When asked about the Longhorns on Wednesday, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman had high praise for Texas and defended their impressive start
As the Texas Longhorns have been one of the best teams in the country, they have faced their fair share of criticism. That has partly been due to their schedule. While they have faced a few ranked teams, they do not have a win against any team currently in the AP or Coaches top-25 polls. This weekend, they will face the Arkansas Razorbacks, who are not taking the Longhorns for granted.
When asked about the Longhorns on Wednesday, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman had high praise for Texas and defended their impressive start.
“It’s not their fault that they haven’t played, let’s say, a schedule like ours,” Pittman said. “We’ve played LSU and Ole Miss and A&M and Tennessee. The schedule’s the schedule and what they’ve done is done a damn-fine job with their schedule and they’ve got a good football team.”
Back on the road đ€
đ Texas at Arkansas đ Saturday, Nov. 16 | 11 AM CT đ Fayetteville, Arkansas đș ABC pic.twitter.com/Vh5ccGvIus
While the Longhorns’ schedule may not be filled with wins over top-ten programs, they have faced plenty of tough teams. That list includes Michigan, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt, which were ranked at the time Texas beat them. Those wins have stood out to Pittman.
“This is a damn-fine Texas team. I mean, you don’t go beat Oklahoma by 31 and Mississippi State by 22 and, you know, beat Michigan by 19, beat Colorado State 52-0, and have a sorry football team,” Pittman said. “I mean, you just don’t.”
As the Longhorns look to build on their success, they also have a chance to improve their conference record against the Razorbacks. So far this season, they have gone 4-1 in conference play, with their only loss coming against Georgia. In SEC play, Arkansas has not had the same success, going 3-3.
Regardless of what happens over the weekend, Pittman has shown that he already holds this Texas team in high regard.
Whose seats are warming up after the first month of the college football season?
We’re now more than a month into the 2024-25 college football season, and that means that preseason prognostication has mostly now been thrown out the window in favor of cold, hard data.
And with the calendar turning to October, we begin to approach the time in which programs are forced to make tough decisions regarding underachieving coaching staffs.
With the early signing period and transfer portal window, we’ve seen coach firings happen earlier and earlier as schools attempt to get a leg up on the search process and, in turn, the offseason roster-building process.
Keeping that in mind as we look at the Week 6 slate, there are quite a few games that could make or break the futures of current coaches within the Power Four ranks. Here are four who desperately need a win on Saturday to avoid the hot seat.
1. Billy Napier, Florida
Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images
In the case of Napier â whose record over two seasons and change in Gainesville is just 13-16 â it’s going to take a lot more than a win over UCF to preserve any chance of sticking around in this job in 2025.
It seems like more of a “when” than “if” question when it comes to Napier’s future, but a home loss to UCF would likely be seen as the final straw for Florida’s brass and fan base after a 2-2 start given the gauntlet the Gators close the year with, featuring games against Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and LSU.
It would take a truly shocking turnaround for Napier to survive the 2024 season in Gainesville, but without a win against the Knights, it seems unlikely he’ll even survive the weekend.
2. Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Entering the season, Pittman’s seat at Arkansas was viewed as one of the hottest in America. But after a solid start, it seemed like the strange marriage between himself and offensive coordinator (and former Razorbacks head coach) Bobby Petrino may have been working.
But the Hogs missed a major opportunity early in the season on the road as they choked a game away against Oklahoma State, a loss that has not aged particularly well given the Cowboys’ recent struggles. It beat Auburn but struggled with offensive efficiency in a loss to Texas A&M last week.
Now, it draws a Tennessee team that looks like one of the best in the SEC. Demanding a win from Pittman’s squad is a tough ask, but it needs to at least be competitive against the Vols. The Razorbacks were handed a back-loaded schedule and managed just a 3-2 start.
They enter the thick of that schedule this week, and it’s pretty easy to see how this story ends if Pittman can’t pull off a stunning upset or two.
3. Mack Brown, North Carolina
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Brown, the oldest head coach in the FBS ranks at the age of 72, has been on retirement watch for the last few seasons, despite both his and North Carolina’s insistence that he has no such plans. But now, given the way things have played out in 2024, I’m wondering if it’s time for the hot seat conversation, instead.
