KJ Jackson breaks Arkansas Razorbacks' 31-year streak in season opener

As the Arkansas Razorbacks' offseason draws to a close, so too does one of Arkansas football's longest-running streaks.

When he takes the field against North Alabama, Arkansas starting quarterback KJ Jackson won't just be the first starting quarterback of the Ryan Silverfield era -- he'll be the first left-handed QB to start a season opener for the Hogs in over three decades.

KJ Jackson first lefty to start Arkansas season opener since 1995

KJ Jackson is only a redshirt sophomore, but entering his third season with the program, he's experienced about as much coaching turnover as any Arkansas QB in school history. Dan Enos, Sam Pittman, and Bobby Petrino have all come and gone since Jackson committed to the Hogs back in 2023, making his recent coronation as the Razorbacks' starting quarterback the culmination of an arduous journey on The Hill.

Now, Jackson will leave another notable mark on the Arkansas Razorbacks football program by becoming the first left-handed quarterback to start a season opener for the Hogs since Barry Lunney Jr. did it back in 1995. In fact, Jackson and Lunney are the only two left-handed quarterbacks to start a season opener for Arkansas since at least 1950. Unfortunately, the last time the Arkansas Razorbacks started a left-handed quarterback in a season opener, it didn't go particularly well for the Hogs.

When Barry Lunney Jr. took the field against the SMU Mustangs back in the 1995 season opener, the Hogs were in their third year under head coach Danny Ford and fresh off a disappointing 4-7 campaign. While the Razorbacks would ultimately go 8-5 in 1995 (their best season under Danny Ford), their left-handed quarterback couldn't keep them from suffering a disappointing 17-14 loss against SMU, which outgained Arkansas through the air and on the ground in that game.

31 years later, it's now time for KJ Jackson to leave his own mark on Arkansas Razorbacks history.

By starting against Missouri late last season, Jackson became Arkansas' first left-handed starting QB since Lunney Jr. Now, he'll become the first lefty since Lunney to lead the Hogs into a season opener. If Jackson can guide Arkansas past North Alabama, he'll also do something Lunney couldn't in 1995: open the season with a win.

And, considering the Hogs are currently on the NCAA's second-longest losing streak, they could really use a win right now -- even if their competition is an FCS team also coming off a 2-10 season in 2025.

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