After getting solid win in Dallas, things might be a little tougher on Saturday against the Houston Cougars in New Jersey.
WATCH: Halftime is LIVE at Blue Ember Smokehouse in Hot Springs
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Clay Henry – 12:00
Bill King – 1:15
Pig Trail Nation’s Mike Irwin on Razorbacks out-lasting Texas Tech
Deep roster for Hogs made difference for John Calipari’s team, but now they will face Houston that may be an even deeper team.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 12-15-25
Did Arkansas football get a favorable draw with their 2026 schedule? Recapping the basketball team’s big win over Texas Tech and our company Christmas party!
Trickett emerges as key hire in Silverfield’s new Arkansas staff
Ryan Silverfield said his first Arkansas coaching staff was “going to blow us away.”
For Razorbacks fans trying to understand what that meant, the picture is getting clearer.
One of the most important early hires is expected to be Clint Trickett, a coach known for his steady work with quarterbacks and his experience across several offensive systems.
Trickett is set to take over the Arkansas quarterback room, shaping the position that most often determines how fast a program can rebuild.
His background as both a quarterback and a coach gives the Razorbacks a leader who knows the challenges of the position from every angle.
The Razorbacks are in the early stages of forming Silverfield’s first staff, but Trickett’s expected hire already stands out. Quarterbacks need structure, clear teaching and steady communication. Trickett has built a coaching path that shows he provides those things at every stop.
He brings years of experience working with young players, calling plays and designing passing games. For an offense that must take a big step forward, this kind of background gives Arkansas a more grounded path.
Trickett played quarterback at Florida State and West Virginia, finishing with more than 5,800 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. Few coaching hires offer that level of firsthand experience in high-pressure situations.
The Razorbacks get someone who has stood in the pocket, made decisions and understood what it takes to lead an offense.
Before coaching at the Division I level, Trickett spent two seasons guiding quarterbacks at East Mississippi Community College.
That program is known nationally for producing strong players who need quick development. Coaching there shaped Trickett’s ability to teach fundamentals and build confidence fast.
He later coached at Florida Atlantic and Marshall, working across multiple offensive positions. Those roles helped him understand how receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks fit together in a complete passing game.
That matters for a Hogs offense trying to find balance.
Another important stop came at Georgia Southern, where Trickett served as pass game coordinator while also coaching tight ends.
Handling both scheme and a position group gave him valuable experience in designing weekly plans.
In 2025, Trickett spent the season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State. Running an offense while leading the most important position group shows how trusted he has become.
Why Trickett is right fit for Silverfield
Silverfield wants teachers. He wants coaches who can build players up, communicate clearly and guide them through daily work. Trickett’s career fits that model.
His résumé shows steady development, patience and an understanding of how to teach quarterbacks at different stages.
The Razorbacks are building a new identity under Silverfield. That process starts with culture, but it becomes real when the players on offense understand what they are being asked to do.
Trickett offers the kind of detail-oriented approach that helps young quarterbacks grow in a simple, focused system.
Trickett also brings the kind of personality Silverfield values. Silverfield has said fans will be impressed by the character of his staff.
Trickett’s coaching history shows he has earned trust wherever he has been, whether coaching quarterbacks or helping design a passing attack.
For Arkansas, this means the quarterback room gets a steady voice. It means the Razorbacks can build an offense that grows over time rather than guessing its way through games.
How Trickett fits with rest of new staff
Silverfield is filling out the staff around Trickett with experienced assistants on offense and defense. Tim Cramsey is expected to coordinate the offense.
Larry Smith will handle wide receivers, David Johnson will lead running backs, Morgan Turner will coach tight ends and Marcus Johnson and Jeff Meyers are set to guide the offensive line.
On defense, the Razorbacks expect Ron Roberts to be the coordinator and linebackers coach. Marion Hobby is lined up for the defensive line.
Deron Wilson and TJ Rushing are set to coach cornerbacks, and CJ Wilford is expected to guide the safeties. Chad Lunsford is expected to run special teams.
Trickett fits into that group as a central figure for the Hogs offense. While others handle positions, Trickett helps shape the direction of the entire offensive approach.
A quarterback coach often becomes the key connection between scheme and execution.
What Trickett means for Hogs in 2026
Arkansas knows it is starting over after a difficult season. The Hogs do not need flash; they need structure. Trickett gives them that.
He offers coaching experience rooted in real development, not shortcuts.
Silverfield is building a long-term plan, and Trickett’s expected hire is a clear sign of it.
Quarterbacks will get direct teaching from someone who has led an offense, thrown passes under pressure and designed systems around player strengths.
