Sam Pittman stresses importance of bowl eligibility: 'It'd be a lot better than not'

Sam Pittman put it simply when discussing what it would mean for Arkansas to make a bowl game this season. The Razorbacks head man entered this season on the hot seat and currently sits with a 5-5 record and two games remaining on the year.

Pittman had gotten an invite to a bowl game in each of his first three seasons before missing out in 2023. He has a 2-0 record in bowl games (the 2020 Texas Bowl was canceled due to COVID) and another win might be good enough for him to earn another year.

“It would mean something to the team,” Pittman said. “That’d be four out of five and, yeah. It’d be a lot better than not. I think our kids still enjoy going to postseason. There was several years when they didn’t. So four out of five opportunities or invites, that’d be good.”

Arkansas has lost its past two games against Ole Miss and Texas, but has a winnable matchup coming up this weekend against Louisiana Tech. If it does claim victory, it would reach six wins for the third time in five years under Pittman.

The Razorbacks had not had a winning season in three years when Pittman took over in 2020. The coach has since directed them to a 28-30 overall record since then with wins in the Outback Bowl (2021) and Liberty Bowl (2022).

Sam Pittman’s contract at Arkansas keeps him through the 2026 season, though the Razorbacks could of course let him go early. His best win so far this season is a 19-14 victory against Tennessee in Week 6.

Still, it’s unclear if that will be enough for him to keep his job especially considering the questions he had entering the year. Making a bowl game would certainly increase his chances though, especially if he were to win.

There’s still opportunity for the Razorbacks to reach as many as eight wins this year. One would think if that happens, Pittman should be safe.