Pittman knows ‘noise’ with Arkansas these days mainly questioning his status

Razorbacks coach acknowledges increased pressure with close losses, sloppy defense, need for immediate change before Notre Dame

Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman on the sidelines against Arkansas State at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark. | Nilsen Roman-allHOGS Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Sam Pittman spoke candidly Monday about the rising tension surrounding his football program after two consecutive losses decided in the final moments.

He called it "noise," but a growing amount of fans are waiting for news bigger than that.

That sound Pittman is referring to is folks wanting him fired. Whether that's right or wrong isn't the point, but it is what a lot of people are talking about and putting on social media.

With the Razorbacks (2-2) set to host Notre Dame in the first‐ever meeting between the two schools, Pittman emphasized that turning things around is going to require a renewed defensive effort, fewer turnovers and steadier mental focus.

A lot of time he sounded like someone simply hoping for a miracle.

After close losses to Ole Miss (41-35) and Memphis (32-31), Pittman said the external pressure is unmistakable.

“You look at this week and of course there’s a lot more noise now around the program than even there was after last week,” Pittman said.

He said everyone involved with the program — coaches and players — must “shake off” distractions, especially against a high‐profile opponent like Notre Dame.

“We have an opportunity," Pittman said. "The only way we can win people (over) that don't believe in us … is to win ball games, and that's really the bottom line.”

Defensive struggles: Fundamentals over scheme

Defensively, Arkansas is facing serious issues. That shouldn't be anything new to folks paying attention to the first three games.

Even Alabama A&M in the opener hit big plays. It just didn't have have the depth or talent to do much with it.

In giving up 290 rushing yards vs. Memphis, including a 64-yard run that flipped momentum late, the Razorbacks were exposed for missed tackles, lack of aggression, and mental lapses. Pittman didn’t sugar-coat it.

“We didn’t run to the football and we didn’t tackle well,” Pittman said. “We had more missed assignments offensively … We obviously had more turnovers than we have had.”

Arkansas tried simplifying the defensive approach after the Ole Miss loss. That didn't fix it.

The Hogs spent a week emphasizing basics, letting players make reads, getting calls in earlier, but the results against Memphis show scheme alone won’t fix deeper issues.

It wasn't hard to get the impression they just simply weren't focused or actually cared. You wonder if something's going on behind the scenes.

Turnovers and mental mistakes

Turnovers continue to be the biggest problem in Arkansas’s recent losses. In both Ole Miss and Memphis games, Arkansas was in position to win, but committed costly mistakes.

Fumbles inside the opponent’s 25 and miscues in the closing minutes led to both losses. Guessing the odds on that happening are too big to even think about.

The over-reaction to quarterback Taylen Green's big numbers may have helped create expectations that were unrealistic.

“We're either fatigued or we weren’t playing hard enough, or both,” Pittman said when discussing especially the defensive collapse vs. Memphis.

He might want to pick one or the other. Nothing Pittman has said since Saturday afternoon has done much to give people hope.

All these options sound like he has no business being the coach.

These mental errors, more than any schematic discrepancy, are what Pittman says need correction if the Razorbacks are to respond well against a Notre Dame squad that has shown a lot of offensive firepower.

Notre Dame preview, stakes

The Razorbacks open their home schedule with a rare and historically significant game as Notre Dame comes to Fayetteville for the first time in program history.

The Fighting Irish (1-2) enter following a 56-30 win over Purdue. Their offense has produced explosively; the Arkansas defense, meanwhile, has allowed over 400 yards per game in recent outings.

For Arkansas, the stakes are high.

A win could re-energize the fan base and provide much-needed validation after two heartbreaking losses. A loss, however, might intensify scrutiny over Pittman’s performance.

He has been under pressure for several seasons, and 2025 was viewed by many as a make-or-break year. If it turns out to be a blowout loss all bets are off.

Looking ahead: What must change

To reverse the downward spiral, Arkansas must:

1. Reduce turnovers and execute better in critical moments.
2. Improve physicality and tackling — run to the ball.
3. Find consistency defensively, especially in stopping big plays and late game drives.

If Pittman’s team can address those areas, the game with Notre Dame could be more competitive than the Hogs' 2-2 record suggests.

Key takeaways

• Arkansas has lost back-to-back one-score games under Pittman, bringing criticism and concern about the program’s direction.
• Defensive lapses, missed tackles and turnovers are recurring themes; scheme tweaks haven’t fully addressed the underlying execution issues.
• Notre Dame presents both a challenge and a chance: a marquee opponent in its first meeting with Arkansas, offering a possible turning point.