Sam Pittman speaks candidly on the exodus of players leaving the Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) – 13 days ago, the Arkansas Razorback football team walked off Faurot Field uncertain about the future of the program.

Flash forward to Thursday, 26 total Razorbacks have entered their names into the transfer portal, ready to find a new home for the 2025 season.

Since that final game, the mass exodus of players into the portal is something that the Head Hog himself didn’t expect.

“We’re a six and six football team,” Pittman told reporters in a zoom call Thursday afternoon. “We’ve got money, so we have to use it wisely.”

Then comes the hard decisions for both players and coaches. For the players side, it’s the debate of going elsewhere for playing time or even for a pay raise at a different university. Ultimately, it causes a chain reaction to where the coaches have to then reflect on the right way to build what they believe is an SEC title contending team for the 2025 season.

Pittman and his staff had a choice to make.

“Are we gonna pay a whole lot of people, or a few number of people more money,” he pondered.

With NIL playing a bigger role in college football than ever before, the coaching staff decided to go with the latter of the two options. Thus, they had to cut ties with certain players in hopes to find what they consider huge difference makers for the team next season.

It’s a frustrating process for all parties involved. In 2025, the reality is that the NIL agents are trying to get the best deal for their clients.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Razorbacks. The Hogs head coach says there could be guys who decide to come back to the Hill after the process is over if they do it the right way.

For the fans worried about what the team will look like next season, Pittman was optimistic about the future.

“Just be patient over these next week,” the Head Hog said. “See if we get out of the portal what I think we can get, and if we do, then I think they’ll be very excited about that.”

The evaluation will begin with the guys who are still here in Fayetteville. All with an opportunity to prove themselves in the 2024 AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Texas Tech on Dec. 27.

That is just the beginning.

To hear more from Coach Pittman, you can watch the video above next to the headline.