Athlon Sports assesses Sam Pittman's hot seat temperature entering 2025

With million of dollars on the line every season, college football is a cut-throat business. Nobody understands this reality better than coaches. This year, Athlon Sports named Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman a coach on the “hot seat,” and explained his standing with the program.

“Pittman topped most hot seat lists in 2023, but he steadied the ship with a 7-6 record last fall,” Athlon Sports‘ Steven Lassan wrote. “The Razorbacks are 30-31 under Pittman’s watch and have earned bowl trips in three out of the last four years. But if Arkansas doesn’t exceed last season’s win total of seven, doubts will grow.”

Evidently, Pittman isn’t in nearly as hot of water as he was last year. Nonetheless, he can’t afford to allow the Razorbacks to regress.

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Arkansas is returning eight starters from last season, including quarterback Taylen Green. Green transferred to Arkansas from Boise State last offseason and had a solid debut campaign as a Razorback.

Green completed 60.4% of his pass attempts for 3,154 yards and 15 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions last season. He was also a threat in the ground game, racking up 602 yards and eight scores with his legs.

Green will look to build on his momentum this year. Alas, it won’t be easy. Arkansas lost 39 players to the transfer portal this offseason, including standouts such as offensive linemen Josh Braun and Addison Nichols.

In fairness, Arkansas responded by reeling in commitments from transfer linemen Corey Robinson II and Caden Kitler. Nonetheless, there’s no way to know if they’ll be able to fill the gaps left by Arkansas’ outgoing transfers until the season begins.

To make matters worse, Arkansas will have one of the toughest schedules in the country this fall, with showdowns scheduled against Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas. Alas, Pittman isn’t shying away from the challenge.

The 63-year-old head coach underwent hip surgery this offseason and has brought a reinvigorated energy to the gridiron. In an interview with On3’s Pete Nakos, Sam Pittman discussed his excitement for the upcoming season.

“I’ve been out walking two miles a day now, and I feel great,” Pittman said. “I love my job and this team. Everybody in this business is going through the same thing with portal rosters. It just seems to get magnified at times in our state. My goal is to coach, at least through what my contract is.”