Arkansas Razorbacks Face Uphill Battle as SEC, Big Ten Widen Gap

New coach Ryan Silverfield must quickly turn recent momentum into results before opportunity gives way to irrelevance.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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As conference power consolidates, the Arkansas Razorbacks football program faces a harsh reality - they must improve quickly before being left behind by the widening gap between the SEC, Big Ten, and the rest of college football. With the SEC and Big Ten dominating in areas like NIL deals and recruiting, Arkansas has a short window to stabilize the program under new coach Ryan Silverfield before TV and media contracts further cement the divide.

Why it matters

The Razorbacks are already in the top tier of college football by virtue of being in the SEC, but they haven't been able to consistently compete with the conference's elite teams in recent years. As the gap widens, Arkansas risks being left behind in terms of exposure, resources, and postseason opportunities if they can't turn things around quickly under Silverfield.

The details

Arkansas has struggled to a 2-10 record in recent seasons, which is no longer acceptable as the SEC and Big Ten pull away from the rest of college football. New coach Ryan Silverfield must quickly stabilize the roster through the transfer portal and aggressive recruiting to try and close the gap before the Razorbacks fall too far behind their SEC peers.

  • Lincoln Riley recently discussed the growing separation between the SEC, Big Ten, and other conferences in an interview.
  • Arkansas is coming off a 2-10 season, which is no longer tolerable as the sport's power dynamics shift.

The players

Lincoln Riley

The head football coach at the University of Southern California, who recently commented on the widening gap between the SEC, Big Ten, and the rest of college football.

Ryan Silverfield

The new head football coach at the University of Arkansas, tasked with quickly turning around the Razorbacks program before they fall too far behind their SEC rivals.

Hunter Yurachek

The athletic director at the University of Arkansas, who has been working to provide resources and support to help the football program under Silverfield.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's pretty clear that the Big Ten and the SEC have separated themselves. I think everybody in college football understands that. That's just the reality of where the situation is, in terms of the schedules.”

— Lincoln Riley, USC Head Football Coach (On3)

What’s next

Arkansas must show immediate progress under new coach Ryan Silverfield in order to keep pace with the SEC's elite programs and avoid being left behind as the conference power gap widens.

The takeaway

Arkansas faces a critical juncture in its football program, with a short window to stabilize and improve before the SEC and Big Ten's dominance becomes even more entrenched. The Razorbacks must capitalize on their conference affiliation and make the necessary investments to compete at the highest level, or risk being relegated to irrelevance in the rapidly changing landscape of college football.