LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Donald Bobbitt, the president of the University of Arkansas system, said Tuesday he is retiring after leading the state’s largest university system for nearly 13 years.

Bobbitt notified the university’s Board of Trustees that he plans to retire Jan. 15, or earlier, if a successor is selected before that date. Kelly Eichler, the board’s chair, said she planned to call a meeting in the coming days to discuss a plan for a national search for Bobbitt’s replacement.

Bobbitt said he was grateful to serve with the colleagues and staff throughout the UA system, which includes the flagship university in Fayetteville.

“Each and every day they carry out the complex responsibilities of their position, keeping first and forefront the mission of this system to serve Arkansas and its citizens,” Bobbitt said in a statement. “It has equally been an honor to serve the many students across the UA System and help them achieve the dream of improving their lives through higher education.”

Bobbitt has served as UA system president since Nov. 1, 2011. He succeeded B. Alan Sugg, who led the system for 21 years. Bobbitt began his first faculty job as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1985.

Bobbitt oversaw an expansion of the system during his tenure, including the addition of the UA-Pulaski Technical College and UA-Rich Mountain Community College in 2016 and the pending addition of East Arkansas Community College later this year.

“Dr. Bobbitt has been a truly outstanding leader for the UA System and higher education in our state for more than a decade,” Eichler said in a statement. “His steadfast, calm approach to the role of president has not only provided a steady hand at the helm of the system, but it has also allowed other excellent leaders to emerge across our campuses.”

Bobbitt’s contract was extended last year, despite facing opposition over his handling of a potential affiliation between the system and the University of Phoenix, one of the nation’s largest for-profit college companies. The board ultimately voted against an affiliation with Phoenix.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas secretary of state continues to maintain his rejection of the signatures to place an abortion amendment on the November 2024 ballot was correct.

Secretary of State John Thurston responded to a Thursday letter from Arkansans for Limited Government (AFLG) on Monday, stating “My position remains unchanged.”

At issue are the paperwork accompanying the ballot petition signatures and the use of paid canvassers by AFLG. In this letter Monday, Thurston stated the group had failed to turn in all of the required paperwork accompanying the signatures and had not turned in the paperwork at the same time it turned in the signatures, two points of failure to comply with the law. 

Failure on these two points led to AFLG’s submission being rejected, Thurston’s letter stated.

AFLG turned in 101,525  signatures at the secretary of state’s office on the July 5 deadline to place access to abortion before voters on the November ballot. By state law, to place an amendment on the ballot requires 90,704 signatures of voters supporting it, certified by the secretary.

On July 10, Thurston sent a letter to the group stating that its signatures were rejected in accordance with state law. The letter stated that AFLG has used some paid canvassers, but it did not include paperwork naming the canvassers and affirming they had followed the law for gathering signatures.

Because paid canvassers had gathered 14,143 signatures, those were now invalid, the letter stated, meaning AFLG had turned in 87,832 signatures, a number below the required threshold.

AFLG followed up with a letter stating it had submitted the required paperwork in June and stating the Secretary of State is required to count all the signatures while the paperwork is being disputed. Thurston refuted this in the Monday letter, stating that the paperwork must be turned in at the same time as the signatures.

AFLG was contacted for a response to Thurston’s letter, but one has not been received prior to this story being published. If a response is made this story will be updated. 

The Battle Line game may end up drawing the line.

Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz, quarterback Brady Cook, wide receiver Luther Burden III and defensive tackle Kristian Williams will speak Tuesday at SEC media days in Dallas. Later this month, they’ll report for fall camp with the rest of their MU teammates. Then, in just 44 days, Mizzou will kick off its 2024 season at home against Murray State on Thursday, Aug. 29.

This season teases a potential Missouri run at the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff. If MU does the necessary work — meaning a maximum of two regular-season losses — there’s a chance all that stands between the Tigers and a nod from the CFP committee is a win against Arkansas on Nov. 30 on Faurot Field.

Mizzou ran the Hogs out of their own stadium last year, and there’s since been more than a few changes in Fayetteville, Arkansas … and perhaps more to come. Mizzou-Arkansas is set for Saturday, Nov. 30, in Columbia, which will be the second time the game hasn’t been played on Black Friday since 2014.

