Pete Thamel: Arkansas vetting Texas A&M's Bobby Petrino to be next offensive coordinator

A flabbergasting reunion could be in order in Fayetteville, as Bobby Petrino could return to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Petrino — who’s currently the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M — could be hired away by the Razorbacks, as Sam Pittman‘s program is currently mulling bringing him back to town.

“Sources: Arkansas is vetting hiring former head coach Bobby Petrino as the school’s next offensive coordinator,” Thamel reported. “Petrino has indicated in the recruiting space that he’s in the mix for an SEC coordinator job.”

The news comes after Texas A&M decided to move in a different direction from Jimbo Fisher. The Aggies have hired Mike Elko, and Petrino’s future in College Station has come into doubt, even though he’s done a solid job with Texas A&M’s offense.

Petrino famously coached Arkansas from 2008-2011, and had some success before a motorcycle accident and subsequent controversy forced the Razorbacks to move on from their head coach.

In 2010, Petrino led the program to a 10-2 record, finishing off the season with an appearance in the Sugar Bowl, and he subsequently led Arkansas to victory in the Cotton Bowl in 2011.

Afterwards, he’s spent time leading Western Kentucky, Louisville and Missouri State, before returning to the SEC with the Aggies.

Will Bobby Petrino return to Arkansas in a surprising turn of events? It remains to be seen, but it’s evident there’s some interest in the development. Something to keep an eye on as the offseason progresses.

Paul Finebaum believes Arkansas made the right call on Sam Pittman

2023 did not go the way the Arkansas Razorbacks expected. A subpar record usually comes with hot-seat speculation for head coaches, but not for Arkansas head man Sam Pittman, who will continue being the Razorbacks’ head coach in 2024 according to a recent statement from Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek. 

College football analyst Paul Finebaum spoke about Yurachek’s decision on ‘McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning’, showing his support for Pittman while also detailing the kind of leash he’ll be on moving forward.

“I think Hunter Yurachek made the right call — I think Arkansas has a foundation under Sam Pittman,” Finebaum said. “I’m not impressed with what I’ve seen from Sam Pittman in the last two years and that comes from, like you guys, someone who genuinely likes him, admires him, respects him. But it’s pretty obvious Sam Pittman better win next year or he’ll be long gone and I think that’s self explanatory.”

Despite their recent shortcomings, the program still believes in Sam Pittman. Which was expressed in Yurachek’s statement made earlier this season.

“Our team was extremely excited last night after the game when I informed them that Coach Pittman is our head coach and will be moving forward into the 2024 season,” Yurachek wrote. “This has not been the season any of us anticipated. We have work to do. I am confident that together, we can meet the goals and expectations of our program.”