The Arkansas Razorbacks finally decided enough is enough and its time to look for a new coach. This follows after their third loss of the season to Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame on Saturday in a 56-13 bout, where the Razorbacks allowed 641 yards. So, everybody knew it was only a matter of hours before they made a call. The word got out on Sunday that Arkansas and Sam Pittman went their separate ways after the Razorbacks’ disappointing 2-3 start to the season. The Razorbacks took 3 straight Ls, including their worst home loss in 5 years. Now, Arkansas may be planning to bring in someone they missed out on earlier from the ACC.

On September 28, college football analyst Brandon Marcello hopped onto the “College Football Insiders” podcast and suggested a name from the ACC that the Razorbacks failed to acquire in the past: “Rhett Lashlee’s dream at one point was to be the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. You know, you can probably go find old photos. I mean, I’ve seen them of him wearing Arkansas gear and meeting former Arkansas head coaches and just being enthralled by it. And people change, times change, and coaches want to win. They want to be in a position where they feel comfortable and they have an opportunity to win a championship. So that’s all going to be considered.”

Yes, SMU’s Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs’ head coach was born and raised in Springdale, Arkansas. Lashlee even played QB for the Hogs from 2002-2004 before his shoulder gave out on him. Last season, he took the Mustangs to the playoffs after going undefeated in the regular season and nearly went toe-to-toe with Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.

Marcello doubled down on Rhett Lashlee and urged Arkansas boosters to make a phone call: “But as of right now, Rhett Lashlee is in a better position there than Arkansas would be. In my opinion, it would be smart to make that phone call. And also, when you do make that phone call, have a plan in place of how you can support him and show that we’re serious about this. We can provide the financial backing. Otherwise, I think that would be a very hard sell, even with the heartstrings being tugged.”

What makes this more impressive is his winning record and résumé. Lashlee served as a graduate assistant under offensive maestro Gus Malzahn at Arkansas back in 2006. He flexes a 31-14 record as the head coach of SMU football. The only problem? His contract with the Mustangs runs through 2030. But that could sort itself out, as Arkansas has plenty of big-time boosters like Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones who can pull some strings.

Word on the street is Jerry Jones played his part in bringing John Calipari from Kentucky basketball. So, the money factor is not really a problem for the Razorbacks. With Sam Pittman probably off into the sunset, the OC and play-caller Bobby Petrino is the temporary man stepping up for the HC position.

Troubles ahead for interim HC Bobby Petrino

The Razorbacks’ director of athletics, Hunter Yurachek, has been pretty straightforward about the football program’s goal, which is to compete in the SEC Championship and strive for a natty. It’s easier said than done, especially in a conference like the SEC, where you see superstar coaches on the sideline each week.

Hours after firing Sam Pittman, who went 32-34 overall, the Razorbacks decided to stick with Bobby Petrino for the rest of the season, maybe because of his familiarity with the program. Petrino was previously Arkansas’ head coach from 2008 to 2011 and saw success during that time. His return in 2024 as offensive coordinator generated varied fan reactions. The offense showed improvement in 2024, finishing 7-6. This season, the offense is ranked 10th nationally in total yards per game and 7th in total yards through five games.

Now comes the real challenge. The schedule is stacked with tons of AP Poll teams. The Razorbacks are going to have their work cut out for them, facing a gauntlet of SEC opponents, including a rough road trip to take on No. 15 Tennessee. They also have to play No. 13 LSU and No. 9 Texas away from home, and their home slate is no joke either, with No. 6 Texas A&M, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Missouri all coming to town. This ridiculously hard schedule means the Hogs have a legit uphill battle for the rest of the 2025 season. It would literally be considered a miracle if the Razorbacks make a bowl appearance.