Bret Bielema has made his presence felt at Arkansas. But most of the headlines he’s made have put the school in a negative light.

The brash coach has made headlines by taking verbal shots at coaches such as Urban Meyer and Kliff Kingsbury as well as the Big Ten Conference and Auburn. He referenced a dead player to make a questionable, self-serving argument that the hurry-up offense should not be allowed.

Four weeks ago, he apparently faked getting pushed by Alabama’s Cam Robinson to draw a penalty then celebrated when his deception worked.

Bielema has talked tough for three seasons.

But he hasn’t raised Arkansas from the bottom of the SEC West, college football’s toughest division.

Is Hog Nation ready for a coaching change? If so, is the school ready to pay a whopping $15.4 million buyout stipulated through 2017 to set Bielema, under contract through 2020, free? The coach is guaranteed $4 million in salary this year before bonuses.

Bielema took some heat after an early season home loss to Toledo. But the combination of the buyout, the popularity of his physical-style attack with Arkansas fans, the lack of stability preceding him and the realization that another coaching change would guarantee more years of waiting, have given Arkansas and athletic director Jeff Long some tolerance and patience.

While Arkansas may have enjoyed the prestige accompanied by luring away a coach who had taken Wisconsin to three straight Rose Bowls, the school administration, boosters and fans have had to suffer through the coach’s questionable behavior and ill-advised remarks.

They suffered the embarrassment of the Hogs’ loss to Toledo a few days after Bielema criticized Ohio State’s schedule (yes, Toledo is now in the top 25). The acting stunt against Alabama was embarrassing and unethical. And the Hogs still lost.

Is Bielema worth the trouble?

Not without victories. So the answer lies in whether Long, the school administration and major boosters believe Bielema has the Razorbacks on the right track and is close to producing teams that can not only compete, but beat with some regularity, the likes of Alabama, Auburn and LSU.

Late last season, the Hogs seemed to turn the corner, snapping a 17-game SEC losing streak with victories over LSU and Ole Miss. After another tight loss at East champion Missouri, the Hogs clobbered former rival Texas in the Texas Bowl to finish 7-6, Bielema’s only winning record at Arkansas.

This year’s Hogs, a preseason top 25 team, are 4-4 and will have to beat a top 25 team, plus Missouri, to match last year’s .500 regular season and qualify for a minor bowl game. On Saturday, the Hogs play at No. 19 Ole Miss.

It’s not the type of success Arkansas enjoyed under legendary coaches Frank Broyles or Lou Holtz. It’s not close to matching Houston Nutt, who took the Hogs to two SEC championship games and tied for another division title in 10 seasons.

But Arkansas’ history with recent coaches may further Bielema’s longevity. Bobby Petrino won, but lasted only four years due to personal scandal. John L. Smith posted a 4-8 record on a 10-month contract and was not retained.

Arkansas craves stability. And another change likely would postpone any hopes of drastic improvement for several more years.

Few replacement candidates would embrace the power running game employed by Bielema, who has recruited offensive players for that purpose.

Many high-profile coaching candidates may choose a school with a better chance to win immediately rather than a rebuilding project with a team in a loaded division with limited top in-state recruits.

That’s why Bielema is feeling some heat from impatient fans, but no job security issues from his university or close scrutiny from the local media. Hog fans are uneasy, but the school is trapped by the coach’s high buyout and the lack of a better alternative in the short run.

Bielema probably has at least two more seasons to turn Arkansas into a division contender. Sticking with the coach, despite his boorish behavior and lack of early results, seems to be the best bet.

And Arkansas knows it. But in the next few years, he’ll need to replace brash talk with big victories.

If not, they’ll be calling in another head Hog to Fayetteville.