Breaking News: Razorbacks sack and Fired Landon Jackson after words of hatred….

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Perhaps the biggest win of the upcoming transfer portal for Arkansas football will be keeping one of its own.

Junior defensive end Landon Jackson announced on his social media pages Wednesday evening that he would be returning for his senior year with the Razorbacks. The announcement came just a day after Rocket Sanders announced his impending departure.

Jackson was a team captain in 2023 and entered the fall with high expectations. He put on more than 40 pounds of weight in the offseason and turned in a campaign worthy of an All-SEC selection.

Jackson led the Razorbacks with 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He had his best game of the season against Alabama in mid-October, recording 3.5 sacks and 11 tackles. The LSU transfer started all 12 games for Arkansas in 2023.

More:What we know and don’t know about Arkansas football’s future offense under Bobby Petrino

More:Arkansas football transfer portal tracker 2023: Who is joining, leaving the Razorbacks

Earlier in the week, defensive tackle Cam Ball also announced he would return to Arkansas for the 2024 season. Despite the impending transfers of Chris Paul Jr. and Taurean Carter, the Hogs have done a good job keeping their defensive talent with Jackson, Ball and cornerback Jaylon Braxton.

It’s official — Bobby Petrino will return to the University of Arkansas as offensive coordinator.

Driving the news: University officials confirmed the hire yesterday in a news release.

• ESPN reported Tuesday that Petrino was up for the job, sending shock waves through Hog country.

By the numbers: Petrino will make $1.5 million for the 2024 season and $1.6 million in 2025, according to his contract. He’ll also make $350,000 from Dec. 3 to Feb. 28, 2024, when this NCAA season officially ends, though the Razorbacks have no games left.

• Petrino will receive a $7,200 annual car allowance.
• His contract also includes performance incentives — like for winning the SEC championship.

Context: The move comes after a rough season for the Razorbacks. Head coach Sam Pittman fired first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos in October, the day after a 7-3 home loss to Mississippi State.

• Of note: Enos was to make $1.1 million in his first year on the job.
• The university highlighted Petrino’s success during his time as head coach at Arkansas. He led the program to a 34-17 mark in four seasons. Arkansas’ 2011 team finished 11-2 with a Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State to end the year ranked No. 5 in the AP poll — the highest an Arkansas team has finished since 1977, according to the news release.

Yes, but: Petrino was fired in 2012 after hiring a woman with whom he was in a romantic relationship, which came to light after an infamous motorcycle accident with her as the passenger. The scandal rocked Arkansas.

• Petrino initially lied in public statements, saying he was alone during the accident, which occurred about 20 miles southeast of Fayetteville.
• Petrino also gifted the employee, former volleyball player Jessica Dorrell, with $20,000, which he did not disclose.

Flashback: After Arkansas, the coach moved on to a head coaching position at Western Kentucky University. About 14 months later, in 2014, he returned to the University of Louisville for the third time — he’d been both offensive coordinator and head coach there previously.

• In 2020, Petrino was named head coach of Missouri State University, where he remained through the 2022 season.
• He spent this past season as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M but wasn’t retained by the Aggies’ new head coach, Mike Elko.

What he’s saying: “It’s something I hoped would happen,” Petrino told ESPN. “Wasn’t sure if it ever would, but it is a dream come true to be able to go back to the University of Arkansas and do anything I possibly can to make it right this time.”

• “I’m grateful to Coach [Sam] Pittman and [athletic director] Hunter Yurachek for making it happen.”

Mixed feelings about Petrino’s hiring

Petrino was the top sports story in the nation Wednesday if X, formerly called Twitter, is an indicator.

• Fans desperate for the football program to improve — and start winning — largely posted favorable comments.
• Yes, but: Others see the appointment as a potentially slippery ethical slope.

Of note: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette even launched a reader poll to take the state’s temperature.

What they’re saying:

• “All hail Bobby Petrino!!!!! Welcome back!!! National title next year!!!” Arkansas native and radio/TV personality Bobby Bones.
• “I am not judging him for his personal indiscretion. That’s not relevant. I’m reflecting on the events that led to his termination. No other state employee would get a second chance, which is why Petrino required a waiver.” — Blake Rutherford, lawyer and a chief of staff for former Arkansas Attorney General Dustin Blake McDaniel.

The bottom line: Petrino in his tweet invoked the memory of beloved former Hogs quarterback, No. 15 Ryan Mallett, who died earlier this year.

💭 Our thought bubble: Expectations are super high. Anything short of a national championship next season may mean harsh consequences for head coach Sam Pittman — if not by UA athletics, then by the Razorback Nation.