Brown later apologized for his conduct, but for lack of a better term, the vibes here stink. In his defense, quarterback Max Johnson was lost for the season in Week 1, but the offense hasn’t been the problem. Instead, it’s the defense, now led by a new coordinator in former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins, that continues to be this program’s Achilles heel.
Now with a hot Pittsburgh offense coming to town, it feels like a do-or-die moment for UNC. With every bad loss, I think an offseason divorce here feels increasingly more likely. And while I’d probably bet that separation happens on Brown’s own terms, the performance on the field could dictate otherwise.
4. Dave Aranda, Baylor
Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Along with Napier and Pittman, Aranda was one of the names you were most likely to see on a preseason hot seat list. After winning 12 games and a Big 12 title in his second season in Waco, Aranda is just 9-16 in his last two seasons. He survived a 3-9 finish in 2023 but was forced to make staff changes.
And to be fair to Aranda, those changes seem to have helped â at least a bit. Baylor is improved defensively and is at least managing some production on offense despite a midseason quarterback change. But the Bears are also 2-3 after some tough losses â including the Hail Mary heartbreaker against Colorado, which it later lost in overtime, and last week’s valiant but ultimately failed comeback effort against BYU.
Those losses to solid teams aren’t exactly damning of Baylor, but Aranda needed to win them. Now, the Bears draw a ranked and undefeated Iowa State team on the road. Is it fair to expect a win? Probably not.
But even with a fairly manageable schedule the rest of the way, it’s hard to imagine Aranda picking up enough wins to stick around this season if his team can’t pull the upset on Saturday to get back to .500.
Texas A&M is a slight favorite in their Week 5 matchup against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium
Saturday marks the last time Texas A&M and Arkansas will play in the Southwest Classic in Arlington at AT&T Stadium. The Aggies have been the bully over the last 10 games with a 9-1 record.
This has the potential to be one of the games of the week. It’s not on par with Alabama vs. Georgia, but bragging rights are on the line, and Razorback coach Sam Pittman is in a make-it-or-break-it season. The Aggies are still working out something, and Arkansas is starting to come around on both sides of the ball.
Each team will come out of this game with a solid understanding of where they stand, as both teams have enough talent to press each other in all three phases. It’s a contest that’s too close to a call, and predictions will be mixed for the Aggies over the previous week.
Here is who the experts are picking to come out victorious in this weekâs matchup:
As you can see, it’s a mixed bag, and as cliche as it might sound, this contest will probably just come down to who wants it more.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X:Â @whosnextsports1.
Texas A&M’s tight end rotation could be the key to defeating Arkansas
Texas A&M enters Week 5 of the 2024 season 3-1 and 1-0 in SEC play, set to face the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-1, 1-0 SEC) on Saturday afternoon. This week, the health of redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman continues to take shape, signal caller Marcel Reed is on track to make his third consecutive start.
On Wednesday, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman participated in the weekly SEC Teleconference three days before the matchup. He discussed various topics, including Texas A&M’s team strengths, which the Razorback defense needs to be aware of. Referencing the Aggies’ offensive and defensive line, A&M’s ascending tight end rotation has also caught his eye.
“I love their tight ends. They’re big. They’re physical. They can run. They can catch.”
Also, noting Marcel Reed’s dual-threat running ability, this is a much different Aggie offense than last season under new OC Collin Klein. Knowing the tight end advantage, sophomore Theo Melin Ăhrstrom has caught two touchdowns in the last two games but needs to be a more consistent target.
While redshirt freshman Donovan Green continues to get back into playing form, former Fresno State tight end Tre Watson has had his moments in the passing game. However, he has only five receptions for 64 yards in four games.
If Texas A&M wants to take advantage of the Razorback’s talented but leaky secondary, Watson and Ăhrstrom, possess clear size advantages against Arkansas’s safeties and linebackers.
On Saturday afternoon, these two players must step up for Marcel Reed to find his groove through the air.
Texas A&M will face Arkansas inside AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.
Pittman was very candid when he took to the podium on Thursday.
The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners officially became members of the Southeastern Conference on Jul. 1, with SEC media days taking place this past week, it finally feels real.
