Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has increasingly drawn scrutiny in recent weeks as the Razorbacks have struggled to live up to expectations and make the next step in the SEC West.

The issue was discussed on the Saturday Down South podcast with Matt Hayes and college football insider Brett McMurphy.

Hayes brought up Bielema’s $15.5 million buyout, and the possibility of Arkansas alum and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones getting involved. Then again, Hayes said, a transition of two to three years is not advisable either.

“Do you want to put yourself in a situation where you’re two, three years down the road again with a transition, or do you want to see if this guy can dig his way out of it?,” Hayes said.

McMurphy replied that he doesn’t think that Arkansas Athletics Director Jeff Long wants to make a move.

“I think what helps Bret is because he’s built up a lot of equity there,” McMurphy said. “By all accounts, he’s done things the right way. But then you just wonder how much do you continue down this road of, I think it’s fair to say they’ve underachieved to some point. Since he became coach at Arkansas in 2013, they are 10-23 in the SEC. Only Vanderbilt at 9-24 and Kentucky at 9-25 have been worse. And that’s not a good look. But on the flip side, you get rid of somebody, you need to have somebody you want to bring in. Who do you bring in?”

McMurphy added that Arkansas is one of the more difficult jobs to win consistently because the small recruiting pool in the state.

“He has to obviously go out of state,” McMurphy said. “I don’t think it’s as difficult as Nebraska … but I do think it’s (Arkansas) a very difficult job. I don’t think Arkansas is ever going to experience the heydays of the Southwest Conference, competing for national championships. So, what really are your expectations at Arkansas? Is it to get to a bowl game every year, or is it to compete for a division title? The fact that Nick Saban is being so successful at Alabama is gutting the SEC. Because you have all of these universities and ADs are trying to keep up with Saban and Alabama. It’s almost like you have to accept that Alabama is at another level, and let’s just try to be the best team in the SEC not named Alabama.”

The Razorbacks are 1-2 this season coming off an overtime loss to Texas A&M. They play New Mexico State on Saturday.

“Bret needs to win some games,” McMurphy said. “He’s got to get to six wins; he’s got to get to a bowl game. I don’t think if he doesn’t, he’s necessarily getting run out. But it will help his case if he shows some progress. And going 10-23 in the SEC does not help his cause.”