Arkansas made a major move by parting ways with head coach Sam Pittman. He had led the Razorbacks since 2020. A blowout 56-13 loss to Notre Dame pushed the administration to make the change.
With Pittman out, the Razorbacks have launched a search for a new leader. Bobby Petrino, who was serving as offensive coordinator, has stepped in as the interim head coach. He is expected to be a serious candidate for the permanent role, but Arkansas is exploring all options.
One of the most surprising names connected to the opening is Deion Sanders. The Colorado head coach has been linked to several jobs in recent years, and his name quickly surfaced once Pittman was dismissed.
Sanders’ star power and recruiting pull make him an attractive idea, but there are questions about whether Arkansas could lure him away or if he would even consider leaving. The possibility has already sparked heated debate among fans.
Many have voiced strong opinions on social media, questioning whether Sanders is the right fit for the Razorbacks.
“Why on EARTH would anybody hire Deion???” a fan wrote, reacting to an On3 report that had Sanders as one of the frontrunners for the job.
Why on EARTH would anybody hire deion???
— Dooku (@DookuFan501) September 30, 2025
“Let’s be honest here… Deion ain’t leaving Colorado for Arkansas. 😂 Colorado is a much better job (thanks to him),” a fan wrote.“Deion in the graphic 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭” another commented.
“Deion 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Please do that Hogs. I’m begging you,” a fan wrote.
“How is Arkansas a better job than Colorado or SMU? Reach for the stars I guess and then settle for a more realistic option,” a fan posted.
“Can we please stop putting Coach Prime on these. The VAST MAJORITY does not want him, and I’m sure the feeling is mutual from him,” another wrote.
Coach Prime being is confusing on many levels for the fans. However, considering his history with Arkansas, it can’t be completely discarded.
Arkansas Has Plenty of Options Apart From Deion Sanders
As per On3, Rhett Lashlee, who currently coaches at SMU, is the top option for Arkansas. Lashlee has emerged as a serious candidate with strong backing from influential figures. Sanders is another major name tied to the job.
Coach Prime interviewed with Arkansas when Sam Pittman was hired and impressed the administration. Sanders has restored relevance to Colorado and is less likely to leave the program, but his name in the mix makes a lot of sense.
Bobby Petrino remains the wild card. Now serving as interim head coach, he has his own group of boosters supporting him. To land the job full-time, he will need results against a brutal stretch of SEC opponents over the next seven weeks.
Other names being floated include UNLV’s Dan Mullen, USF’s Alex Golesh, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, and Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield. Former Arkansas quarterback Barry Lunney Jr. is also on the radar.
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