Arkansas Wins Silverfield’s Debut, 31-14

Image – Whole Hog Sports

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — On the hottest recorded game day in Arkansas football history, the Razorbacks defeated North Alabama 31-14 despite a slow start.

In Ryan Silverfield’s debut, Arkansas struggled to move the ball down the field on a day where the temperature reached 101 degrees at kickoff. After three failed drives to start the game, the Razorbacks finally got in the end zone at the 2:25 mark in the first quarter. Quarterback KJ Jackson completed a short pass to wide receiver Ismael Cisse for a 20-yard touchdown, making it 7-0.

The Arkansas defense forced three Lion punts in the first quarter. After the Razorbacks stopped North Alabama for the first time, tailback Sutton Smith returned the punt 67 yards to the 9-yard line but it was called back due to a block in the back, causing UA to lose momentum.

After a Lion three-and-out to begin the second quarter, Arkansas went down the field, using 11 plays and driving 65 yards. After a 5-yard run by Jackson, a 7-yard pass to receiver Antonio Jordan and a 12-yard run by Smith, a sack stopped the Razorbacks at the North Alabama 41-yard line.

After Jackson’s incompletion on the next play, tailback Jasper Parker carried the ball for 11 yards to set the Hogs up with fourth and short. Arkansas went for it on fourth down and got it with a jet sweep from speedster Jelani Watkins, who gained five yards for a first down.

A holding penalty made the Razorbacks move 16 yards back. After another short run by Smith, Jackson’s attempted pass to tight end Jaden Platt resulted in a pass interference that set up another touchdown. Jackson’s pass to tight end Matt Adcock came a play after the pass interference, making the score 14-0 Arkansas.

The first half ended after six failed drives, three by both teams. North Alabama punted the ball before a Lion sack of Jackson got them the ball back when he fumbled it. A play later, Arkansas pass-rusher Charlie Collins forced Lion quarterback Destin Wade to drop the ball and get it right back to the Razorback offense after defensive lineman David Oke recovered it.

After back-to-back punts, Arkansas got one more chance to extend their lead before halftime. Jackson began the drive with a 10-yard rush and Smith got two more on the ground. Then, Jackson’s pass to receiver Chris Marshall was incomplete. On the next play, he sailed a pass in the end zone and it was intercepted by North Alabama defensive back Trevion Butler.

After a one-play drive by the Lions, the first half clock ran out. The Arkansas defense shut down their offense again, helping set up their offense with another long scoring drive. The Razorback offense went down the field again on a 12-play, 73 yard drive highlighted by Jackson’s 13-yard pass to receiver CJ Brown and running back Braylen Russell’s 11-yard carry.

Jackson finished the drive with a 10-yard pass to Platt for a touchdown. The Razorbacks went up 21-0 on North Alabama with 6:49 to go in the third quarter.

After the Lions punted again, Smith fumbled at the Arkansas 14-yard line. After North Alabama was gifted great field position, it took only four plays for them to get in the end zone. Wade rushed to the left for a 6-yard score after the Razorbacks committed personal foul and facemask penalties on back-to-back plays, making it 21-7 Arkansas as the third quarter was coming to a close.

The Razorbacks started the final quarter of action strong, going down the field on 11 plays for 75 yards. Russell finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown run, making the score 28-7 with 11:58 to go in the fourth quarter.

North Alabama responded quickly, scoring against the Arkansas defense in four plays. Wade completed a 59-yard pass to Xavier Johnson before back-to-back rushes by the quarterback got them back in the end zone. The Razorbacks still led 28-14 with 10:24 to go in the game.

Arkansas’ next drive was 13 plays for 60 yards. It ended in a 33-yard field goal from placekicker Max Gilbert, making the score 31-14. After a North Alabama punt, the Razorbacks got the ball back and the game was over. Arkansas moved to 1-0 with the victory and the Lions’ record fell to 1-1.

Jackson completed 24 of 35 passes for 267 yards, 3 touchdowns and one interception. His running backs, Smith, Russell and Parker combined to rush 49 times for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Across the first half, the Razorback defense impressed, allowing only 18 yards and no points. Two penalties by the Ron Roberts’ unit led to one touchdown for North Alabama before they scored again in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Ben Bogle led the Arkansas defense with 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 pass defended.

Notes
After losing their last 10 games of the 2025 season, Arkansas ended their losing streak with a victory over the Lions to start the 2026 season. Oklahoma State now holds the nation’s longest losing streak after they fell to Tulsa 24-10 on Saturday. Massachusetts snapped the nation’s longest losing streak when they upset Rutgers 37-21 on Thursday night.

The Razorbacks won their 22nd straight game against FCS competition on Saturday night. Arkansas began that streak with a 38-0 victory over Missouri State in 2000.

Saturday was the 34th anniversary of the Hogs’ last loss to an FCS program which was a 10-3 defeat to The Citadel to open the 1992 season.

North Alabama, a program that has competed in Division I since 2019, fell to 0-8 against FBS opponents after Saturday’s loss to Arkansas. The Lions’ 17-point loss was their’ closest to an FBS team since a 24-13 loss at Southern Miss in 2020.

Up Next
Arkansas (1-0) will enter its matchup at No. 21 Utah (1-0) next Saturday with many questions about its offense. Kickoff will be at 9:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The Utes defeated Idaho 66-14 in new head coach Morgan Scalley’s second game as head coach last Tuesday. Scalley also coached in Utah’s 44-22 win against Nebraska in last season’s Las Vegas Bowl.

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