Arkansas football appears closer than ever to naming its next head coach. ESPN insider Pete Thamel revealed on The Paul Finebaum Show Friday that the Razorbacks are in “the final stages” of the search, signaling that months of speculation could soon come to an end.
"“I would think that one wraps up relatively — relatively soon,” Thamel said. “It appears they’re in the final stages there now. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got some clarity on that one this weekend.”"Pete Thamel
For weeks, fans, analysts, and insiders have played matchmaker, debating who would fit best in Fayetteville. While Thamel did not disclose the leading candidates, reports suggest the list includes Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, USF’s Alex Golesh, North Texas head coach Eric Morris, Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, and Tulane’s Jon Sumrall. Each brings different strengths, levels of success, and upside, traits Arkansas appears to be prioritizing in its next hire.
Why the Coaching Change Was Necessary
Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek addressed the decision when he did part ways with former head coach Sam Pittman, highlighting the importance of turning close games into victories.
"“He had gotten a lot of credit for those one-score losses, but at some point I had to hold him accountable for those one-score losses as well,” Yurachek said. “The culmination of what happened on Saturday and then a couple more one-score losses, one at Memphis, one at Ole Miss. It just felt like it was time to make a change.”"Hunter Yurachek
Pittman left Fayetteville with a 32–34 overall record and a 14–29 mark in SEC play. In a conference as competitive as the SEC, conference wins often define a program’s trajectory, and that ultimately influenced the decision. The next coach will need to focus on this area, given the struggles of past regimes. Winning close games requires proper clock management, situational awareness, and sound coaching. The Razorbacks now have the opportunity to hire a coach capable of reversing this trend and building sustained success.
The Clock Is Ticking
The sooner Arkansas hires its next coach, the sooner he can begin addressing key priorities: recruiting, roster development, staffing decisions, and overall program culture. Delays could affect recruiting cycles and hiring timelines, especially as the College Football Playoff continues and other programs remain active in the postseason.
College football’s offseason structure, which overlaps with ongoing playoff action, complicates these timelines. Unlike the NFL, which separates free agency and the draft from the playoffs, college programs often must operate under overlapping schedules, juggling recruiting, transfer portal activity, and coaching transitions simultaneously. For Arkansas, moving quickly could mean gaining a crucial head start on these competitive areas. Is this a fair system? No, but it's the cards college football coaches are dealt and the next hire needs to hit the ground running.
What Comes Next
With the search narrowing, Arkansas appears poised to make a decision soon. Whoever takes the helm will inherit the dual challenge of rebuilding conference competitiveness while maintaining program stability. Success will depend on vision, player development, and the ability to navigate recruiting in a high-pressure, ever-shifting landscape.
For Razorbacks fans, patience is nearly over, and clarity on the next era at Arkansas football could arrive in just days. The hope is that the right hire will provide momentum, stability, and a blueprint for sustained SEC success.