The Longhorns will play a new schedule with games against the likes of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators. They even have an out-of-conference trip to Ann Arbor to take on the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines. However, the old rivalry games against former Southwest conference foes, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and Texas A&M Aggies excite people.
Texas and Arkansas have only met once in the past ten years coming back in 2021. It was Steve Sarkisian’s first year with the Longhorns and Sam Pittman’s second year with the Razorbacks when Arkansas thumped Texas in Fayetteville 40-21. While Sarkisian was at the podium for media days on Wednesday, he spoke about the rivalry with the Hogs recalling how awesome of an environment Fayetteville was.
However it was Sarkisian’s comment about the Arkansas faithful that caused a stir on social media as he said, “I think I almost at times feel like they hate Texas more than they like themselves. That’s a real rivalry.”
Fortunately, Pittman and the Razorbacks had their opportunity to respond at media days on Thursday where Pittman said he agreed with Sark about Arkansas hating Texas more than liking themselves saying,
“Well, I will say this: We hadn’t played Texas for years and we played them a couple years back. It was the most excited our fan base has been in a while. So I would say he’s probably right, you know. The difference is Texas is certainly a different team than what we played. That was his first year there and now obviously he’s a great coach, great guy. Got a wonderful football team. But I’m glad that we’re going to play them at home again. You know, I don’t know if that’s fair because they came there two years ago. But it’s an early-morning game, so — but he’s probably correct.
You would have to ask the old hats of Arkansas, but he’s probably right.”
Steve Sarkisian created a small stir when he said he thinks Arkansas fans hate Texas more than they like themselves.
Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.
College Football 2024: A look at where Arkansas Razorbacks football coach Sam Pittman ranks in this analyst’s list of best/worst coaches in Power Four conferences.
On a personal level, everyone seems to agree that they like Sam Pittman.
The Arkansas coach is affable, down-to-earth, and seemingly well-liked among his coaching peers.
But nice guys don’t always finish high in the running when it comes to rating the best coaches in college football.
Case in point, CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli and a team of panelists from 247Sports recently ranked all 68 Power Four coaches from top to bottom. Pittman checked in at No. 56, one spot behind California’s Justin Wilcox and one spot ahead of Cincinnati’s Scott Satterfield.
That’s a steep drop compared to this time a year ago when the Razorbacks were coming off a 7-6 season and 55-53 triple-overtime victory over Kansas in the Liberty Bowl.
A year prior to that, Pittman guided Arkansas to a nine-win season and a victory over Penn State in the Outback Bowl.
Notes Fornelli:
“While Pittman is a personal favorite of many of our voters as a human being, he’s heading in the wrong direction in these rankings. Pittman drops 16 spots after going 4-8 last season and 1-7 in the SEC. Only one other coach fell further in our rankings this season, and Pittman enters 2024 on one of the hottest seats in the SEC.”
Among the soon-to-be 16 SEC head coaches, Pittman falls behind Florida’s Billy Napier (No. 47), South Carolina’s Shane Beamer (No. 46), Oklahoma’s Brent Vanables (No. 34), Auburn’s Hugh Freeze (No. 33), and Texas A&M’s Mike Elko (No. 32) in Fornelli and crew’s 26-68 rankings.
Of the SEC coaches Pittman is ranked ahead of, only first-year Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea rate below the Arkansas coach.
Pittman didn’t confirm or deny the reports, of course, but made it clear he was quite aware his next fellow head man in the athletic department will likely be Calipari.
“Well, I live in Arkansas,” Pittman said.
Pittman reflected on his interactions with athletic director Hunter Yurachek from when Pittman ws hired by the AD back in 2019. The coach said almost everything Yurachek told him and the way Yurachek acted during that process has maintained.
“I believe in Hunter Yurachek. He’ll find the best guy. I guess according to everybody, we found him. I don’t know him well, but if he’s a good coach we probably hit a pretty good home run. Maybe hit a grand slam,” Pittman said.
Yurachek hasn’t changed in the nearly five years Pittman has been back at Arkansas. He was the Razorbacks offensive line coach under head coach Bret Bielema in the mid 2010s, though the athletic director at that time was Jeff Long.
