College football is big in the South – so big, in fact, that when a head coach gets fired, the governor of the state weighs in.
On Sunday, Arkansas parted ways with head coach Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks made the move after Arkansas’ blowout, 56-13 loss to Notre Dame. Pittman had been the program’s head coach since 2020. The longtime offensive line coach went 32–34 in five-plus seasons.
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“I want to thank Coach Pittman for his service and dedication to the University of Arkansas throughout his time as head coach,” Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. “From Day 1, you could tell how much this opportunity meant to him. At this time, however, I feel a change is necessary to put our student-athletes and program in the best position to be successful. The goal for our football program is to be highly competitive within the Southeastern Conference and compete for a national championship. As we move forward in the process of finding our next head coach, I am certain we will be able to provide the necessary resources to our staff and team to reach our goals. We will begin a national search for our next head coach immediately and that search will include Coach Petrino, who has expressed his desire to be a candidate for the full-time job.”
Arkansas named Bobby Petrino the program’s interim head coach.
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 25: Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman talks to a referee during the Southwest Classic college football game between the Texas A&M Aggies and Arkansas Razorbacks on September 25, 2021 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Getty
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders decided to react to the firing on social media. She posted a message on her X account, which has more than 2.1 million followers, following the news of his firing on Sunday.
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Sarah Huckabee Sanders releases statement
“Sam Pittman helped turn around the Arkansas football program from one of its all time lows and brought energy and excitement back to the Hogs that was desperately needed,” Sanders wrote. “I’ve always appreciated how much Sam loved Arkansas and wasn’t looking to use it as a stepping stone but a place to call home. Sam is a man of high integrity and character. Bryan and I have loved getting to know him and Jamie and we are proud to call them friends.”
Sanders is confident in Petrino, too.
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“Bobby Petrino has demonstrated a track record of winning at Arkansas and we hope he can bring the team together and lead them to finish the season strong,” she wrote. “We will be cheering Bobby and the Razorbacks on!”
Arkansas, 2-3 on the year, will take on Tennessee in two weeks.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Sep 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
