With Friday’s 20-13 home loss to LSU, Arkansas' season of disappointment was complete.
The 4-8 Razorbacks entered the season ranked No. 10 and drawing national title talk. They featured Heisman candidates Tyler Wilson and Knile Davis, impressive receivers like Cobi Hamilton and Chris Gragg and a supposedly improved defense.
But the season fell apart almost immediately.
After a tougher-than-expected win over Jacksonville State, the Razorbacks lost Wilson to a concussion against Louisiana-Monroe and ultimately fell in overtime to the Sun Belt team. After Wilson missed the next game, a 52-0 humiliation by Alabama in Fayetteville, the senior called out some teammates for giving up.
Interim coach John L. Smith proved to be a good quote, but not an adequate replacement for offensive guru Bobby Petrino.
Turnovers, injuries and penalties were the biggest culprits.
The Hogs entered Friday’s game ranked 119th of 120 teams in turnover margin at minus-17. With two first-quarter turnovers, Arkansas finished the season at minus-19. Wilson led the SEC in passing yards per game entering the final week, but he also threw 13 interceptions, tied for most in the league.
Wilson’s concussion began a string of injuries. Davis battled a hamstring problem. Gragg missed more than half the games with a bone bruise. LB Alonzo Highsmith and DE Tenarious Wright, key players and team captains, missed most of the season. CB Tevin Mitchel missed half the season.
Now all the attention turns to AD Jeff Long, who aims to hire a new coach by mid-December.
Prominant possibilites include Vanderbilt’s James Franklin, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and TCU’s Gary Patterson. But Long could be competing with Tennessee -- and possibly Auburn if Gene Chizik gets fired -- for those candidates.
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.
