Sam Pittman walked into the season already feeling the heat. With a 4.22 rating, he landed at No. 5 on CBS Sports’ “Now or Never” list, tied with Auburn’s HC. But now, the flames are out of control. Back-to-back road losses, both sealed by late turnovers, have left Arkansas reeling. First came Ole Miss. But Saturday’s 32-31 upset at the hands of mid-major Memphis may be the breaking point. Now, as the Razorbacks shrink in a big Southern pond, patience in Fayetteville is wearing thin. So, Pittman isn’t just on the hot seat anymore; he’s running out of time. And with pressure mounting, Arkansas’ HC can’t afford to stay silent any longer.
Surely losing to Ole Miss was bad. But giving up a 28-10 advantage to Memphis? That’s downright embarrassing. And humiliating losses often bring down the hammer on a coaching job, just ask coaches like DeShaun Foster and Brent Pry. Now it seems Pittman’s turn because his own record tells the tale: 7-19 in one-score games, including a dreadful 2-10 stretch since 2023. So, the margin for error is gone, but Pittman is making one last attempt to secure his job.
On Monday, the Razorbacks HC faced the media amid mounting questions about his job security. But when reporters asked if the recent losses had added pressure, Pittman didn’t shy away. He said no external noise compares to the pressure inside the locker room. “It’d be kind of hard to have more pressure,” he admitted. “The pressure you put on yourself is obviously a lot because you want to do well for a lot of reasons.” Then he added some perspective and a touch of humor. “I’ve kind of had this same type of pressure for, I don’t know, three years now. It seems like 40, but I think it’s been about three.” So, even under fire, Pittman says the pressure is nothing new. And that’s true.
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Pittman survived the hot seat in 2024. The reason? Arkansas finished 7-6, capped by a bowl win over Texas Tech. Then, he entered 2025 brimming with confidence. Why not? Bobby Petrino and Taylen Green were in their 2nd year together, and momentum seemed to be on Arkansas’ side. But the script has changed now. Although Pittman’s job seemed in jeopardy after a rough 2023. With stars like Rocket Sanders and KJ Jefferson returning, the Razorbacks still struggled offensively, limping to a 4-8 record. That’s why midway through that season, Pittman fired his OC. And now, it seems the same situation is catching up to him. Still, Pittman believes there is hope for a turnaround.
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Pittman knows exactly what needs to happen. Winning. Because nothing else will change minds. “We have an opportunity,” he said, referring to their next game against Notre Dame. “The only way we can win people over or create more positive thoughts about our program is to win ball games. That’s really the bottom line.” But words mean little if the scoreboard doesn’t back them up. “You can say whatever you want. You can do whatever you want. But what’s the score? That really is what changes people’s perception,” added Pittman. So for him, results speak louder than promises. But while Pittman clings to hope, whispers of an Arkansas assistant as his replacement are growing louder.
Potential candidate to replace Sam Pittman
Sam Pittman’s time at Arkansas has been a rollercoaster. He reached his high point in 2021 with nine wins, but the results have trended downward since. Now in 2025, Pittman’s overall record sits at 32-33 after a 2-2 start, so talk of a coaching change is growing louder. If the Razorbacks decide to part ways, one name is already drawing attention as a possible interim replacement: Bobby Petrino. Possibly because of his past connections.
Petrino was Arkansas’ head coach from 2008 to 11. Then he returned as OC in 2024 and quickly began positioning himself for bigger opportunities. “Fast forward to now, the weakness of that team is by far the defense. There’s a lot more push for, ‘maybe Petrino should be the interim head coach,’” said CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello. “Bobby Petrino has been working them phones, baby. He’s been talking a lot behind the scenes, he’s positioning himself to take over the Arkansas football program, at least on an interim basis, if Sam Pittman’s fired.” But it would be an awkward reunion for the Razorbacks.
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Here’s why. Petrino’s first stint at Arkansas ended with a 34-17 record, back-to-back double-digit win seasons. But his 2012 exit was messy, triggered by a motorcycle accident that exposed an affair with a former staff member. Since then, his career has been a rollercoaster. Although he made stops at UNLV, Missouri State, and Texas A&M at he ended back in Fayetteville. And now Petrino could be poised to take the reins again.