Turkeys, Tar Heels & Chippewas: Ranking Arkansas’ Big Preseason Tests
Arkansas has confirmed just four non-conference games for 2026-27, but they pack a punch. The least impactful is a Dec. 22 home date with Central Michigan, a mid-December lull breaker. On Nov. 26, the Hogs face Michigan State in Detroit on Thanksgiving evening, a revenge angle after last year’s narrow loss in East Lansing and a national showcase under Tom Izzo vs. John Calipari. Next up, on Dec. 1, Arkansas travels to Chapel Hill for a true road trial against North Carolina, a resume-boosting litmus test. Finally, on Dec. 19 in Phoenix, the Hogs get a rematch with Arizona—the Final Four squad that ended Arkansas’s March run a year ago. These four games set the early tone before SEC play.
John Calipari, ever the holiday enthusiast, clearly believes meal breaks and national TV exposure are the same thing. Nothing says “we’ll eat you alive” quite like stuffing your face with turkey and then immediately facing a rival in Detroit. And who needs rest before Christmas when you can drive out west, hit a midweek game, then sing carols surrounded by hostile Arizona fans? It’s like scheduling a spa day right after a root canal. The Iron Man calendar proves: if Arkansas wanted to build character, it could’ve just made the team do push-ups in Santa’s sleigh. But hey, at least the Hogs will know what pressure feels like before league play.
EA’s Razorbacks Grade Report: QB Hobbles to DL Behemoths
EA Sports College Football 27 rates Arkansas at 80 overall (81 defense, 80 offense). Quarterback depth charts feature KJ Jackson (74), AJ Hill (72) and newcomer Braeden Fuller (70). The backfield boasts junior Braylen Russell (86) and transfer Sutton Smith (85), followed by Cam Settles and Jasper Parker (75). Wideouts are loaded: Jamari Hawkins (85), Donovan Faupel (83) and Chris Marshal (81), plus CJ Brown (79) and Co. Tight ends Jaden Platt (80), Ty Lockwood and Maddox Lassiter (77) round out the offense. Offensive lineman Malachi Breland (85) anchors the line, while Bryant Williams (80) and Caden Kitler (78) fill key spots. On defense, Quincy Rhodes Jr. leads at 90, with David Oke (81), Charlie Collins (79) and Xadavien Sims (77) in the trenches. Linebackers peak at Bradley Shaw (81), and DBs top out with Jahiem Johnson and Carter Stoumire (83).
Nothing says “digital glory” like slapping an 86 on your running back, even if half your yards came when the other team was Netflix-bingeing. EA clearly loves transfers more than real fans do, awarding top marks to guys who probably only played one spring practice before being ported into Fayetteville. As for the quarterbacks, rating your potential starter a 74 suggests he’s just three points away from benchwarmer status—but hey, realism sells. And let’s all hail the lone 90 on defense like he’s a superhero, while the rest of the squad clings to 77s and 78s like participation trophies. Next year’s cheat codes: “unlimited ratings” and “everyone’s a five-star recruit.”
Hot 8 Showdown: Arkansas Eyes SF Phenom DeMarcus Henry
Arkansas has landed in the final eight for 5-star small forward Demarcus Henry, the No. 1 SF in the 2027 class. The 6’8″, 200-lb Arizona Compass Prep standout trimmed 29 offers to a list including Arkansas, BYU, UConn, Louisville, Ohio State, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas. Henry averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, and 1 steal per game as a junior and dominated the NBPA Top-100 Camp with 20 PPG and nearly 10 RPG en route to first-team honors. A silver medalist with USA 18U, his pedigree and high-floor potential make him a coveted prize for Calipari’s revamped roster.
Who doesn’t love a good eight-team race for a kid who’s already lifted more trophies than most adults own? Calipari’s pitch will probably involve free tacos and turning Fayetteville into the next Scottsdale. Meanwhile, Henry’s mom is secretly planning a victory parade in Phoenix, complete with confetti cannons and a statue of DeMarcus doing a windmill dunk. Sure, the kid’s got skills, but narrowing down from 29 to eight schools is like choosing your favorite cereal in an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet: too many sugar-coated options. Wherever he lands, expect Arkansas to set aside an entire wing of Bud Walton Arena just to house his future trophies.
Calipari’s New Tank: Jordan Smith the Next Draft Darling?
Five-star freshman guard Jordan Smith Jr., the reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year, has set the college world abuzz before ever stepping on campus. At Paul IV Catholic and Nike EYBL, Smith averaged 27 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals on 56/37/72 shooting as a senior. Analysts from ESPN and CBS slot him as a top-two prospect in the 2027 NBA Draft and even the “face of college basketball” down the road. At 6’9″ with a 6’9″ wingspan and 40″ vertical, Smith combines scoring prowess and playmaking with enough length to guard multiple positions—making him Calipari’s most hyped recruit since Karl-Anthony Towns.
“I’m basically leBron in sneakers,” winked nobody ever, but national pundits are ready to wallpaper every gym Smith touches with mock Draft boards. Imagine the freshman huddled on campus, surrounded by cameras, while scribes debate his potential shoe deal—before he’s even learned how to navigate an academic advisor. And let’s not forget the knee-jerk comparison to every past one-and-done guard, conveniently ignoring developmental red flags like dietary habits and late-night video games. But hey, if Smith’s versatility pans out, he’ll print enough highlight reels to power the entire SEC in ESPN’s “Top 10 Plays” for years.
Rookie Acuff Goes Nuclear: Dishes Clutch 3 to Stun Bucks
Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. added to his clutch legend Monday by drilling a game-sealing three with 23 seconds left to give the Kings a Summer League victory over the Bucks. Acuff, known for buzzer-beaters at Arkansas—three to force OT vs. Alabama, a game-winner vs. Oklahoma, and a fadeaway in the SEC Tourney—finished with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and two blocks. He shot 4-9 from deep and credited improved poise for the performance. Teammate Dylan Cardwell labeled him “generational,” marveling at defenses that blitz him on every possession.
Move over LeBron, Acuff’s taking your generational crown… in July! Nothing says “NBA superstar” like torching other rookies in Las Vegas’s hottest summer. Sure, it’s only Summer League, but with a stat line like that, next Nike HQ mailing him a lifetime supply of swooshes makes perfect sense. Spoiler alert: the Bucks were probably experimenting with eight-foot rims and beachballs for defense, but let’s ignore that. And calling him “generational” after one three-pointer is like pronouncing a kid “Nobel Prize-worthy” after 3rd grade spelling bee. Brace yourselves: Gerard Acuff Jr. merch is coming soon to a pop-up shop near you.
Leave a Reply