Here’s what to know about Arkansas’ offseason, including key additions and losses, coaching changes and playmakers to watch when the Razorbacks visit Columbia to close the regular season:

Who are the opposing names to know when Missouri football hosts Arkansas?

Quarterback: Taylen Green is the newcomer at QB in Fayetteville, transferring in from Boise State to replace UCF-bound KJ Jefferson. Green, who stands at 6 foot 6, is a dual-threat quarterback who has rushed for 19 total touchdowns and an average of more than 500 yards per season over the past couple years as the Broncos’ No. 1. He has completed 59.4% of his career pass attempts and threw for 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

Offensive playmakers: Ja’Quinden Jackson was Arkansas’ marquee grab out of the portal this offseason, transferring in from Utah after rushing for 797 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.

Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong is back after a productive 764-yard, five-touchdown season in an otherwise ineffective UA pass-catching corps. Another in-house talent, redshirt senior Tyrone Broden, had a standout spring for the Razorbacks, per local reporting from the Southwest Times Record, and appears set for an uptick in reps in 2024.

Defensive playmakers: Jaylon Braxton returns after a standout freshman campaign at cornerback in 2023, when he notched eight pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble that he recovered. He’ll lead a secondary that is a little light on returning reps.

Edge rusher Landon Jackson is the clear leader along the defensive line for the Razorbacks, with 13.5 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks, on his statline from last season. Albany transfer Anton Juncaj, who notched 21.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks at the FCS level last season, ought to bolster that room, too.

What did the offseason look like for Razorbacks?

Key additions: Taylen Green (QB); Ja’Quinden Jackson (RB); Fernando Carmona (LT); Anton Juncaj (EDGE); Anthony Switzer (S); Xavien Sorey (LB)

Key losses: KJ Jefferson (QB); Raheim Sanders (RB); Chris Paul Jr. (LB); Dwight McGlothern (CB); Cam Little (PK); Trajan Jeffcoat (DE); Jaheim Thomas (LB); Jaylon Braxton (CB); Alfahiym Walcott (DB)

Key coaching changes: Bobby Petrino (OC, Texas A&M) 

The Arkansas offense’s progression will be worth keeping an eye on with Bobby Petrino, somewhat surprisingly, back coaching in Fayetteville, this time as the Hogs’ offensive coordinator.

After last year’s regular-season mauling by Mizzou, which capped a 4-8 campaign, it was somewhat of a surprise to see the Arkansas coaching staff stay largely in-tact. Another poor year, and that more than likely won’t be the case. For now, Sam Pittman is still Arkansas’ coach. Whether that’s the case when Mizzou hosts the Razorbacks is firmly in the ‘to-be-determined’ category.

It was a busy offseason for Arkansas, with 21 total players transferring in and 34 heading the other way.

The Razorbacks lost their two leading linebackers, Chris Paul Jr. and Jaheim Thomas, to Ole Miss and Wisconsin, respectively. Georgia reserve Xavien Sorey transferred in, providing a much-needed boost to the room. 

Arkansas also lost a lot of production at defensive back with three players receiving NFL offers, with the cornerback position looking particularly light on quality depth heading into 2024.

Early forecast for Mizzou vs. Arkansas

This was Missouri’s easiest game on the schedule last season. The Tigers had their starters out by the beginning of the fourth quarter, with a 41-point cushion already built on the road and a New Year’s Six Bowl clinched.

Will there be a repeat?

It’s tough to see the Razorbacks’ offense being as stale as it was last season — Arkansas ranked second-last in the SEC last season in total offense, leading to the firing of then-OC Dan Enos — with Petrino now on board. 

Arkansas has plenty of holes to fill on a defense that allowed the third-most points per game (27.9) in the conference last season, and there will be a lot of wait-and-see involved as to how it plugs some bigger gaps.

Mizzou will likely be a favorite, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the coaching situation in Fayetteville. A potential interim might make the regular-season finale a de-facto tryout for 2025 in what will be MU’s last chance to impress the CFP committee.

More: Missouri football preseason preview: Is Mississippi State a threat to MU in late November?

More: Three transfers who could help define Missouri football’s success in 2024 season