Arkansas’s coaching search officially kicked into gear after the Razorbacks pulled the plug on Sam Pittman’s tenure following a disappointing 2-3 start to the 2025 season. Pittman leaves Fayetteville with a 32-34 overall record and an abysmal 14-29 mark in SEC play, proving that while he showed coaches could win at Arkansas with that impressive 9-4 campaign in 2021, consistency remained elusive.  

Athletic director Hunter Yurachek took the problem head-on and handed the reins to Bobby Petrino as an interim head coach. He also immediately started what he said was a “nationwide search” for the program’s next head coach. The timing cannot be worse. Arkansas is stuck in the middle of an SEC slate that has a myriad of ranked opponents yet to take the field against them.

Rhett Lashlee’s name shot to the top of every Arkansas fan’s wish list the moment Pittman got canned, and it’s not hard to understand why. The SMU head coach is a Springdale, Arkansas, native who played quarterback for the Razorbacks from 2002 to 2004, giving him deep ties to the program and the state. Since taking over at SMU in 2021, Rhett Lashlee has been spectacular. He went 11-3 in both 2023 and 2024 and also led the Mustangs to their first-ever College Football Playoffs. The $2.4 million head coach has one of the lowest salaries in the Power Four conferences.

But the super interesting thing is, Lashlee isn’t exactly going gaga over that offer. When he was asked about the Arkansas speculation, he gave a straight, non-diplomatic answer, saying, “I don’t stand anywhere on speculation and hypotheticals.” But Arkansas would not take no for an answer that easily. But now, Pete Nakos has reported that Arkansas will be pursuing the former Razorback QB heavily regardless of his comments. According to Yurachek, the university has “everything they need to attract the best head coach for the program.” And Rhett Lashlee is certainly one of the best in the business right now. 

Moreover, Lashlee got a contract extension just a year ago in November 2024. His contract now runs through 2030. An insider also told The Athletic that “if they were to lose him, it wouldn’t be over money.” This basically implies that Lashlee can be persuaded and tempted if the right opportunity comes by his door. A chance to coach your alma mater certainly sounds like the right opportunity, but we’ll have to see what happens.

The comeback nobody saw coming

Not even in their wildest dreams did anybody think that Bobby Petrino would be back at Arkansas football. The coach had to leave Fayetteville in disgrace back in 2012 after his infamous motorcycle accident exposed an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Petrino’s first stint from 2008 to 2011 was a golden era for Arkansas football, with back-to-back 10-win seasons and an 11-2 record in 2011 that had fans dreaming about championships. 

But Petrino might not even get the permanent job despite his success on the field. Arkansas Board of Trustees member Randy Lawson made it clear that the search is wide open and generating serious interest from top-tier candidates. “You know, I think there are several names I’ve heard floated about, you know, people speculating. Obviously, at this point, I have heard this—that multiple agents have already contacted, you know, our athletic director, Hunter (Yurachek), and so from the feedback I’ve heard,” Lawson revealed.

But even after all this, Petrino still thinks this might be his chance to write a different ending to his story at Arkansas football, one that he could look back on without humiliation and embarrassment. He said, “I wanted to be able to come here and apologize to everybody—the fans and the players—and truly tell you how sorry I am for the way it ended,” Petrino said when discussing his comeback. He later told ESPN it was “a dream come true to be able to go back to the University of Arkansas and do anything I possibly can to make it right this time.”  Looking at the changes he has made after coming, he might be on the right path.