Bobby Petrino—Arkansas’ embattled interim head coach, whose 0-5 stint has teetered on the brink of redemption and ruin—is “strongly expected” to bolt for the LSU head coaching vacancy, potentially trading Razorback red for purple and gold before the Hogs’ Thanksgiving tilt with Missouri. Sources briefed on the negotiations tell SEC Network’s Rachel Baribeau that LSU, still smoldering from Brian Kelly’s October axing after a 4-4 tailspin, has zeroed in on the 64-year-old Petrino as a “top-3 finalist,” dangling a five-year, $15 million pact laced with $3 million in NIL buyout incentives to lure the offensive savant whose Tigers tenure (2005-2007) netted a 34-14 ledger and a 2007 SEC West crown. “Bobby’s the bridge—proven SEC juice without the flash,” one Baton Rouge booster whispered to On3, noting his post-LSU odyssey: a Louisville BCS Orange Bowl (2012), a scandalous Arkansas motorcycle bailout (2013), and a 2024 Razorbacks return as OC before Sam Pittman’s mid-October pink slip thrust him into the hot seat. With AD Hunter Yurachek’s “decide by rivalry row” edict looming—Texas and Mizzou next—Petrino’s camp, led by agent Jimmy Sexton, is “deep in talks,” per The Athletic, amid whispers of a $10 million Arkansas buyout that’s chump change for Death Valley’s war chest.
Petrino’s Razorback resurrection has been a fever dream of fight and frustration: Promoted October 1 after Pittman’s Notre Dame nightmare (56-13 demolition), the interim boss steadied a sinking ship, engineering four one-score losses (Ole Miss 28-27, Auburn 31-30, Mississippi State 24-23, LSU 23-22) that scream moral victories but scoreboard scars. His Monday tirade—“LSU’s win was unfair, no transparency”—over phantom fouls (a non-called DPI on a game-sealing pick, unpenalized roughing on QB Taylen Green) and his vow to “expose every rigged call” to the NCAA has boosters buzzing: Is it farewell fire or full-throated fight? Players offer mixed vibes: TE Rohan Jones backs “Coach P’s fire,” but LB Xavian Sorey Jr. demurs on permanence, citing the D’s overhaul (firing DC Travis Williams, his portal recruiter). Offensively, Green’s 2,100 yards shine, but 18 turnovers (Hogs’ FBS-worst) and a 2-8 ledger (0-6 SEC) dim the dazzle. “Bobby’s kept us locked in—miracle in this mess,” one Hog source said, but with a $1.95 million interim payday ($10K per win, zero cashed), the allure of LSU’s $20 million ceiling—top-5 resources, endless Louisiana pipelines—tempts like ’07 redux.
LSU’s lust traces to Kelly’s crater: A 49-25 A&M embarrassment sealed his fate, leaving interim Frank Wilson (RB coach) steering a 5-5 ship toward the Texas finale. Boosters, eyeing a $100 million facility splash, crave Petrino’s scheme—spread-option wizardry that torched foes with JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Perilloux—over flashier flames like Deion Sanders (Colorado comfy) or Dabo Swinney (Clemson loyal). “Petrino’s not sexy, but he’s SEC-tested—beat Bama, Florida, won the West,” a Tiger insider gushed to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, who frothed on air: “Bobby to Baton Rouge? Diabolical genius—LSU gets grit, Arkansas gets gone.” Sexton’s dual dealings (Florida too?) scream leverage, but Petrino’s history—leaving Louisville mid-scandal, ghosting Arkansas for U of L—fuels fan fury: “Betrayal 2.0?” one X thread howled.
The fallout? Frenzied. Arkansas, projected 3-9 and bowl-less, risks portal Armageddon if Petrino jets: Top targets like EDGE Landon Jackson (already wavering) could flip to Aggieland. Yurachek’s hot board—Jon Gruden (+500 odds via Kalshi), Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, UNT’s Eric Morris—shuffles sans Bobby, but his “expose the refs” pledge hints at scorched-earth exit: Sources say he’s hoarding crew texts and audio for NCAA ammo, potentially tanking LSU’s resume if voided. X erupts with #PetrinoToLSU at 1.9 million mentions, memes splicing his 2012 hog-bike crash over Tiger Stadium: “From Razorback wreck to Bayou boss?” Hogs faithful fracture: #KeepBobby rallies (“He fought refs for us!”), while #ByeFeliciaBobby trends (“Scandal king to scandal state?”). Kiffin, Ole Miss-bound rival, trolls: “Refs rigged it? Nah, Bobby’s resume did. Geaux? More like Go Away.”
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