“It’s a make-or-break year” – Anonymous college coach drops verdict on Arkansas HC Sam Pittman’s future with the Razorbacks

Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman’s time in charge of the program may be running out. One anonymous source close to the program has suggested that this change may come sooner than expected.

Speaking to Lindsey’s Sport Magazine, one coach speaking under the condition of anonymity said:

“It’s a make-or-break year for Sam Pittman. He’s got (OC) Bobby Petrino there. Everybody is betting on the past. We’ll see if the past works. They might be doing Halloween without the (current) Razorbacks staff.”

Sam Pittman has been in charge of the Razorbacks for four seasons. In those four seasons, the Razorbacks have had mixed fortunes.

Year 2023 was a low point for Arkansas and Pittman. The Razorbacks went 4-8 for the season and only won one game against their fellow SEC opponents. That was an overtime victory against the Florida Gators, who also struggled last season.

This means that in the last two years, Arkansas has only won 11 games and only a quarter of their matchups against SEC teams. Arkansas needed to make a change to help them in the 2024 season. They made this in the offseason with the hiring of Bobby Petrino as the Razorbacks’ offensive coordinator.

His long list of experiences in college football has given fans hope that things may get better for the struggling program. But there are inklings that fans may want Petrino in a higher position than what he is currently in.

Can Sam Pittman survive the season?

The hiring of Bobby Petrino may be seen as a threat to the current head coach. Petrino is far more experienced than Pittman, and this could lead to some uncomfortable conversations in the head offices if Pittman fails to deliver.

An anonymous coach spoke to Athlon Sports about the hiring of Petrino and the potential consequences of the move.

“Sam is such a well-respected guy across this industry, you really feel for him having a guy like (new offensive coordinator Bobby) Petrino, who the fans and boosters probably think should be head coach, coming in underneath him. That’s the SEC right there.”

In the very competitive world of college football, especially the SEC, teams need to have the best programs possible to stay competitive. This, in turn, will make their program a hotspot for the best prospects.

The Razorbacks are currently in a bad spot under Sam Pittman. With an offensive coordinator who has more than enough experience to be the head coach, a few poor performances may lead to Pittman’s departure.