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Arkansas football fires Sam Pittman but it comes with a splash interim move

The Sam Pittman experiment is over.
ByAustin Farmer|
Sep 27, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Notre Dame won 56-13. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Notre Dame won 56-13. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

After suffering the biggest beating since Chad Morris' 52-6 loss to Mississippi State, Arkansas has fired head coach Sam Pittman, per Peter Nakos. The school has named Bobby Petrino interim head coach.

Arkansas moves on from Sam Pittman, makes Bobby Petrino Interim head coach

Pittman started his tenure at Arkansas under some of the worst circumstances. It was right after the aforementioned Morris drove the program to historic lows. He also took the reins right before COVID-19 swept through the nation, forcing the SEC to play a 10-game all-conference schedule.

He led the Hogs to a 3-7 record against that schedule, which seemed like a massive upgrade from Morris. He then took Arkansas to the Outback Bowl in 2021 and finished with a 9-4 record. However, since then, it's all been downhill, finishing 29-27 since 2021.

With one of the more peculiar buyouts in college football, Pittman will likely receive 75 percent of the rest of his salary, which is just under $10 million.

Petrino and Arkansas come full circle

The decision to name Bobby Petrino interim head coach surprised no one inside the program. It’s a move that had been telegraphed for weeks. Still, the full-circle moment is remarkable. Twelve years after Arkansas fired Petrino in disgrace, he’s back at the helm in Fayetteville.

Since his ungraceful exit from the Natural State in 2012, Petrino rebuilt his resume with head coaching stops at Western Kentucky and Louisville, then dropped to the FCS ranks at Missouri State for two seasons. He resurfaced in the SEC as Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator in 2023 before making his way back to Arkansas on Pittman’s staff.

Now, with a bye week to reset, Petrino has a short runway to steady the Razorbacks before a daunting trip to Knoxville to face a high-octane Tennessee team.

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