RAZORBACKS HIRE MORRIS AS NEW COACH

» Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. hired SMU’s Chad Morris on Wednesday, ending nearly two weeks of uncertainty after Bret Bielema’s firing moments after the season ended. The 49-year-old Morris inherits a program in disarray, though his arrival — along with the hiring earlier in the week of new athletic director Hunter Yurachek — represents a fresh start for a program desperately in need of it.

“The future is tremendously bright at the University of Arkansas with the addition of Chad Morris,” Yurachek said. “I am confident that Chad will bring an exciting brand of football, phenomenal student-athletes and championships to Fayetteville, and do it all with high integrity.”

Morris agreed to a sixyear contract worth $3.5 million annually. He leaves the Mustangs after agreeing to an extension through the 2023 season last year.

His contract also calls for incentives to be established that could net Morris up to an additional $1.2 million annually. He’ll also receive retention bonuses of $500,000 in 2019, 2021 and 2023 if he’s still employed at Arkansas — and there have been no major NCAA rules violations.

Player-of-year finalists announced.

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, Stanford running back Bryce Love and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson are the finalists for The Associated Press college football player of the year. The winner will be announced Thursday.

Footnotes.

Pittsburgh signed coach Pat Narduzzi to a new contract that will keep him with the Panthers through the 2024 season. … Kansas State offensive coordinator Dana Dimel was named coach at UTEP. … Mike Bloomgren was hired as the coach at Rice. … Weber State signed coach Jay Hill to an extension through 2023.