When Arkansas hired Bobby Petrino, many speculated he was waiting in the wings to take over for Sam Pittman if/when he no longer sat atop the Arkansas football throne. It seems those people may have been right after all.
Bobby Petrino is reportedly vying for position to become the interim head coach if needed after Arkansas' loss to Memphis, per CBS reporter Brandon Marcello.
“Bobby Petrino has been working the phones…he’s positioning himself to take over…at least on an interim basis,” Marcello said on the CFB Insiders podcast.
Bobby Petrino reportedly vying for interim head coach
In the past, Arkansas' defensive coordinator, Travis Williams, was the consensus pick to take over as interim HC if the situation arose, but it seems that the past few games have caused a change of heart. By far, the worst part of Arkansas' team is the defense. The Hogs are currently No. 83 in total defense out of 134 FBS teams and No. 73 in scoring defense.
On the other hand, Petrino's brainchild is one of the best in the country. The Hogs' offense ranks No. 8 in total offense and No. 15 in scoring offense. The one caveat is that Arkansas has been shut down in the second half for two games in a row. Against Ole Miss, the Razorbacks score only seven points, but at Memphis, they put up a measly field goal in the final 15 minutes.
Still, between the two, Petrino is the one with head coaching experience.
Is Bobby Petrino preparing himself to take over as interim if Sam Pittman is fired at Arkansas? #BobbyPetrino #SamPittman #ArkansasFootball #CollegeFootball #CFB pic.twitter.com/s5yFXLyLbi
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) September 21, 2025
The only question now is how long until the powers that be pull the trigger?
Well, Hog fans may not have to wait that long to find out, according to Marcello. One of the biggest obstacles facing the athletic department is Pittman's buyout, which would drop significantly if he were to lose the next four games in a row. But according to Marcello, the situation has escalated past that.
"Buyout money doesn't matter at this point," said Marcello. "If they feel like it's going to be the best situation, they will make a move in the middle of the season.”
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