As Arkansas heads into its regular-season finale against Missouri, interim head coach Bobby Petrino isn’t shutting the door on the possibility of using two quarterbacks. But he made one thing abundantly clear this week: it’s not his preference.
Taylen Green’s Injury Creates Uncertainty at QB
With starter Taylen Green still nursing the hamstring injury that knocked him out of last week’s game against Texas, the Razorbacks may be forced to consider alternatives. One of those options is freshman backup KJ Jackson, who impressed in limited action after Green’s exit. Jackson showed poise and command despite the difficult circumstances, giving Arkansas a potential spark if called upon again.
Still, if Petrino has a say in it, the decision ideally won’t involve rotating quarterbacks.
"“You’d like to have the starter come in and play really well, drive us up and down the field, score a bunch of points, no turnovers and play well and not have a thought in your mind that you’re going to rotate quarterbacks,” Petrino said. “I’ve never really been a huge believer in that except for I guess my first go-round at Louisville.”"Bobby Petrino
Past Experience Shapes Petrino’s QB Philosophy
Petrino even went back to his early coaching years to illustrate just how rarely he’s embraced a multiple-quarterback system. While at Louisville, he followed a practice passed down from legendary Dolphins coach Howard Schnellenberger, playing the backup quarterback for the first series of the second quarter. At the time, that meant giving future NFL QB Brian Brohm, then a true freshman, a set of snaps behind starter Stefan LeFors.
“We played Brian the first series of the second quarter in every single game,” Petrino recalled. “And it worked out well for us.”
Well for the team, maybe but not necessarily for everyone involved.
"“It wasn’t very fun for Stefan, he didn’t like it,” Petrino continued. “His family didn’t like it. Probably more than him his family didn’t like it. I remember we were at Tulane… when we started the second quarter there was a bunch of boos, and it wasn’t Tulane booing us, it was Stefan’s family.”"Bobby Petrino
That experience shaped Petrino’s long-held belief that quarterback rotations can do more harm than good. For him, having a clear starter isn’t just about scheme; it’s about confidence, rhythm, and avoiding quarterbacks constantly feeling the need to look over their shoulder.
Starter Decision Will Depend on Green’s Progress
That’s part of why Petrino appears unlikely to suddenly adopt a two-quarterback approach now, especially with Saturday’s matchup possibly marking his final game as Arkansas’s interim coach. On the year, Green has 2,655 passing yards, 773 rushing yards, 27 total touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has been one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country, but costly turnovers have played large roles throughout his time with the Razorbacks.
The Battle Line Rivalry will represent the final game of Green's college career. Green’s health will dictate the plan more than philosophy. If the starter isn’t able to go, or if he’s limited, Jackson may be asked to step in once again. Ideally, giving the starter Green the nod if he is able to go would be more respectable since it is Senior Day and he has been the starting quarterback now for the last two seasons after transferring from Boise State. For now, Petrino isn’t tipping his hand.
Arkansas will continue to monitor Green throughout the rest of the week and weigh all options, with the decision on who gets the first snap against Missouri coming down to how quickly he can fully recover. One thing is certain, though: if Petrino can avoid a quarterback rotation, he will.