For the Razorbacks, this is exactly the type of hire that can stabilize a rebuild.
Key takeaways
- Clint Trickett is expected to be the Arkansas quarterbacks coach and a central part of the offensive rebuild.
- Trickett brings years of experience coaching quarterbacks and designing passing games across multiple programs.
- His arrival fits Ryan Silverfield’s plan to build a strong, character-driven staff for the Hogs.
Brazile’s second half lifts Hogs past Texas Tech in comeback win
Arkansas walked into Dallas on Saturday looking like a team that still remembered last March.
The Razorbacks lost to Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 a year ago, and the feeling stayed with the returners.
This time, the outcome flipped.
A slow first half turned into a 93–86 win after a much better second half built on Trevon Brazile’s power around the rim and long scoring swings from the backcourt.
Texas Tech had control early with Christian Anderson and JT Toppin carrying most of the Red Raiders’ offense. Tech’s inside-outside mix gave Arkansas issues, and the Hogs trailed at halftime.
Still, the second half showed a different approach, one that head coach John Calipari said came from growing trust within the group.
“I’m really proud of the guys,” Calipari said afterward. “My job is to get individual players to play better. That’s a name on the back.”
For the Razorbacks, this wasn’t framed as revenge in the locker room, but the players knew the meaning. Last year’s tournament loss came after Arkansas gave up a lead. This time, they were the ones storming back.
“This was 100% a personal game,” Brazile said. “Especially for the returners. I know we had this one circled.”
His teammates felt it too. The game may not have been circled on a public schedule, but the energy after the final horn said enough.
Brazile and Acuff control stretch run
The turning point came midway through the second half when Brazile and freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. scored 19 straight for the Hogs. At the time, Arkansas trailed by six, and the game felt like it might drift away.
Instead, the Razorbacks leaned into a two-man rhythm that Texas Tech couldn’t solve.
Brazile finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, nearly matching his season best. His scoring stretch included drives, put-backs, and free throws, but the bigger impact was the way he forced Tech to shift its defense.
That opened space for Acuff Jr., who added 20 points and eight assists.
The freshman’s calm presence helped Arkansas organize its offense while playing uphill. His playmaking kept possessions steady, something that mattered when Tech’s guards tried to speed up the game.
For a group still learning Calipari’s style, it was important that the ball stayed under control.
Texas Tech’s star duo still posted numbers, but the Razorbacks’ push arrived at the right moment. Anderson finished with 22 points, while Toppin added a double-double with 11 rebounds.
But Toppin’s 2-for-7 showing at the free throw line was a problem as the game tightened. Arkansas, by contrast, shot 26 free throws to Tech’s 10, and that gap mattered.
Hogs rely on balanced scoring, growing identity
The Hogs didn’t win off one hot hand. They won because three different players reached 20 points.
Karter Knox joined Brazile and Acuff Jr. as Arkansas’ third scorer with 20 on the night, his second such performance against Texas Tech and his third of the season.
Knox hit big shots in the second half, especially when Tech tried to double Brazile in the paint.
Rebounding also tilted in Arkansas’ favor. The Razorbacks won the glass 40–33 and grabbed timely offensive boards that kept possessions alive.
That helped slow down Tech’s pace and allowed Arkansas to string together cleaner trips. The Red Raiders’ struggles at the line, mixed with Arkansas’ success getting there, formed the combination that separated the two teams in the final minutes.
Calipari said the difference was not only physical play but improved timing and trust.
“They’re more connected,” he said. “Each week that goes by, we seem to be more connected, and we can do things out of timeouts and late in the game.”
That connection was visible in Dallas. Even as Arkansas trailed, the group never lost shape.
When the Razorbacks made their push, it looked organized, not rushed. That alone marks progress.
Arkansas sees signs of team turning corner
This win marked three straight for Arkansas and its second win over a ranked opponent this season, following a road victory at Louisville.
For a program trying to establish a steady identity after last year’s uneven play, stacking these performances matters.
The Razorbacks now return home to host Queens on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena, another chance to build rhythm before the heart of the schedule arrives.
The Hogs will still need to clean up slow starts, but a strong second half on a neutral floor against a ranked team shows how far they have come in a short time.
Arkansas left Dallas with something more useful than fan chatter about revenge. It left with evidence that when Brazile anchors the interior and the guards play with control, the Razorbacks can handle difficult matchups. That’s the part Calipari wants to bottle.
Key takeaways
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Brazile’s second-half run powered Arkansas back from a deficit and set the tone for the win.
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Acuff Jr. and Knox added 20 points each, giving the Razorbacks needed balance.
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Calipari says the team is “more connected,” and late-game execution showed that progress.
