Arkansas’ coaching search took a major turn Tuesday, as North Texas head coach Eric Morris, one of the Razorbacks’ top finalists, officially agreed to become the next head coach at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys announced the hire as they move on from longtime coach Mike Gundy and begin a full-scale rebuild in Stillwater.
According to Pete Nakos of On3 sports, Morris was regarded as one of the hot names in the Arkansas search, with sources indicating the Razorbacks were amongst the top landing spots.
Eric Morris was a top name in the Arkansas search, sources tell @On3sports. https://t.co/KbKWFetS4w
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) November 25, 2025
But in the end, Oklahoma State moved fast and landed their guy.
Oklahoma State Secures a Rising Star
Morris arrives in Stillwater after compiling a 21–15 record over three seasons at North Texas, including a stunning 10–1 campaign in 2025 that has the Mean Green in legitimate contention for a College Football Playoff berth.
Despite accepting the job at Oklahoma State, Morris is expected to finish the season with North Texas, coaching the Mean Green through the American Athletic Conference title game and any potential CFP appearance as the nation’s top-ranked Group of Five champion.
It’s rare for a Power Four program to allow its new head coach to stay with his former team through a playoff run, but Oklahoma State did so out of respect for Morris and the historic season he’s engineered.
Why Oklahoma State Moved Quickly
The Cowboys enter the Morris era at a low point. Oklahoma State is 1–10 heading into its regular-season finale and is one of only two Power Four programs without a win against FBS competition this year (Boston College being the other).
Replacing Mike Gundy, a school legend who was fired earlier this season, won’t simply be about wins and losses. The program clearly needed a modern, offensive-minded leader to overhaul its recruiting model, strengthen its transfer portal presence, and reestablish an identity that had slipped in recent years. Under Gundy, OSU lagged in areas such as NIL functionality and roster development, making Morris’ forward-thinking approach especially appealing.
Morris’ Profile: QB Developer and Offensive Architect
Few coaches in college football have Morris’ offensive pedigree. He has earned a national reputation as a quarterback whisperer, playing a role in the development of:
- Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech
- Cam Ward at Incarnate Word
- Drew Mestemaker, North Texas’ redshirt freshman phenom whose numbers rank among the best of any freshman QB in the nation
The turnaround at North Texas has been remarkable. Prior to Morris’ arrival, the Mean Green had not posted a winning record in four years. In 2025, they lead the country in:
- Points per game: 46.3 (1st)
- Total offense: 503.3 yards per game (1st)
His emphasis on player development was a major reason Arkansas was so interested, particularly as the Razorbacks seek a rapid rebuild after consecutive losing seasons.
What This Means for Arkansas’ Coaching Search
For Arkansas, the news is a significant setback. Morris had emerged as one of their top remaining candidates after missing out on Penn State’s James Franklin to Virginia Tech. Losing both Franklin and Morris narrows the Razorbacks’ pool considerably and forces them to accelerate the next phase of their search.
With the early signing period approaching and the transfer portal already active, Arkansas cannot afford a prolonged hiring process. The program must quickly identify and pursue its next top choice to avoid falling behind in staff building, roster management, and recruiting momentum. The urgency is undeniable, and the margin for error is shrinking.
The Road Ahead
As Oklahoma State celebrates landing one of the country’s brightest young coaches, Arkansas finds itself at a crossroads. Eric Morris was a fit that checked nearly every box the Razorbacks were looking for: offensive innovation, player development, a modern recruiting vision, and a proven ability to engineer rapid turnarounds.
Now, as Morris prepares to lead Oklahoma State’s rebuild and finish North Texas’ historic postseason push, Arkansas must regroup fast and lock in its next target.
The race is officially on.