Sam Pittman’s job was in jeopardy long before the leaves changed this fall.

But look at him now. The Arkansas head coach left the field at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis with a comfortable 39-26 victory over Texas Tech. It was a great end to a tumultuous season for Pittman and gave the Razorbacks a 7-6 winning record that they could enjoy all winter.

But to Pittman, it meant the world. After the Hogs posted seven wins this season, the fifth-year head coach received an automatic one-year contract extension and a $250,000 raise, effective Jan. 1.

So there was a lot more at stake for Sam Pittman on Friday night than just a winning season or a losing season. Fayetteville has had job security for longer, and that job security was anything but secure earlier this fall. And there was also a financial reward, so Pittman, 63, has a lot to toast on New Year’s Eve.

Luckily for Pittman, Texas Tech is a member of a Power 5 conference, in this case the Big 12, otherwise committing to the seventh win wouldn’t matter. In this case, the Red Raiders came into the game with a solid 8-4 record, so this was a no-brainer as Arkansas entered Friday night’s game as slight underdogs.

What a difference a few months make to Pittman.

Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.