Bret Bielema's Arkansas rallies at home to beat 1st-year FBS team that was 1-7 coming in

Things are not good in Fayetteville right now, folks. Just one week after the Arkansas Razorbacks came back to beat Ole Miss 38-37, Bret Bielema’s team got in some big trouble at home against a Coastal Carolina team that was 1-7 coming in. Arkansas ended up winning, 39-38, but things were not pretty, to say the least.

The Razorbacks were up 17-14 at halftime, but the Chanticleers scored 17 points in the third quarter to lead 31-25 heading into the fourth.

The Razorbacks’ offense finally had some life in the fourth quarter, responding to a Coastal TD with one of its own to cut the lead 38-32, and then scored again with two minutes left to take a one-point lead. Arkansas’ defense was able to hang on and force Coastal to turn the ball over on downs on the next possession, sealing the Razorbacks victory.

The biggest question for Arkansas’ future, as it has been all season, is about Bielema’s status by the end of the year. With a buyout that’s reportedly just $5.9 million as opposed to the previous report of $15 million, it wouldn’t be all too surprising if Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long wants to make a change.

The last three games for the Razorbacks include a road trip to LSU, then home games against Mississippi State and Missouri, so there’s a real potential that this is Bielema’s last win of 2017 as Arkansas’ head coach.

Depending on what happens with jobs like Florida, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Tennessee, though, maybe Bielema sticks around for another year so Long can hire his best candidate. Almost losing to an 1-8 Coastal Carolina team that’s currently in its first year of FBS existence, however, is not the best look.