Hogs’ voice: Franklin never serious candidate for Razorbacks coach

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Chuck Barrett, the longtime radio voice of the Arkansas Razorbacks, said Friday that rumors linking former Penn State coach James Franklin to the Arkansas job were never grounded in reality.

Barrett addressed the speculation during his daily radio program, pushing back against reports that painted Franklin as a leading possibility to replace Sam Pittman.

Barrett said on the “Chuck & Bo Show” on ESPN Arkansas that “James Franklin is not going to be the head coach of the Razorbacks. I believe that, all along, he was never a candidate. It’s always been wishful thinking.”

He emphasized that recent discussion about Franklin drawing interest from both Arkansas and Virginia Tech had no connection to credible information.

Barrett said suggestions of a bidding war “were nothing more than AI-generated stories or written by human beings who were poorly informed, and it’s just not going to happen.”

Barrett added that people “started putting two and two together and getting five,” and said the narrative gained momentum without any actual ties to Arkansas’ process. “This one was never, ever, ever on the table,” he said.

Barrett also used the moment to talk about what he considered realistic expectations for the coaching search. He said many fans assume big-name coaches are attainable, but history shows Arkansas rarely hires a sitting Power Four head coach.

“You’ve gotta look back at the way things have been before that,” Barrett said. “We have hired one guy out of the Power Four over the last 30 years or so, you know, a sitting head coach, and that was Bret Bielema. Everybody else has either moved up or been someone that might have been on the backside.”

He said that pattern is unlikely to change now. “I think that’s where we are now, and I think that’s the path we’ll go down again,” he said, adding that the next coach is more likely to come from a program outside the major conferences.

Barrett said these realities often clash with the expectations of fans eager for a recognizable name. He suggested that the next hire could come from leagues such as the AAC or Conference USA.

“People were salivating over name coaches,” he said, calling Franklin “a pipe dream.”

He added that fans should “dust off the old remote and set the DVR to record a lot of AAC and Conference USA games because that’s the most likely place from where the next head coach is going to come.”

The conversation comes while speculation continues about Pittman’s future after a difficult season. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek has not commented publicly on candidates, timelines, or what type of coach the school might target.

Barrett did not claim to be speaking on behalf of the athletic department but pointed to his long-term access to athletics offices as reason for confidence in his assessment.

Barrett noted that coaching searches often create assumptions that major names are within reach. He argued that Arkansas is not positioned to land a coach with Franklin’s profile, and that the narrative should shift toward more attainable options.

He stopped short of naming specific candidates but said the program historically hires rising coaches from smaller leagues or coordinators ready for their first opportunity. Barrett said the current search is likely to follow the same pattern unless circumstances change.

The fan base has responded to rumors in recent weeks with varying degrees of enthusiasm and skepticism. Barrett said his intention was not to dismiss the desire for an ambitious hire but to clarify what he sees as the likely direction.

By directly addressing Franklin’s name, he aimed to temper expectations and prevent the story from continuing to grow without justification.

With the Franklin rumor now publicly addressed, the focus returns to what Arkansas will do next.

Barrett’s comments suggest a search that may lean toward emerging candidates rather than a marquee coach, reflecting the program’s hiring history and current competitive landscape.

As Arkansas evaluates its options, Barrett encouraged fans to remain patient, avoid getting attached to unrealistic names, and understand how the school has typically approached major hires.