The Job Is KJ Jackson's
Arkansas made it official Sunday: KJ Jackson is the Razorbacks' starting quarterback for the 2026 season. The announcement, made via social media, ends a quarterback competition that played out through the spring and all of fall camp between Jackson and AJ Hill, a Memphis transfer who followed head coach Ryan Silverfield to Fayetteville.
Hill made a real push — he played in two games as a true freshman last season, completing 19 of 32 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown, and an interception — but Arkansas ultimately went with the returning player with more experience in the system.
What Jackson Has Shown
Jackson is entering his third season with the Razorbacks after signing with Arkansas as a four-star prospect out of Montgomery, Alabama, in the 2024 recruiting class. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback appeared in one game as a true freshman in 2024, completing all four of his pass attempts for 59 yards.
Last season was his real emergence. Jackson played in five games and started the regular-season finale against Missouri, finishing with a 61.1 percent completion rate, 441 passing yards, and three touchdowns through the air, plus 52 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. That closing performance gave the staff a template for what he can do with a full week of reps as the starter.
The Quarterback Room Arkansas Built
The competition itself is the story Silverfield has been selling all summer: for the first time in years, Arkansas has a quarterback room with multiple viable options. Jackson gets the keys because of his runway and dual-threat floor, while Hill gives the staff a proven backup with a full year in Silverfield's offense. For a program trying to climb back to bowl eligibility in a loaded SEC West, having two quarterbacks the staff trusts is a luxury the Razorbacks did not have a year ago.
When the Hogs Open
Jackson's debut as the full-time starter comes Saturday, Sept. 5, when Arkansas hosts North Alabama at Razorback Stadium (3:15 p.m. CT, SEC Network). A week later, the Hogs travel to Salt Lake City to face Utah — an early test that will immediately show whether the offense can travel against a physical Mountain West team with playoff ambitions.
What This Means for CFB 27
In College Football 27, quarterback decisions like this are exactly what the pre-season roster update will reflect — and KJ Jackson is a name worth checking in Dynasty. As a returning starter with a 61.1 percent completion rate and dual-threat production, he projects as a mid-tier QB with reliable THP and solid mobility, the kind of signal-caller who can be the backbone of a rebuild if you give him a clean pocket. When the Week 0 roster refresh lands, compare Jackson's in-game rating against Hill's: Arkansas is one of the SEC's sleeper Dynasty picks, and the QB1 decision determines whether the Hogs are a competitive starter squad or a long-term project.