“He’s going to tell you what needs to be done and what you’re doing well, what you need to improve on. Very direct, very honest and he stays to his word. That’s what the new basketball coach can expect,” Pittman said.
Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman hired Bobby Petrino as the team’s offensive coordinator in the fall and, in turn, Petrino brought along some of his disciples when jobs presented themselves as available on the Arkansas staff. Last year’s wide receivers coach, Kenny Guiton, left for Wisconsin and Fouch hopped onboard in late winter. Smith took over Jimmy Smith, who left in March for the same job at Texas Christian.
Fouch coached with Petrino when the two were at Missouri State and Louisville. Smith played for Petrino when he was running the Louisville program. Petrino greased the wheels for both of them to join him at Arkansas.
“I received a text from coach (Petrino) saying ‘Hey, there may be an opening,'” Kolby Smith said. “And then he said ‘I can get you on the phone with Catch Pittman, and you’ve just got to sell yourself from there.'”
Fouch’s story is much the same. Petrino floated his named to Pittman and both Fouch and Kolby Smith impressed the Arkansas head man enough to get the gig almost independent of Petrino’s recommendation.
Their work is cut out for them, certainly. All three of the new faces. Arkansas is coming off a 4-8 season in which the Razorbacks ranked 107th out of 133 FBS teams in total offense.
Little fanfare emanates from the Smith Football Center and its surrounding buildings this spring
Sam Pittman seemed shocked sometimes last year during Arkansas’ 4-8 season at the sorts of ways he and his players were treated by so-called fans of the program. By the time that year was done, he had lost several players from the roster, hired a new offensive coordinator many believe is preparing to vulture the head gig and learned patience and sanity are not chief characteristics of Razorbacks’ faithful.
Especially in the monied corners.
Of course they have only tacit acknowledgement the game isn’t the same as it was when they inherited their millions 30, 40 years ago. It’s not even the same game as it was 10 years ago. Look at how many lament targeting ejections, the NIL, the transfer portal and the death of the hip drop tackle.
That’s beside the point for now, though. Little fanfare emanates from the Smith Football Center and its surrounding buildings this spring. In fairness, it’s yet another the way the game has changed: 10 years ago, schools were clamoring to pack the houses for spring games before eventually the fans wisened and stopped showing up in record numbers upon realization they were glorified scrimmages tasting of vanilla.
Frankly, the lack of a spotlight is a good thing for Pittman, Bobby Petrino and a football program that could use some time alone to get its act together. The Hogs have to find a quarterback to replace a school legend, a running back to replace the second best the team has had in the last 20 years, a competent offensive line, some linebackers, depth in the secondary, a new kicker and, oh, nevermind, you get it.
Little time remains for the football Razorbacks to stay out of the public’s consciousness. Arkansas baseball being ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation helps tremendously, as does that changing of how spring is handled from a public-relations standpoint. But the Hogs also run the risk of staying nationally irrelevant by avoiding limelight.
The whole thing is a Catch-22. A fan base that badly wants to be in the national conversation (or, at least, not a national joke) but a team that needs to avoid putting itself out there in order to powder its nose and cover its flaws.
With the obvious connected between Smith and former Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendall Briles, who departed Fayetteville to fill the Horned Frogs’ OC position before last season, the move is understandable.
The loss of Smith is a setback for a Razorbacks program that went just 4-8 last season. But, expectation for an improved offense are rising heading into the 2024 season, as former head coach Bobby Petrino returned to Fayetteville as the offensive coordinator, and hand-picked 6-foot-6 Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green out of the portal.
But the value of Smith will be tough to replace, especially with his close ties to Georgia, where the Razorbacks have found success in recruiting the past four years. He is credited with bringing in the Hogs’ likely starting tailback, Rashod Dubinion, a 4-Star recruit out of Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove High School.
Smith also helped land two more 4-Star tailbacks, in redshirt-freshman Florida-native Isaiah Augustave, as well as the recently departed A.J. Green, out of Oklahoma. He was also key in helping develop former Razorback Raheem “Rocket” Sanders into one of the SEC’s top ball-carriers.
Pittman gave Smith his first Power 5 job, after he served one season as the running backs coach at Georgia State. He had previously been the head coach at Cedar Grove High School.
Arkansas will begin an immediate search for Smith’s replacement.
