"I'm very pleased with the contract extension agreement that we reached," Bowden said in a university release.

Bowden was mentioned as a candidate for the Arkansas position in several newspapers published Tuesday. Houston Nutt resigned as the Razorbacks' coach last week and accepted the job at Mississippi.

Details of the contract extension were not immediately available. Bowden and athletic director Terry Don Phillips were out of town, but the coach planned a news conference at the school later today.

Bowden has a 69-41 record in nine seasons at Clemson. He had three years remaining on his contract, and Phillips said about a week ago that the coach would be offered an extension.

Bowden said Sunday he would "stay as long as they want me."

The school last restructured Bowden's deal in 2003, when the Tigers saved the coach's job with a four-game win streak to close a 9-4 season.

The victories included Bowden's first win over his father Bobby's team, Florida State, a 63-17 drubbing of South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium and a defeat of top-10 Tennessee in the Peach Bowl.

Bowden received an extension through 2010. It did not include a raise, but hefty penalties if Bowden or the school wanted to end the relationship.

This season, it would cost Clemson $2.5 million if it chose to fire Bowden. The coach would have to pay just as much if he left for another school.