A bombshell was dropped last week when Pete Nakos from On3 Sports first reported about former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron in cahoots with Arkansas to potentially fill their vacant head coaching spot for the 2026 season. Nakos named Orgeron as someone "to know" ahead of Arkansas's offseason search, but he also mentioned that Coach O has also been linked to Oregon State and even a return to LSU.
Ed Orgeron could head to Arkansas.
If Arkansas were able to secure Ed Orgeron to a deal this offseason, this would have major effects on the SEC West's outlook. Orgeron, who is only six years removed from his 15-0, national championship season, would instantly become one of Arkansas's most accomplished coaches to date.
Coach O has remained a prominent figure in the SEC landscape, even after the bitter end between him and LSU, plagued by poor performance and off-the-field scandals. Despite his controversies, his resume on the field remains as one of the most polished, making him a desirable candidate for Arkansas's athletic department.
The same couldn't be said, however, when we look at it from the perspective of Arkansas's biggest rivals. Texas A&M, for example, would face a lot of challenges with Coach O competing in the SEC West. Recruiting is probably the biggest point of concern, as Orgeron has deep connections with recruiting in the South. Coach O's influence in states like Louisiana and Mississippi could flip key recruits for the Aggies in the future, potentially closing the gap that Texas A&M has built recently from its recruitment pipeline.
Additionally, Orgeron's style of play has historically been in an area that the Aggies have lacked. Coach O's teams have infamously embraced the trenches, and for an air-raid offense like the Aggies, this emphasis on the offensive line and defensive fronts could turn costly for a Texas A&M team that ranks in the bottom half in average time to throw.
Coach O currently has a 4-2 record against the Aggies, with one of those two losses being the infamous 74-72 game back in 2018. If Orgeron were to be hired at Arkansas, it would undoubtedly make this otherwise lopsided rivalry as of recent into an instant classic year after year.
With that being said, these rumors are merely speculation as of right now. Arkansas has also been linked to other coaches, such as Eric Morris at North Texas and Alex Golesh at South Florida, so their communication with Orgeron may be the furthest either party goes.
On3 reported that contact has been established between Orgeron and the university, but so far, that's been the extent of it. Pete Nakos mentions that the next step would be to conduct formal interviews before a potential contract offer, so Aggie fans should keep a close eye on this offseason's coaching carousel as the season comes to an end.
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