Football season is underway across Arkansas as college teams, from Division II programs to major universities, began their 2026 schedules. Games held Thursday and Saturday provided fans with plenty to cheer for—and some early challenges to overcome.
**Saturday Results:** - The Arkansas Razorbacks, under new head coach Ryan Silverfield, started their season strong by defeating North Alabama 31-14. - Arkansas State University opened their campaign with a stout effort against Memphis but fell 42-24. - The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) hosted its first game on their recognizable striped field but lost to West Florida 42-14. - Lyon College faced East Texas Baptist in an uphill battle, with a final score of 58-7 in favor of the Tigers.
**Thursday Results:** - Harding University cruised to a dominant 76-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State. - Henderson State University secured a decisive 57-21 victory over Southern Nazarene. - Arkansas Tech edged Southwestern Oklahoma State 26-20 in a close matchup. - Ouachita Baptist fell to East Central 27-17. - Southeastern Oklahoma State topped Arkansas-Monticello 21-12. - Southern Arkansas University suffered a 38-20 loss to Oklahoma Baptist. - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff traveled to face Missouri but lost 54-14.
As teams across the state look toward next week, early results offer plenty of storylines for fans and players alike to follow.