FAYETTEVILLE - Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville flew back to eastern Alabama on Friday and was presented with a new contract offer, but he's still a candidate for the vacant head coaching position at Arkansas, a source close to Tuberville said.

Tuberville had been on a previously scheduled hunting trip in Arkansas with members of his coaching staff on Thursday and early Friday. While the Camden native was in his home state, media reports in Arkansas suggested he would be named the next coach of the Razorbacks.

A source close to Tuberville denied those reports, while UA Chancellor John White declined to address what he termed "rumors."

Tuberville dodged reporters after his plane touched down in Auburn, where he was returning to scout a football game on Friday night.

A number of newspapers in Alabama reported Auburn has offered Tuberville a two-year contract extension that would include a $ 200, 000-a-year raise and run through 2013.

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The Huntsville (Ala. ) Times, citing sources close to the negotiations, reported that the total contract would be worth $ 19. 8 million with an average of $ 3. 3 million in annual pay. The Mobile (Ala. ) Press-Register reported that Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs made the same offer to Tuberville orally on Tuesday.

Tuberville has 30 days to accept or reject the extension, according to his current contract, and Auburn officials have given him a week to accept the financial terms.

Auburn officials said Thursday and Friday that Arkansas has not asked permission to speak with Tuberville about the job opening with the Razorbacks. Earlier this week, outgoing Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles said the time-honored agreement of seeking formal permission to talk to coaches has been abandoned in recent years with the proliferation of agents.

Memphis-based agent Jimmy Sexton represents both Houston Nutt, who vacated his job at Arkansas on Monday and reached an agreement with Ole Miss later that night, and Tuberville.

Tuberville, 53, might be waiting to see what happens with the LSU job after today's SEC Championship Game between LSU and Tennessee. LSU Coach Les Miles is expected to talk with Michigan officials about their opening soon after the game, and Tuberville would be a likely candidate to take the reins in Baton Rouge if Miles bolts.

Speaking on his weekly radio show in an interview recorded Thursday morning, Tuberville said Auburn fans "don't need to panic or anything," and "I'm not looking to go anywhere."

Jeff Long, the incoming athletic director at Arkansas, has spoken to reporters only once since Monday and has vowed to conduct his search in secrecy.

A source close the UA athletic department said a hire is not likely before Sunday.

A quirk in a UA Web site or a search engine offered up a moment of comic relief Friday. A fan in Arkansas noticed that when the term "Hogwired. com" was typed into a Google search, the first item that appeared was "University of Arkansas" in underlined type, followed by "Coach Bellotti" and various other words.

Mike Bellotti is, of course, the University of Oregon coach and is not considered a candidate for the job at Arkansas.

"I wasn't aware of that," said Kevin Trainor, UA associate athletic director for external affairs. "I can tell you it's a sign of absolutely nothing."

Oregon's Bellotti felt the same way. He was shown the search results after the Ducks' walkthrough for today's "Civil War" against Oregon State and was asked if he had any idea what it was about.

"No idea," Bellotti told the Eugene (Ore. ) Register-Guard. "None."

A Web hosting company called XOS handles the sites for both the Razorbacks and the Ducks, which might play a role in the mysterious "Bellotti" appearance.

As for Arkansas' realistic coaching search, Oakland Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin continues to be considered a potential candidate. And in North Carolina, there is still a feeling that Tar Heels Coach Butch Davis, a Springdale native and former Arkansas defensive lineman, is not completely out of the picture for the Razorbacks.