Bold Prediction: Pittman's Razorbacks will win nine games

They were thrilled with that 9-4 mark in Sam's second season at Arkansas. That year included an ultra satisfying 40-21 beatdown of the Texas Longhorns in rowdy Razorback Stadium.

It also included victories against Texas A&M, LSU and Missouri -- the three schools the Razorbacks play each year with a made-up trophy at stake.

Arkansas hadn't beaten A&M since 2011 so whipping the hated 'Horns and the Aggies in the same season made Pittman popular enough to run for governor.

The Hogs topped A&M by 10 and Missouri by 17 in Fayetteville and went to Baton Rouge, La., to beat LSU 16-13 in overtime.

The very next week Arkansas invaded Tuscaloosa, Ala, and gave the No. 2 Crimson Tide a huge scare before the home team escaped with a 42-35 win.

The other losses were a blowout at No. 3 Georgia, a 52-51 thriller at Ole Miss, and a 38-23 home loss to Auburn.

The Hogs capped that season with a 24-10 win over Penn State in a New Year's Day bowl game in Tampa, Fla.

Here's why I detailed that 2021 season: Sam thinks -- no, he believes -- the Hogs can do it again this year.

Oddsmakers disagree. They have Arkansas as the 13th best team in the 16-team SEC with astronomical odds against the Razorbacks winning college football's best conference.

As ESPN football commentator Lee Corso would often say, "Not so fast, my friend." Winning six seems a lock from where I sit.

Plus, there's even a path to achieve 9-4 again. It would take 10-2 in the regular season to make the College Football Playoffs, and I'm not going to suggest that'll happen.

But, check this out and let me know if you disagree it's impossible. I don't claim it's probable but it won't take a miracle to finish 8-4 in the regular season.

Please let it be the finale. There is no reason to play in outdate War Memorial Stadium ever again. Really can't believe it took this long to end the relationship.

Whether the Hogs won or lost at Ole Miss, they simply must win at Memphis if this season is to be a success.

Home, sweet, home: Three straight in Razorback Stadium against the Texas A&M Aggies, Auburn Tigers and Mississippi State Bulldogs. Beat the Aggies and it's a much-needed sweep.

If you lost track, I've got the Hogs at 7-2, losing to Notre Dame and Tennessee. That'd likely have Pittman's guys ranked about No. 16 if they kept the two losses reasonably close.

That's 8-4, setting up the Razorbacks for a good bowl game and a chance to equal Sam's best record as a head coach.

Pittman hit the jackpot when Arkansas hired him for his first gig as a head coach of a four-year college.

That followed nearly three decades as a highly respected and honored offensive line coach and associate head coach.

Is it likely the Hogs are 8-4 heading into a bowl game? Maybe not. Most figure they lose at Ole Miss and maybe at home to A&M.

That would be another break-even regular season, perhaps good enough for Sam to come back and take another go at glory in 2026.

But for those who say he's on the hot seat in '25 for the second straight season, he might need at least eight wins to cool off those naysayers.

An 8-5 season wouldn't be bad at all, and would bring Pittman peace next summer when he's back on the lake, catching fish from his boat and celebrating life with his wife.

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