Sam Pittman will lead the Arkansas Razorbacks into SEC Media Days in Dallas from July 15 to July 18 for the fifth time as the head coach.
Pittman will be joined by wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, quarterback Taylen Green, and defensive end Landon Jackson as the Razorbacks look to rebound from a disappointing 4-8 record in 2023 with the return of former head coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator.
As the Razorbacks close out the final day of SEC Media Days, what are a few of the biggest questions facing Pittman and the Hogs for the 2024 season?
1) What Does the Return of Bobby Petrino Mean for Expectations for the 2024 Season?
The dismissal of Dan Enos after eight games into the season led to a reunion of sorts. Former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino returned to Fayetteville after a season at Texas A&M to take the reins of an offense that substantially underperformed in 2023. Petrino led a chaotic Texas A&M offense to a seventh-place finish in production last fall, well ahead of where Arkansas finished.
MORE: 2024 Arkansas Razorbacks Depth Chart
With portal additions Taylen Green at quarterback and Ja’Quiden Jackson joining a deep position group at running back, Petrino should have weapons at his disposal to get the run game back on track. Will Petrino’s return to Fayetteville be enough to maximize a reloading effort at wide receiver and offensive line? Stay tuned.
2) How do the Hogs Replace the Production of KJ Jefferson?
KJ Jefferson was a mainstay as the starter at quarterback for Arkansas, a household name that departed for UCF via the portal. Jefferson set marks as the all-time leader in pass yards and TDs in his tenure, leaving a big hole to fill at the position.
Green looks to take over as the signal-caller for the Razorbacks in 2024. The junior transfer QB from Boise State threw for 1,752 yards and rushed for 434 in his 2023 season and led an offense that averaged a full touchdown more than Arkansas in 2023 at 32.1 ppg.
Jackson will look to replace departed running back Raheim Sanders as the Hogs will look to improve on a running game that averaged a mediocre 3.5 yards per rush. Jackson logged almost five yards per carry last year for the Utah Utes despite battling injuries for much of the year.
3) What Will it Take for Sam Pittman to Keep His Job?
Pittman enters the season with a seat that most deem hot after a record of 4-8 in 2023. The Razorbacks don’t get any breaks with the schedule. Outside of the home opener against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, the Hogs will have their hands full with a schedule that has them on the road against Auburn and Oklahoma State, a neutral site game against Texas A&M and Missouri, and home games against Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas.
The return of Petrino has already fueled speculation about a potential in-season replacement being at the ready should Pittman be unable to get through the first few games against Pine-Bluff, Oklahoma State, UAB and Auburn.
Things do not ease up at any point, and for a team currently picked as the underdog in eight games to begin the season, Pittman will need to work his magic to keep the ship afloat in the deep waters of the newly expanded SEC.
Despite being 23-25 overall as a head coach, he is a respectable 26-20-2 against the spread, and should he win enough games to become bowl-eligible, he will look to continue his undefeated streak in bowl games at 2-0.
2024 SEC Media Days Schedule: Sam Pittman, Arkansas Head Coach
- Date: July 18
- Time: 10:35 a.m. ET
- How to Watch: SEC Network
With the return of Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, Sam Pittman is going all in on the 2024 season to try and stop the sinking ship that led to a 4-8 record in 2023.
With eight starters returning on a defensive unit that allowed 28 points per game, there should be enough pieces to allow the incoming transfer players on offense some time to gel and perform better, especially in the run game, where they averaged 139 yards per game, well below the 237-yard output from 2022.
While the Razorbacks made plenty of changes on and off the field following the 2023 season, the schedule provides plenty of difficulty, with Texas, Mississippi, LSU, and Tennessee highlighting a few conference opponents.
Pittman will need to continue his success winning games at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in order to finish the season bowl eligible. He is 15-10 as a head coach during his Arkansas tenure.
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