve.
At 6 feet tall, Scott adds experience to a secondary that has seen significant turnover through the transfer portal. His addition gives the Hogs another option at defensive back as the staff works through spring and fall evaluations.
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Clayton strengthens 2026 offensive line class
Arkansas also added a future piece up front with the commitment of Carey Clayton, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll, one of Texas’ most consistent high school programs.
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Clayton helped Southlake Carroll complete an undefeated regular season last fall and reach the state semifinals. He enters college football as a consensus three-star prospect, ranked among the top offensive line recruits in Texas.
In addition to Arkansas, Clayton held offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, UAB and UTEP. He ultimately chose the Razorbacks, becoming the 16th commitment in the Hogs’ 2026 recruiting class.
Clayton is ranked around No. 251 nationally and No. 141 in Texas. While not among the highest-rated prospects in the class, his high school experience and physical development make him a long-term project for Arkansas’ offensive line.
Hogs continue roster building
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The additions of Scott and Clayton reflect the Hogs’ continued focus on roster balance. Scott becomes the 23rd transfer portal addition this offseason, reinforcing a secondary that has emphasized competition and depth.
Clayton’s commitment adds to a growing 2026 class that prioritizes size and developmental upside, particularly along the offensive line.
Arkansas has steadily worked to build future depth in the trenches while supplementing current needs through the portal.
While neither move is designed to generate immediate headlines, both fit into a broader plan aimed at improving roster stability.
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Scott offers experience and flexibility in the defensive backfield, while Clayton provides a long-term option at a position that often requires patience.
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As the Razorbacks move through the offseason, these additions help establish depth at key positions and give the coaching staff more options heading into the coming seasons.
Key takeaways
Arkansas added Georgia State transfer defensive back Tyler Scott, who brings experience and remaining eligibility to the secondary.
The Razorbacks signed 2026 Texas offensive lineman Carey Clayton, adding size and long-term depth up front.
The Hogs continue balancing immediate roster needs with long-term development through recruiting and the portal.
John Brummett’s career in news began when he was in high school, as a part-time reporter for the Arkansas Democrat. He moved to the Arkansas Gazette in 1977.
He wrote a political column for the Gazette from 1986 to 1990. He was an editor for the Arkansas Times from 1990 to 1992.
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In 1994, his book, “High Wire: From the Back Roads to the Beltway, the Education of Bill Clinton,” was published by Hyperion of New York City. He became a columnist with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 1994. In 2000, he signed a deal with Donrey Media Group, now known as Stephens Media, and wrote for them for 11 years.
He rejoined Democrat-Gazette as a columnist on Oct. 24, 2011.
