Arkansas Football: 3 Bold predictions vs Missouri in Week 13

3. Bret Bielema doesn’t get fired

Butch Jones is out at Tennessee. Jim McElwain is out at Florida. Kevin Sumlin has reportedly just days remaining in College Station. Arkansas figures to be the next job to open up after that, but it’s far from a done deal. Bret Bielema hasn’t done himself any favors after a rough 2017 season, but there’s one bigger obstacle keeping him employed for now. Arkansas has no Athletic Director.

AD Jeff Long was removed from his duties earlier in November. While he was considered to be a nice guy and effective at his job it was Bielema that was his undoing. His refusal to fire Bielema was rumored to be the final straw that led to his ousting. That leaves Arkansas with a head coach and no athletic director.

As much as fans might be tired of Bret it’s starting to feel like this situation might develop more along the lines of Butch Jones. A new AD hire doesn’t seem imminent. When the AD is hired he’ll have weeks before the December early signing period to find a replacement. The man who Arkansas wants might still be available, but that’s a very tight window for whomever replaces Long.

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There are way too many pieces in play for Arkansas to give Bielema the boot. He’ll make it through the weekend. The rest depends on what other dominoes fall in the coming weeks.