Bobby Petrino reveals message he gave to players regarding the transfer portal after Sam Pittman firing
By Jyesha Nance
Published:
Sam Pittman’s tenure as the Arkansas Razorbacks’ head coach came to an end on September 28. Pittman, who was hired in December 2019 as the Razorbacks’ 34th head coach, brought energy and stability to a program in need of rebuilding.
Despite flashes of competitiveness, his five-year run closed with a 32-34 overall record. Since 2021, however, Arkansas managed to stay slightly above .500 at 29-27, showing some progress but not enough to satisfy program expectations in the highly competitive SEC. Ultimately, inconsistent results and mounting pressure led to Pittman’s dismissal.
In the wake of his firing, the program turned to a familiar face. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who previously served as Arkansas’ head coach from 2008 to 2011, was named interim head coach. With his return to the leadership role, Petrino immediately took on one of the biggest challenges in college football: keeping a roster intact during a potential turbulent transition period.
Under NCAA rules, players are granted a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal following a head coaching change. That reality often sparks roster moves and the uncertainty of some athletes. Petrino addressed that concern during the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday.
“We had everybody in the weight room all day yesterday lifting, and everybody was out on the practice field. Everybody attended meetings on time. I think they all understand, and that was one of the things I tried to address with them right off the bat, there’s actually no benefit of going into the transfer portal right now,” Petrino said. “The only thing it can hurt is you, financially, and no ability to go in and play right away and no video on tape to make your transition if you’re going to transfer somewhere marketable. There’s really no reason for anyone to go into the transfer portal and I think once I laid it out that way for the players, they understood it,”
For now, Arkansas can look to regroup under Petrino’s leadership as the Razorbacks try to salvage the remainder of their season after starting the 2025 season 2-3.
