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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks are off to a disappointing 1-2 start in their first season under head coach Ryan Silverfield, having suffered lopsided losses to Utah and Georgia. As they prepare to host Tulsa on Saturday, the Razorbacks are treating the game as a final tune-up before diving into an eight-game SEC schedule that begins the following week at Texas A&M.
Tulsa, meanwhile, is riding high with a 3-0 record under second-year head coach Tre Lamb, marking the program's best start since 2008. The Golden Hurricane are also chasing their second win over a Power Four opponent this season. For Arkansas, this matchup represents a critical chance to fix several glaring issues before the competition level rises dramatically.
Establish Physicality Along the Offensive Line
Arkansas's offensive line, expected to be a strength, has been anything but through three games. The low point came last Saturday when Georgia's defensive line coach, Tray Scott, had his entire position group run drills on the field during a third-quarter timeout—a public display of the Razorbacks' lack of physicality. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart later said Arkansas simply wasn't physical enough, a sentiment that should serve as a final wake-up call for Silverfield and his staff.
In 23 years of observing football, this level of disrespect from an opponent is unprecedented. The Razorbacks must respond with a more physical effort against Tulsa or risk carrying that weakness into SEC play.
Settle on a Starting Quarterback
The Razorbacks have been rotating KJ Jackson and Malachi Hill at quarterback, but the experiment has yet to yield a clear starter. While Jackson has shown better command of the offense, Hill has flashed big-play ability with his arm. However, a two-quarterback system rarely succeeds, and neither player has done enough to make it a feared weapon. This week's game against Tulsa offers the perfect opportunity for Silverfield and offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey to name a permanent starter and move forward.
Defense Must Swarm to the Football
Arkansas's run defense has been among the worst in the nation, and Tulsa brings a potent rushing attack that has totaled 661 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground through three games. The Golden Hurricane have ripped off long runs of 81, 56, 51, 29, and 19 yards. While Tulsa has struggled on third down (24.35% conversion rate, 133rd nationally), they've been excellent on fourth down (8-of-10) and have protected the ball, committing just two turnovers. They also have five plays of 40+ yards, tied for fifth in the FBS.
Arkansas will have a talent advantage on defense, but discipline and effort will be key to containing Tulsa's open-field speed. The Razorbacks have shown they can generate pressure from multiple sources—Quincy Rhodes, David Oke, Ja'Quavion Smith, Khmori House, and Ben Bogle have all made plays—but they must do so consistently.
Become a Mirror Image of Silverfield's Culture
Despite a 45-17 home loss to the nation's No. 2 team, Georgia, Arkansas did not quit when adversity struck. That resilience aligns with Silverfield's offseason mantra of being 'ALL IN'—attacking the game with the right attitude, doing the little things, loving the game, playing with high football intelligence, and acting with urgency. After a lackluster first three games, Saturday is the time for those words to become actions rather than just a slogan.
For more coverage, sign up for our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter). Jacob Davis is the Publisher for Arkansas Razorbacks on SI, with a decade of experience covering college athletics. He has previously worked at Rivals, Saturday Down South, SB Nation, and hosted podcasts with Bleav Podcast Network, where his show was a finalist for podcast of the year. Follow him at jacobdaviscfb.