CFB Insider Reveals Major Timeline Update on Arkansas Coa...

By Reice Shipley

Contributing Sports Writer

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The Arkansas Razorbacks were the first of several SEC programs to part ways with their head coach this season. According to ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, they may also be the first to strike in the conference by naming a new head coach.

Arkansas has been linked to many different head coaching candidates after parting ways with Sam Pittman back in September. Some candidates, like Tulane's Jon Sumrall, USF's Alex Golesh, and Memphis' Ryan Silverfield, are seemingly realistic options that would be taking a step up to coaching at the Power 5 level.

Others, meanwhile, have been a bit more unrealistic in the eyes of most. The likes of Clemson's Dabo Swinney and former NFL head coach Jon Gruden have also been linked to the program.

Regardless of who the next head coach of the Razorbacks ends up being, Thamel believes that the decision from the program could be coming sooner rather than later.

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During an appearance on "The Paul Finebaum Show", Thamel revealed that Arkansas is reportedly "in the final stages" of their coaching search. According to Thamel, a decision on the team's next coach could come this weekend.

“I would think that one wraps up relatively soon,” Thamel said. “It appears they’re in the final stages there now. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got some clarity on that one this weekend.”

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This news from Thamel is certainly notable given all of the high-profile coaching searches that are going on in the SEC. Florida, LSU, and Auburn are also looking to fill their respective head coaching vacancies.

With that in mind, urgency may very well be crucial for Arkansas to go and get their ideal candidate. Especially considering Florida and LSU appear destined to wait on Lane Kiffin's highly anticipated decision on his future at Ole Miss.

While Florida and LSU wait on Kiffin, who they aren't even sure will be taking a new job, the Razorbacks can go and get their top pick of the candidates available to them currently.

Arkansas already missed out on James Franklin, who instead opted to take the Virginia Tech job despite being linked as an option for the Razorbacks. Clearly, they don't plan on missing out on any of the other top candidates on their target list.

For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.

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