Question of the week:
Who would you like to be the next football coach of the Razorbacks?
Craig:
I feel like the next coach of the Razorbacks will be Dan Mullen or Bobby Petrino. I just don’t see a high-profile coach or one of the hot new names as an option for where we are is a program. We must fix the inconsistency in our NIL program to attract a top-notch football coach. Petrino and Mullen check a lot of boxes. 1. SEC coaching experience. 2. I feel like both these guys want the Arkansas job. 3. Both coaches have shown they can get the most out of a program that’s not exactly SEC elite. Let’s put together enough NIL money for these guys to be competitive. We should never be behind Ole Miss, Missouri and Vanderbilt in football.
David:
The part of my mind dedicated to the Arkansas Razorbacks entered the transfer portal some time ago. My only knowledge of the coaching search is what I have heard from others. The most popular names are Rhett Lashlee at SMU and Jon Sumrall at Tulane. While it’s refreshing to hear that we have moved from Gus Malzahn to his prodigal son Lashlee, I just don’t see it happening. The roots of that coaching tree were poisoned long ago, and look how hiring the SMU coach panned out last time with Chad Morris. I know nothing about Sumrall, other than he must have replaced Willie Fritz, whose name was floated around during the last coaching search. Jon Gruden’s name continues to surface, but that also seems unrealistic. Gruden has never coached college football, and was abruptly fired by the Las Vegas Raiders due to some racist emails. If Bobby Petrino can get things turned around as interim coach, he deserves a look. He’s probably the most accomplished coach who would consider working here.
Todd:
It won’t be Jon Gruden or Gus Malzahn. Hog fans are obsessed with the same names every coaching search. Petrino is also not the answer. His offense scored 7,3, and zero points in the second half the last three games. Hey let's split the fan base again. You go this route and we are right back here in less than 5 years going through another coaching change. We need a coach under the age of 55. Someone who knows how to talk to young athletes, work NIL correctly, and has the fire and energy to recruit, coach, and work well with other coaches. Rhett Lashlee is the hot name. I just don’t know why he would leave a rich alumni base, a straight pathway to the playoff with a decent team in the AAC, and be paid well. No one knows who it will be. Where is David Shaw at? Who used to be at Stanford?
The Picks:
Arkansas @ #12 Tennessee
Craig:
Arkansas dumped Sam Pittman after a rough 2-3 start and a blowout loss to Notre Dame, paving the way for Bobby Petrino’s dramatic return. Despite past success, Petrino inherits a team plagued by turnovers and a porous run defense, now facing a surging Tennessee squad with a relentless ground game and explosive offense. The Vols, fresh off a bye week and hungry after a near-miss against Georgia, will overpower the Hogs in a high-scoring shootout.
Tennessee 48 Arkansas 31.
David:
I am curious to see how the team responds to Petrino. The offense was doing pretty well up until halftime in Memphis. Since then, Coach Sam Pittman and three defensive coaches have been relieved of their duties. I’ve heard conjecture that the team might give up, but that seems unlikely in the era of NIL payments and the transfer portal. Players must perform if they want that level of recognition. I suspect that the Hogs will give a better effort than they did against Notre Dame, but still fall short.
Tennessee 35 Arkansas 24
Todd:
The Vols are a missed field goal away from beating Georgia and from being ranked in the top 5 easily. Maybe top 3. The defense is still the defense. No pass rush and pressure on the quarterback. Vols #1 pass offense in the conference and our Hogs at the bottom. The Vols have only given up 4 sacks this year. It will still be 4 sacks after this game. Rumor has it Arkansas spent 80% of their NIL on the offense. You can tell. Hogs will keep up for a half. Good news Petrino won’t kick a FG on 4th down and 2 on a first drive deep in Vol territory on the road. But eventually the turnovers will rear their ugly heads again and Tennessee will pull away. Hogs have 8 turnovers in the last four games.
You are going to have to score 40 to win this game. Hogs don’t get there.
Volunteers 49 Hogs 31
#6 Oklahoma vs. Texas (Cotton Bowl)
Craig:
The Oklahoma vs. Texas showdown is more than just the Red River Rivalry this year—it's a high-stakes battle for survival in the SEC. Texas, struggling with a faltering offense and a tough road schedule, faces elimination from playoff contention if it loses, while Oklahoma seeks redemption from last year's blowout and aims to stay undefeated before a brutal stretch of games. Both teams are dealing with quarterback uncertainties, especially around Oklahoma’s John Mateer, whose potential return could shift the dynamics. Expect this game to be a defensive grind. OU 21 Texas 17.
Todd:
Texas and the preseason Heisman favorite Archie Manning have struggled against the likes of UTEP. Defense kept them in the Ohio State game. Then lost at Florida.
You thought Florida’s defense was tough? Wait til you see the Sooners defense. OU is leading the nation, averaging 4.2 sacks and 10 tackles for loss per game. OU QB John Mateer is questionable for this game. If he is healthy and plays - Sooners 31 Horns 14
If he is out. OU 21 Texas 14.
Either way. Long day for Manning.
#8Alabama @ #14 Missouri
Alabama is coming off two emotional wins against Georgia and Vanderbilt while Mizzou took a break from their cupcake schedule for a relaxing bye week. Factoring in homefield advantage for Mizzou, the Crimson Tide cannot afford to overlook the Tigers. Mizzou should hang around until the end, and could possibly pull the upset. Bama 27 Mizzou 25.
Missouri has rolled through a absolute brutal schedule of Central Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Massachusetts. Tide 28-24.
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