Here’s where Sam Pittman ranks in list of FBS’ highest-paid coaches

Right next to him? Former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema. Irony is fun.

How hot Sam Pittman’s seat is as coach of the Arkansas football team depends largely on your disposition toward the coach.

Right now, five weeks into the season, it shouldn’t be hot at all. Pittman has earned the Razorbacks three straight bowl bids in his three seasons. But the Hogs are also 2-3 at this point of the season, leading to some who want him to exit to say he’s close to exiting.

However, that’s just one game off where we had the team at this point of the season, too.

When USA Today released its annual Top 25 coaching salary rankings, Pittman was there. In fact, he was No. 22, right next to the man who was his boss when Pittman served as Arkansas’ offensive line coach: Illinois Bret Bielema.

Pittman has had better results than some above him (see: Napier, Billy at Florida) and some immediately below him, too (see: Beamer, Shane at South Carolina). In the grand scheme of things, when it comes to job security, those numbers – monetarily – matter.

Let’s take a look at the whole Top 25 and you can make a determination whether Pittman is giving enough bang for the buck.