ATLANTA – The Arkansas Razorbacks find themselves at the bottom of the preseason SEC media poll for 2025, landing in 14th place when the rankings were released Friday at SEC Media Days. For Razorback fans, the news likely didn’t come as much of a shock—and neither did it surprise head coach Sam Pittman.
Pittman, now heading into his sixth season leading the Hogs, spoke candidly during his media session in Atlanta. With a calm but honest tone, he acknowledged the team’s current position in the eyes of the media and the broader college football world.
“Most things that come out, you earn it,” Pittman said. “Now, you may disagree with some of it, all that. But I’ve earned it, I have. To get off that, we’ve got to win more football games.”
It was a refreshingly straightforward comment from a coach who has never been known for dodging tough topics. Pittman knows exactly where the program stands. After a disappointing 2024 season that saw Arkansas struggle against SEC competition, the Razorbacks are entering 2025 with a lot to prove. The media’s preseason prediction reflects that reality.
While Arkansas fans hoped for signs of a turnaround this year, the SEC is as unforgiving as ever. With powerhouses like Georgia, Alabama, and LSU reloading their rosters year after year, climbing out of the SEC cellar is no easy task. Pittman understands the challenge. He’s not promising shortcuts or quick fixes. His message is simple: the way out is through consistent work and, ultimately, winning games.
Despite the team’s placement in the poll, there were a few bright spots for the Razorbacks at SEC Media Days. Three Arkansas players earned preseason All-SEC honors from the attending media. These individual recognitions suggest that talent exists on the roster—perhaps enough to build around if the team can find the right chemistry and execution this fall.
Still, the weight of last season lingers. Injuries, narrow losses, and inconsistency on both sides of the ball contributed to a year that fell short of expectations. The result is a preseason ranking that places Arkansas dead last among SEC teams.
For Pittman and his players, the narrative heading into the 2025 season is clear: silence the doubters through performance. The Razorbacks will have to battle for every inch, starting from the bottom and working their way up in the nation’s toughest conference. There’s no secret formula, no media spin to change the conversation. Winning is the only answer.
With fall camp approaching, Arkansas now has an opportunity to shift the story. For now, though, the message from SEC Media Days is blunt: the road back to relevance won’t be easy, but it’s still there for the taking—one game at a time.