Arkansas' Nutt offered Nebraska job

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Houston Nutt of Arkansas was offered the coaching job at Nebraska, and the Razorbacks were awaiting his decision.

"He's just trying to decide now and weighing all options," Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles said Friday. "I had a nice visit with him and I was kind of encouraged that he might stay."

Nebraska is looking to replace Frank Solich, who was fired Nov. 29 with a 9-3 record. Cornhuskers athletic director Steve Pederson has said he thought the program was slipping in stature compared to its Big 12 rivals.

Nebraska sports information director Chris Anderson said she couldn't confirm or deny if an offer had been made to Nutt.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders turned down the Nebraska job, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said Thursday.

Broyles said Nutt, who was in Fayetteville, didn't give him a time frame for his decision. But Broyles expected one would be made Friday or Saturday.

"He hadn't called me yet, so they've been visiting with him, too, so we'll see what happens," Broyles said.

Arkansas finished 9-4 after beating Missouri 27-14 in the Independence Bowl on Wednesday. Besides beating Missouri from the Big 12, the Razorbacks also defeated Texas this year, giving Nutt wins over two teams that beat Nebraska this year.

Broyles gave Nebraska permission to speak with Nutt after Arkansas' victory over Missouri.

Broyles did not provide specifics about any counteroffers he might have made during his phone conversation with Nutt on Friday. Nutt receives an annual compensation package of about $800,000; Solich made about $1.1 million a year at Nebraska.

Broyles said he has two or three possible coaching candidates if he loses Nutt, but he didn't disclose names.

Nutt has a 48-27 record over six years at Arkansas.