Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Arkansas in Little Rock, Ark., Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Arkansas by 49 1/2.
Series record: Arkansas leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
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Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman is on the hot seat, as he acknowledged at SEC Media Days. The nine wins in 2021 are pretty much forgotten and Pittman’s Razorbacks have gone 11-14 over the past two seasons. They fell to 4-8 last season with one SEC win. Most forecasts have Arkansas picked among the bottom three teams in the 16-team SEC and cannot afford to lose this one. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which was 2-9 overall last season in Alonzo Hampton’s first year, is predicted to again be near the bottom of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s West Division. A solid showing here would give the program momentum.
KEY MATCHUP
Arkansas has completely rebuilt its offensive line from 2023 with four new starters and returning senior OG Josh Braun. The Razorbacks, who gave up 47 sacks last season, will be looking to give new starting QB Taylen Green time to throw while finding better ways to establish the run game after a dismal 2023 campaign. UAPB will try to improve upon a season that netted just 18 quarterback sacks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arkansas: Green will be the first new quarterback to start an opener for the Hogs in three years. He started 22 games over the past two years at Boise State and last year passed for 1,752 yards with 11 TDs and nine interceptions. He will have a well-stocked WR unit, led by senior Andrew Armstrong and sophomore Isaiah Sategna. Utah transfer RB Ja’Quinden Jackson is expected to lead the rushing attack. Preseason All-SEC DE Landon Jackson headlines the defense.
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UAPB: All the Golden Lions’ offense will run through Mehki Hagens, a mobile, dual-threat QB who played in nine games in 2023 and comes off a high of scoring on a late TD run in the Lions’ only SWAC win, at Texas Southern in the season finale.
FACTS & FIGURES
Arkansas and UAPB have met just once, with the Hogs winning 45-3 in Little Rock in 2021. … Former Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino returns to the UA sideline as first-year offensive coordinator. … UAPB’s new offensive coordinator, Tony Hull, once worked for NASA as an industrial engineer and last year was QB coach and co-coordinator at Grambling State. … Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium, which seats 54,120, is playing host to Arkansas’s season opener for the second straight year.
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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.
