Overlooked by College Football 26, the Hogs offense may have the last laugh

Arkansas football's offense is filled with new faces, but coach Bobby Petrino & Co. are on a mission this season.
Texas v Arkansas
Texas v Arkansas | Wesley Hitt/GettyImages

College Football 26 released its overall, defensive, and offensive top-25 rankings last Friday. All the usual suspects rank near the top—Alabama, Texas, Penn State, Ohio State, etc. But one team not listed anywhere is Arkansas.

It's not surprising, but it's slightly insulting to at least one side of the ball. While it may just be a video game, it's one based on real life. And as difficult a task as it may seem, EA Sports attempts to replicate the teams on the field as closely as possible. This year, Arkansas could end up as a top-25 offensive.

Why Arkansas will have a top-25 offense by the season's end

The Razorbacks finished No. 10 in yards per game in 2024, which was the second-best in the SEC. However, Arkansas' problem was finishing drives. Between the 20-yard lines, the Hogs could've hung with any other offense in the nation. But when they reached the red zone, the offense turned into a shell of itself. This season, Arkansas is on the way to fixing that problem.

The reason the Razorbacks' offense may get over the hump in the 2025-26 season can be summarized in three simple words: rebuilt offensive line.

New offensive line

When Sam Pittman arrived in Fayetteville to be the new head coach of Arkansas, one thing most thought was certain was that Arkansas would have a great offensive line. Since the 2021 season, that's all but been the case. The 2024 season may have been the most striking example yet of how bad the OL play has been under Pittman.

D.J. Williams' 4th & 5 podcast broke down the Razorbacks' week-to-week with the help of former Arkansas OL who played between 2008 and 2011. They did get better as the year progressed, but the OL was a big reason the Hogs couldn't punch in touchdowns.

Heading into 2025, Arkansas had to make big changes up front with Patrick Kutas, Joshua Braun, and Addison Nichols transferring out, and Pittman hit the portal hard for OLs. Three of the biggest names were Center Caden Kitler from UCF, offensive tackle Corey Robinson II from Georgia Tech, and OT Shaq McRoy.

Kitler is the lesser-known and the lowest-ranked of the three. But he's one thing that Arkansas needed for two years—a true center. Since Ricky Stomberg left the Hogs for the NFL draft, Arkansas hasn't had a guy who's played the position. In 2023, Beaux Limmer switched from guard to center. And in 2024, Nichols, who had played guard at Tennessee, moved inside for the Hogs.

On the contrary, Robinson and McRoy have the potential to be the best additions out of the portal last season. Robinson was the highest-graded pass protector in the country last year. Fernando Carmona had trouble playing against SEC speed on the outside in 2024 but is likely to move inside to guard to let Robinson take his place at left tackle.

McRoy, on the other hand, isn't proven, but he was the No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2024 class. And at 6-foot-8, 362 pounds, and has quickness to add to his size, he could be a massive game-changer at right tackle. E'Marrion Harris is likely to move inside to guard as well, but McRoy still needs to beat him out in fall camp.

New wide receiver crops but the same backfield

Arkansas' skill players are basically all new. The wide receivers have been a massive point of emphasis from critics. Two of the more notable receivers Arkansas picked up from the portal—Courtney Crutchfield (Missouri) and O'Mega Blake (Charlotte)—didn't exactly impress many early in the spring. Blake slowly began to emerge as a playmaker, according to a report by Hawg Sports.

Crutchfield still hasn't made much noise. Instead, Fresno State transfer Raylen Sharpe, speedy punt returner out of UAB Kam Shanks, and Ismael Cisse from Stanford turned heads in the spring. While they may be smaller WRs than what fans have been used to, offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino has experience with short receivers. Maybe the names Joe Adams (5-foot-9) and Jarius Wright (5-foot-11) ring a bell?

There's also the tired but factual trope about a quarterback's second season under Petrino. Taylen Green had the second-best statistical season in Arkansas history last year; the only stats he missed were the touchdowns. But that now he has an OL that potentially fits better together than last season's, there's no reason the second-year jump doesn't happen for Green. A better OL also means a better run game for the human tank, running back Braylen Russel.

College Football 26 rankings

Below are College Football 26's offensive, defensive, and overall rankings and each team's ratings:

Overall

  1. Alabama Crimson Tide | 89
  2. Texas Longhorns | 88
  3. Ohio State Buckeyes | 88
  4. Penn State Nittany Lions | 88
  5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 88
  6. Georgia Bulldogs | 88
  7. Clemson Tigers | 88
  8. Texas A&M Aggies | 88
  9. Oregon Ducks | 86 
  10. LSU Tigers | 86 
  11. Miami Hurricanes | 86 
  12. Florida Gators | 86 
  13. Texas Tech Red Raiders | 86
  14. Arizona State Sun Devils | 85 
  15. Michigan Wolverines | 85 
  16. Ole Miss Rebels | 85
  17. Oklahoma Sooners | 85 
  18. Indiana Hoosiers | 85 
  19. SMU Mustangs | 84 
  20. Tennessee Volunteers | 84 
  21. Missouri Tigers | 84 
  22. Auburn Tigers | 84 
  23. Duke Blue Devils | 84
  24. South Carolina Gamecocks | 82 
  25. Illinois Fighting Illini | 82

Offenses

  1. Texas Longhorns | 91
  2. Penn State Nittany Lions | 91
  3. Ohio State Buckeyes | 91
  4. Arizona State Sun Devils | 91
  5. Clemson Tigers | 89
  6. LSU Tigers | 89
  7. Alabama Crimson Tide | 89
  8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 89
  9. Florida Gators | 89
  10. Miami Hurricanes | 89
  11. Indiana Hoosiers | 89
  12. Texas A&M Aggies | 89
  13. Georgia Bulldogs | 87
  14. Oklahoma Sooners | 87
  15. SMU Mustangs | 87
  16. BYU Cougars | 87
  17. Baylor Bears | 87
  18. Texas Tech Red Raiders | 87
  19. Oregon Ducks | 85
  20. Ole Miss Rebels | 85
  21. USC Trojans | 85
  22. Boise State Broncos | 85
  23. Iowa State Cyclones | 85
  24. Nebraska Cornhuskers | 85
  25. South Carolina Gamecocks | 85

Defenses

  1. Alabama Crimson Tide | 96
  2. Texas Longhorns | 94
  3. Penn State Nittany Lions | 94
  4. Georgia Bulldogs | 92
  5. Ohio State Buckeyes | 92
  6. Michigan Wolverines | 92
  7. Oregon Ducks | 92
  8. LSU Tigers | 92
  9. Texas Tech Red Raiders | 92
  10. Clemson Tigers | 90
  11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 90
  12. Texas A&M Aggies | 90
  13. Tennessee Volunteers | 88
  14. Indiana Hoosiers | 88
  15. Miami Hurricanes | 88
  16. Duke Blue Devils | 88
  17. Oklahoma Sooners | 88
  18. Illinois Fighting Illini | 86
  19. Kansas State Wildcats | 86
  20. Ole Miss Rebels | 86
  21. Pittsburgh Panthers | 86
  22. South Carolina Gamecocks | 84
  23. Arizona State Sun Devils | 84
  24. Iowa Hawkeyes | 84
  25. Florida Gators | 84