Arkansas football is entering the offseason with a noticeably different tone, one defined by competition, accountability, and clarity of purpose. Head coach Ryan Silverfield made that much clear during a recent interview with Arkansas journalist Jack Allen, where he outlined how the Razorbacks plan to attack spring practice and beyond.
One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation was definitive: Arkansas will have a spring game this year and this team will compete every step of the way.
Razorbacks Players Will Have to Earn Everything
Before the Razorbacks ever take the field for that showcase, Silverfield explained that his staff is already hard at work fostering competition across the roster. Players have been separated into workout teams spanning multiple position groups, creating daily opportunities for evaluation. According to Silverfield, the offseason isn’t about reputation or past production, it’s about earning everything.
“We're letting them compete against each other," Silverfield emphasized.
#Arkansas football will have a spring game this year, Coach Silverfield told me.
— Jack Allen KATV (@JackAllenTV) February 6, 2026
Before that, he says his staff is actively fostering competition by separating players into workout teams across position groups.
He says the offseason is all about competition and accountability. pic.twitter.com/dwLFDTaHl8
That philosophy represents a significant shift for a program coming off a difficult year. Arkansas is leaning into a no-nonsense, accountability-driven structure where players determine the depth chart themselves. Nothing is guaranteed. Starting roles and rotations are written in pencil, not pen or Sharpie, and can change daily based on effort, consistency, and performance.
Rather than making early assumptions, Silverfield and his staff are focused on the total body of work. Every workout, every practice rep, and every competitive situation will factor into how players stack up when the fall arrives. It’s a cumulative evaluation process designed to remove guesswork entirely.
That approach also helps explain why Arkansas has assembled one of its largest assistant coaching staffs in recent memory. The goal is simple: more eyes, more coaching, and more accurate evaluations. With enough coaches actively engaged, Silverfield believes there’s no excuse for players slipping through the cracks or roles being assigned without full information.
The spring game itself will play an important role in that framework. While some coaches around the country have moved away from spring games, citing injury concerns or the risk of players using the event as a transfer showcase during the spring portal window when it did exist, Silverfield is embracing it.
This is a prove-it roster, and the spring game is just another data point.
With massive roster turnover this offseason, Arkansas is essentially starting fresh at multiple positions. Silverfield is fully committed to letting competition reveal who belongs, who’s ready, and who can be trusted when the games start to matter. For a team coming off a 2–10 season and riding a growing losing streak in SEC play, that transparency and structure are not just refreshing, they’re necessary.
The Razorbacks are in rebuild mode, and Silverfield isn’t shying away from that reality. Instead, he’s attacking it head-on with a clear vision, demanding standards, and a system that rewards production over promises.
Whether it’s through offseason workouts, spring practices, or the spring game itself, Arkansas football is laying the groundwork for change. If the Silverfield effect holds, the Razorbacks won’t just look different this fall, they’ll compete differently.