Improving by three wins is always a good sign. Period.
That’s exactly what Arkansas did last season — a pivotal, job-saving campaign for Sam Pittman. It featured a signature win over a Playoff-bound Tennessee team, and even more impressively, it was closed out by backup quarterback Malachi Singleton after Taylen Green went down in the second half. Singleton is now at Purdue, but Green and Pittman are back, hoping to lead the Hogs to just their second top-25 finish of the Playoff era and their first winning SEC record in over a decade.
Later this summer, our Crystal Ball Series will evaluate just how realistic that is. But for now, we’re keeping things positive with Arkansas.
And hey — there’s no better time to be optimistic than “talkin’ season.” Each day over the next 16 days, we’re spotlighting the best things about every SEC team, aligned with the SEC Network Takeover from June 28 to July 13 — just ahead of SEC Media Days.
🗓️ Mark your calendars
@SECNetwork Takeover returns June 28 – July 13
Each SEC school gets a full day of programming — 24 hours of that year’s best moments.
More ➡️ https://t.co/LJHK4ml6wk
So far, we’ve covered:
✅ Alabama
Today: Arkansas
Best Offensive Player: Taylen Green, QB
Despite massive roster turnover — 40 players out, 31 in — Arkansas retained its head coach and coordinators. And in Taylen Green, they have the kind of steadying force a team like that needs.
Green was electric in the bowl win over Texas Tech:
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🏈 341 passing yards
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🏈 81 rushing yards
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🏈 3 total touchdowns
Ball security (12 fumbles — most among Power 5 QBs) and consistency vs. top defenses need work, but there’s plenty to build on. Green was second only to Cade Klubnik in big-time throws under pressure and led all returning Power 5 QBs in dropbacks under pressure (via PFF). His mobility is elite: 823 rushing yards (sack-adjusted), 41 missed tackles forced — third-most among returning Power 5 quarterbacks.
Injuries limited him “for about half the year,” per Pittman, but when healthy, Green’s ceiling is enormous. Pittman puts it simply: “He’s unlimited.”
Arkansas needs that unlimited version to emerge if it wants to replicate something close to 2021.
Best Defensive Player: Xavian Sorey, LB
Much like Green, Sorey is expected to anchor his side of the ball. The former Georgia transfer thrived in his first season as a starter and was named Defensive MVP of the Liberty Bowl.
His 2024 stat line:
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🛑 99 tackles (team high)
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🛑 9.5 TFL (tied team high)
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🛑 14 QB pressures on just 67 pass rushes
Sorey’s instincts stood out at middle linebacker in Travis Williams’ defense. And while he’s still filling out his 6-3, 231-pound frame, he enters Year 5 in the SEC — 3 years at Georgia, now Year 2 at Arkansas — with All-SEC potential. That would be huge for a defense still replacing stars like Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool.
Best Freshman: Antonio Jordan, WR
What complements a mobile, play-extending quarterback? A massive, downfield target.
Enter Antonio Jordan — a 6-6, 230-pound wideout with a basketball background who averaged 24 yards per catch in high school (Warren HS, same pipeline that produced Treylon Burks, Jarius Wright, and Greg Childs).
Jordan didn’t enroll until the summer, but there’s a clear path to playing time with Arkansas losing its top nine receivers from 2024. The team’s leading returning receiver? RB Rodney Hill, with just 8 catches for 68 yards.
A Jordan-Green connection might form out of necessity, but it could become a breakout duo.
Best Game: Week 5 vs. Notre Dame
Sure, it’s not a night game — and yes, Arkansas fans wanted another atmosphere like 2021 Texas or 2024 Tennessee — but it’s still a marquee matchup. Notre Dame rolls into Fayetteville for just the second home game of the season (first vs. an FBS team), and it’s a massive opportunity for a statement win.
The Irish will still be adjusting with a revamped offense. Could Arkansas catch them flat-footed, like Tennessee last year? Possibly. An upset would go a long way in silencing hot-seat talk surrounding Pittman.
Best Reason for Optimism: Coordinator Continuity
The roster overhaul is daunting, but retaining both coordinators is a stabilizing force — just as it was early in Pittman’s tenure. Bobby Petrino’s track record of improving SEC offenses in Year 1 is well-documented. And Travis Williams continues to prove himself as a rising star in defensive circles.
Is that enough to guarantee an improvement on 7 wins? No. By some metrics (Kelley Ford), Arkansas has the toughest schedule in the country — facing six teams that won 10+ games last year, plus a road trip to LSU and a matchup with Texas A&M, who’s beaten the Hogs in 12 of 13 meetings since joining the SEC.
But with proven coordinators, a dual-threat quarterback, a defensive anchor, and emerging playmakers, Arkansas has a real chance to put together a season that quiets the doubters — and possibly, one that earns Pittman a much more comfortable seat.
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