Arkansas is 1 of 4 SEC programs with a vacant head coaching position for 2026.Â
The Razorbacks will be seeking a replacement for Sam Pittman this offseason. Pittman lasted 5+ seasons in Fayetteville before being ousted after a blowout loss to Notre Dame earlier this season.
Arkansas head coaching candidates
Over at Kalshi, a prediction market legal in all 50 US states, fans can wager on who will be the next head coach at Arkansas.Â
Let’s break down some of the top candidates according to Kalshi’s marketplace:
Ryan Silverfield, Memphis head coach
Current Kalshi price: 24 cents per contract
Ryan Silverfield replaced Mike Norvell at Memphis back in 2020. He had been on the Tigers’ staff since 2016 as an assistant. Silverfield’s tenure hasn’t always been smooth when it comes to on-field results, but Memphis appears to be a College Football Playoff contender. Barring a collapse, this would be Memphis’s third straight season with 10+ wins under Silverfield. Although he’s from Florida, Silverfield has never coached in the SEC at any level (but does have an NFL background).
Gus Malzahn, Florida State offensive coordinator
Current Kalshi price: 20 cents per contract
Gus Malzahn has deep ties to the state of Arkansas. He played for the Razorbacks from 1984-85 and was a successful high school coach in the state a couple of decades ago. Arkansas gave him his first college coaching job in 2006 (wide receivers coach). He was also the head coach at Arkansas State before Auburn hired him to be its head coach in 2013. Malzahn is currently in his first season at FSU and previously stated he considered retirement before joining the Noles’ staff.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane head coach
Current Kalshi price: 19 cents per contract
Jon Sumrall is expected to be one of the hottest names on the market this offseason. He has deep ties to SEC country — he played at Kentucky and has now been the head coach at Group-of-5 programs in Alabama (Troy) and Louisiana (Tulane). He’s also a former Ole Miss assistant coach. Sumrall is also expected to be considered by Auburn, Florida and LSU.
Bobby Petrino, interim Arkansas head coach
Current Kalshi price: 19 cents per contract
Bobby Petrino is currently serving as the interim head coach at Arkansas. While the Razorbacks have been competitive under his leadership in recent weeks, they have yet to win an SEC game. Petrino’s lack of wins could be what keeps him from earning the full-time gig. However, athletic director Hunter Yurachek said Petrino would have the opportunity to land the job after firing Pittman. Petrino was given the authority to make several changes to his defensive staff after he was named interim coach. Arkansas is likely to be a big underdog in its 3 remaining games against LSU, Texas and Mizzou.
Jon Gruden, former NFL head coach
Current Kalshi price: 11 cents per contract
Jon Gruden is a potential candidate if Arkansas wants to make an outside-the-box hire. Gruden’s popularity has grown over the last year as he’s taken a content creator role at Barstool. The former NFL head coach has also publicly expressed a desire to coach in the SEC. He has not formally coached at the college level since he served as the wide receivers coach at Pittsburgh back in 1991.
Arkansas football head coach prediction
Given the above options, I think Silverfield is by far the most-likely and best-priced option. He’s won enough at Memphis to warrant consideration from SEC vacancies. He’s also not likely to be heavily pursued by the likes of Auburn and LSU (unlike Sumrall, who could be a finalist for higher-profile jobs).Â
Perhaps other potential candidates will emerge over the course of this search. But I’m hesitant to believe Malzahn, Petrino or Gruden will receive serious consideration for the job based on various factors. As for Sumrall, I think he has a great chance to land one of the other 3 SEC openings.
Prediction: Ryan Silverfield to be Arkansas’s next head coach (24 cents per contract)
How does Kalshi work?
Kalshi is a prediction market that gives users the opportunity to put money behind their projections. Unlike traditional sportsbooks, Kalshi is 100% legal in all 50 US States. Kalshi doesn’t just offer markets on sports — you can also make predictions on outcomes relating to politics, the weather and more.Â
Kalshi users can purchase contracts that will pay out at a rate of $1 per contract if the prediction is ultimately graded as accurate. For example, if Silverfield is named the next permanent head coach at Arkansas, a $10 prediction at a cost of 24 cents per contract would pay out $39.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
