Fansided

3 replacements for Bret Bielema at Arkansas

By John Buhler

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks on the sidelines during a game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 38-37. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks on the sidelines during a game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 38-37. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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GAINESVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 14: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies watches the action during the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 14: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies watches the action during the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Kevin Sumlin

Head Coach, Texas A&M Aggies

This one could be an interesting fit. If the Texas A&M Aggies lose to the LSU Tigers in their emerging Thanksgiving weekend rivalry game, Texas A&M University will have no problem with firing their head coach, Kevin Sumlin. He has been on the hot seat since the winter meetings in Destin by his own athletic director.

Hiring Sumlin to replace Bielema would be a very interesting wrinkle in the SEC landscape. Keep in mind that Arkansas and Texas A&M are SEC West rivals. They play a neutral-site game down in AT&T Stadium in Arlington called the Southwest Classic. Sumlin has owned Arkansas since taking over the Aggies program in 2012.

So, Sumlin is very familiar with the SEC West and would be able to reset his coaching clock by taking his talents to Fayetteville. He would be able to recruit a bit easier in Arkansas than at Texas A&M. Being the only big school in the state, but having Texas connections only helps get the Hogs back on top.

Add in the revenge factor Sumlin would have. He is an excellent offensive mind and recruiter that is just not in a great situation in College Station. Seeing Sumlin dominate the Southwest Classic from the other sideline could make Texas A&M regret its decision to part ways with their head coach. This could be a sneaky good hire for Arkansas, assuming Texas A&M does fire Sumlin and he doesn’t take his coaching talents elsewhere.

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