It's Nutt-Cuttin' Time...

... in Arkansas:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Arkansas head football coach Houston Nutt will not return in 2008, 40/29 News has learned.

Multiple sources have confirmed with 40/29 sports director Mark Lericos that Nutt will be leaving at the end of the season. Sources could not confirm whether Nutt would offer his resignation, be fired or possibly accept another position.

There is no word of any plans for an official announcement. The Razorbacks still have two games left to play this season.

More here. No official announcement yet, but when your hometown paper leads up a story with your name followed by the words "Stick A Fork In Him," it's pretty much over.

UPDATE: Or not. In Saturday's Ark Dem-Gaz:

While reports and rumors flew Friday on the Internet and TV and radio that Houston Nutt won't return to coach the Razorbacks next season, Nutt himself spent the day prepping Arkansas for today's 1 p.m. SEC West game with Mississippi State in Little Rock.

" I haven't gone anywhere, " Nutt said Friday by phone in Little Rock. " I've got these games to coach. And we're recruiting. That's what I am concerned with. "
...
Tysen Kendig, the vice chancellor of University Relations, issued a statement Friday night reiterating what White said Thursday regarding Nutt's future and also chastising some of the rumors and reports Friday.

At Thursday's announcement that the UA is merging its Razorback and Lady Razorback athletic departments, White said he always discusses the football program after the season with retiring athletics director Frank Broyles and in the meantime supports Nutt and his staff for today's game and the Nov. 23 game at LSU which concludes the regular season.

" It seems some media outlets chose to falsely legitimize baseless rumors with unknown details from unnamed sources without first seeking the benefit of fact from the University, " Kendig's statement read. " The fact is, there has been no determination regarding the status of Houston Nutt nor would there be until the normal review process for coaches takes place after the season. "

Kendig said White affirmed this Thursday and that " nothing has changed in regard to the coach's status with the Razorback football team since that time. Reports to the contrary are misleading and irresponsible. "

So there you are.

I think Nutt is toast at Arkansas, but things obviously aren't as cut-and-dried as they seemed about 18 hours ago.