Anything could happen with Gus Malzahn. He might be SEC Coach of the Year or fired by Auburn. Either extreme is equally likely.

That’s the pressure he’s currently subjected to on The Plains. Malzahn was just a minute away from a national championship his first season on the job in 2013, but that was the one and only time he took the Tigers to 10 or more wins.

Auburn is currently 9-2 and controls its own destiny in the West, so should Malzahn come out on top Saturday against Alabama, not only will he reach double-digit victories once again, but he’ll earn a second division title in five years. Additionally, he’ll keep dreams alive for both a conference crown and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

But if he doesn’t, it’s possible that the Auburn administration will have seen enough and opt to go in a different direction.

Needless to say, decision makers at this particular program have had an itchy trigger figure before. Malzahn replaced Gene Chizik, who won it all in 2010 but still got pink-slipped after the 3-9 disaster that was the 2012 campaign.

It was Malzahn who picked up the pieces and took the Tigers to the BCS title game the very next season, which was one of the most amazing one-year turnarounds of all time. Most teams in this league employ some sort of spread offense these days, but he was an innovator with his run-heavy approach operating at a million miles per hour.

Arkansas is one of the few clubs in the SEC that doesn’t attack with a variation of the spread, so innovation is in short supply.

At this point, there’s no way Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema can keep his job. He seems to have topped out at the 8-5 record he put together in 2015, slipping to 7-6 this past year and seemingly on his way to 4-8 in 2017.

Arkansas is one of the few clubs in the SEC that doesn't attack with a variation of the spread, so innovation is in short supply.

Any chance Bielema may have had to fix this mess disappeared once the athletic director who hired him, Jeff Long, was relieved of his duties last week. More than likely, Long was thrown overboard to make it easier to say goodbye to Bielema, too. Most ADs are judged on the success or failure of their football coach, which is why they’d rather hire their own.

Malzahn, who has ties to the Razorback State and was a walk-on wide receiver for the Hogs once upon a time, will certainly be targeted.

Coaching at Arkansas isn’t like coaching at Auburn, of course. While the Tigers are considered a traditional power in the conference and one of the national brands, the Razorbacks didn’t join the league until 1992 and are yet to win an SEC title.

As a result, Auburn can welcome Top 10 recruiting classes on reputation alone. The Hogs tend to be somewhere in the 20s. The state of Alabama is full of 4- and 5-star prospects, while the state of Arkansas can’t keep up with the likes of Texas and Louisiana despite sharing borders with them. Proximity to recruits is always a factor to consider.

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In other words, the Razorbacks can’t rely on athletes alone and still be a contender. They have to fill the gaps with schematic advantages.

Bielema wasn’t able to do that. It was assumed that he’d bring a Big Ten attitude with him to Fayetteville and play a more physical style, but he was never able to make the Hogs big and strong enough on either side of the line of scrimmage.

At least for a year or two, Malzahn could actually coach without having to worry about any vultures swarming above him.

When Bielema was having success, it was with Brandon and Austin Allen slinging the pigskin all over the yard at the quarterback position. His rushing attack was rarely dominant, plus his defense was a middle-of-the-pack unit more often than not. According to the numbers, the shift in philosophy this season from the 4-3 to the 3-4 has actually had a negative effect.

He was born in Illinois, played at Iowa and coached at Wisconsin. While hindsight is always 20-20, perhaps Bielema was just never an ideal fit for Arkansas.

On the other hand, Malzahn understands the unique culture that comes with being a Razorback. Based on what he accomplished in that state as a high school coach before moving on to the collegiate level, he’ll have a Rolodex full of warm contacts.

Most important, if Malzahn were to exit Auburn and return home to the Hogs, maybe he’d feel appreciated for the first time in a while. Fans of the Tigers seem to have never truly embraced him, but Arkansas would be happy to have him and feel like it upgraded after closing the door on an outsider like Bielema. Call it a homecoming of sorts.

At least for a year or two, Malzahn could actually coach without having to worry about any vultures swarming above him.

Naturally, Malzahn still has to manage the roster he has now with the Tigers. With a win over Alabama and another over East champ Georgia the following weekend, he’s going to the Final Four and in line for a healthy contract extension.

But if he doesn’t and Auburn isn’t satisfied with another good-but-not-great season, Malzahn could be shown the door. If that happens, then he wouldn’t be in the unemployment line for long. While the Razorbacks may not be as prestigious as the Tigers, the fans are loyal, the facilities are impressive and the money man doesn’t bounce any checks.

The expectations are reasonable, too. Trying to keep up with Nick Saban is exhausting. It’s written all over Malzahn’s face.