Image – Sports Illustrated
SALT LAKE CITY — Arkansas heads to Salt Lake City to play No. 20 Utah for the first time in program history at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Kickoff between the Razorbacks and the Utes is set for 9:15 p.m. Saturday, September 12 on ESPN with Justin Kutcher (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) on the call. Ryan Silverfield continues his first season as Arkansas’ head coach, as his Razorbacks head to Salt Lake City this weekend. Next up Arkansas returns to Fayetteville to face Georgia on September 19 as the two programs begin SEC play.
Schedule:
Arkansas (1-0) at No. 20 Utah (1-0) – 9:15 p.m. – ESPN
Tune In:
Saturday night’s matchup between Arkansas and Utah will stream on ESPN with Justin Kutcher (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) on the call in the broadcast booth. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play), Quinn Grovey (analyst) and Geno Bell (sideline reporter) on the call from inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Notes:
Ryan Silverfield won his first game as Arkansas’ head coach, 31-14 against North Alabama on Sept. 5. Silverfield’s record is now 6-1 in season-opening games as an FBS head coach. He became the 25th Razorback head coach of all time to secure a win in his first game as head coach.
QB KJ Jackson and the Arkansas offense started slowly against the Lions but produced two scoring drives before halftime. Jackson completed 24-of-35 passes for 267 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The Montgomery, Alabama, native became the ninth Razorbacks quarterback since 1995 to throw at least three touchdown passes in a season opener.
RB Sutton Smith rushed 15 times for 136 yards (2.4 average) and added four catches for 43 yards in Arkansas’ season-opening win against North Alabama. The Marietta, Ga., native will seek his first touchdown of the season when the Razorbacks face Utah on Saturday.
WR CJ Brown caught four passes for 43 yards in Arkansas’ victory over North Alabama. The Bentonville, Arkansas, native is among the Razorbacks’ top receiving threats alongside Chris Marshall, who caught seven passes for 79 yards. Brown and Marshall could be two of Jackson’s primary downfield options against the Utes because of their talent and veteran experience.
LB Ben Bogle spent his redshirt junior season at West Virginia before transferring to Arkansas in the offseason. Bogle finished with four tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defended against North Alabama. The Ponte Vedra, Fla., native and the rest of Arkansas’ linebacking corps helped limit the Lions’ offense.
Morgan Scalley will lead the Utes against Arkansas on Saturday night. Scalley is in his first season as Utah’s head coach after previously serving as Kyle Whittingham’s defensive coordinator. He took over before the Utes’ 44-22 victory over Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl, and Utah opened the 2026 season with a 66-14 win over Idaho.
QB Devon Dampier completed 13-of-18 passes for 176 yards, 3 touchdowns and rushed six times for 31 yards in Utah’s season-opening win over Idaho. The Phoenix native is in his third season as the Utes’ starting quarterback after choosing not to follow former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to Ann Arbor. Dampier presents a challenge for Ron Roberts’ defense as a capable passer and dangerous runner.
RB Wayshawn Parker leads Utah’s backfield alongside LaMarcus Bell. Parker rushed 12 times for 71 yards and a touchdown against Idaho. The Richmond, Calif., native spent his freshman season at Washington State, where he received limited playing time, before transferring to Utah before his sophomore season. Parker and Bell will challenge an Arkansas front that showed improvement in its season opener against North Alabama.
WR Braden Pegan led Utah against Idaho with four receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. He also had one rushing attempt for 12 yards and another score. The San Juan Capistrano, California, native spent his first two college seasons at UCLA before transferring to Utah State for the 2025 season. Pegan arrived in Salt Lake City for his senior season after recording 60 receptions for 926 yards and five touchdowns for the Aggies last season.
DB Jackson Bennee led Utah with five tackles and one pass defended against Idaho. Bennee will be an important piece of the Utes’ secondary against an Arkansas passing attack seeking more consistency behind Jackson, Marshall, Brown and tight end Jaden Platt. The Holladay, Utah, native has appeared in 26 career games for Utah and is one of the Utes’ defensive leaders.
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