North Carolina is finalizing a deal with Arkansas interim head coach and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, according to a report from On3 .
After being an offensive powerhouse in all five seasons under former UNC coach Mack Brown, North Carolina's offense was a huge dud in Bill Belichick's first year at the helm, as the Tar Heels finished with one of the worst units in the FBS in 2025. They ranked 119th nationally in scoring (19.3 points per game) and 129th in total offense (288.8 yards per game). As a result, former offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens was let go .
Despite Arkansas finishing 2-10 with Petrino as interim head coach after firing Sam Pittman in the middle of the season, the offense wasn't the problem. This season, Arkansas finished fourth in the SEC, averaging 454.8 yards and 32.9 points per game.
In 2023, Arkansas ranked 10th in the SEC in scoring offense, 13th in total offense, 10th in rushing offense, 12th in passing offense, 13th in plays of more than 10 yards, and 13th in red zone attempts. Petrino turned that around in a single year. In 2024, the Razorbacks averaged 30.9 points per game.
That's in addition to a 140-88 record as a full-time head coach at Louisville, Arkansas, Western Kentucky, Missouri State and with the Atlanta Falcons . He led Louisville to a victory in the Orange Bowl in 2006 and Arkansas to the Sugar Bowl in 2010 and the Cotton Bowl in 2011.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Football: Tar Heels finalizing deal with Bobby Petrino for OC job
