Arkansas football changes opponents for 2026 season opener
The Arkansas football team has changed the opponent it will face to start off the 2026 football season, HawgBeat has learned.
The Hogs had originally planned to host Charleston Southern to kick off the 2026 season, but will now welcome North Alabama instead. The schedule change was revealed through a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by HawgBeat.
The season opener will be played on Sept. 5, 2026 at Razorback Stadium. The previous contract with Charleston Southern was canceled on June 23, according to the contract.
North Alabama’s football program is run by head coach Brent Dearmon, who got his start in coaching at the Division I ranks under former Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn at Auburn in 2013.
After two seasons as an offensive analyst for the Tigers, he left to head to Russellville, where he was the offensive coordinator at Arkansas Tech from 2015 to 2017.
Last season, North Alabama finished 3-9 with a 3-5 mark in the United Athletic Conference in the FCS ranks.
Arkansas football 2026 non-conference schedule
- vs. North Alabama – Sept. 5
- at Utah – Sept. 12
- vs. Memphis – Sept. 19
- vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane – Nov. 21
