As the scorching Arkansas sun beats down on Fayetteville, an even more intense heat is building around Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman.
Entering his fifth year, Pittman finds himself atop a list no coach wants to lead -- On3's SEC Head Coach Pressure Rankings.
The 2024 season is a defining moment for Pittman and the program he leads.
2024 SEC Head Coach Pressure Rankings via @JesseReSimonton🔥https://t.co/rTvOCIsTJu pic.twitter.com/x1xJMdO1mt
— On3 (@On3sports) July 1, 2024
The journey to this crossroads has been a rollercoaster ride for the Razorbacks. From the highs of a nine-win season in 2021 to the crushing lows of a 4-8 record in 2023, Arkansas football has experienced it all. Yet, as the 2024 season approaches, the air in Fayetteville is thick.
Pittman's tenure, which began in the 2020 COVID-19 year, has been a study in contrasts. While Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss and Eli Drinkwitz at Missouri have seen their programs ascend, Arkansas seems stuck. This disparity has not gone unnoticed by a fanbase growing increasingly restless.
The numbers tell all. Since a heartbreaking fumble against Texas A&M in 2022 -- a moment many point to as the beginning of the decline -- Arkansas has gone 8-14 overall and a dismal 3-12 in SEC play. More troubling is the team's performance in close games. Under Pittman, the Razorbacks are 6-14 in one-possession contests, including a 1-5 record last season. These statistics paint a picture of a team unable to seize crucial moments.
However, all is not lost. The 2024 season offers a chance for redemption, beginning with the season opener against UAPB in Little Rock. While this game should be a formality, past upsets lead fans to be hesitantly optimistic. The real test comes in week two with a road trip to face a preseason top-25 Oklahoma State team. A victory here could reignite the spark that seems to have dimmed.
The return of key players offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that it may be premature to write off the 2024 Razorbacks. Yet, the margin for error is razor-thin. One misstep could send the season spiraling, while a strong start could be just what the team needs.