Arkansas Will Fire Sam Pittman Mideason
The Arkansas Razorbacks signed Head Coach Sam Pittman to an extension in 2022 after an impressive 9-4 season. Unfortunately for Hogs fans, the team came crashing back to Earth in 2023 in the form of a 4-8 season where they went 1-7 in SEC play. Arkansas has a tough schedule this season and if things start going the way they did in 2023, Sam Pittman will find himself without a job by season's end.
Why Sam Pittman Will Be Fired Midseason
Arkansas recruited a brand new offense out of the transfer portal, including starting quarterback Taylen Green. Green transferred from Boise State where he did not exactly put up stellar numbers. The Junior recorded just over 1,700 yards with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions for the Broncos in 2023. Those stats don't inspire high hopes transferring into the SEC.
The Razorbacks start their season with two of their first three games against Arkansas Pine-Bluff and UAB, but sandwiched between them is a trip to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State. The SEC's 4th worst rush defense last season will struggle to contain the Cowboys' running back, Ollie Gordon. The Junior tailback led the country in rushing last season with just over 1,700 yards.
Arkansas' SEC schedule is a gauntlet. They will play Auburn, Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas, and Missouri. They will likely be significant underdogs in almost all those games except Mississippi State. There is a very realistic chance the Hogs repeat their 1-7 conference record from last season. If they start going down that path, Sam Pittman could very well be out of a job.
Another new cog in the Razorbacks' offense is Offensive Coordinator Bobby Petrino. Pittman brought Petrino on board to save his job, but it is more likely that he sealed his fate as the Arkansas Head Coach instead. Petrino has been looking for a power four head coaching gig ever since he was fired from Arkansas in 2012 after his motorcycle incident. And what better way to do that than by returning to Fayetteville?
Arkansas will likely fire Pittman after his third or fourth straight SEC loss. They can use the back half of the schedule as a trial run for Petrino at the helm. Barring an unmitigated disaster in that stretch, he will likely be named the full-time Head Coach in the offseason.
It's not all bad for Pittman, though. He will make around $10 million from his buyout when he's fired. Proving once again that the best job on Earth is a fired SEC coach. Life can come at you fast in college football. Two years ago the Razorbacks were riding high, now it is all coming to a disappointing end.
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