FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. ? Houston Nutt rejected Nebraska’s $2 million coaching offer, saying strong family ties and a job left undone kept him at Arkansas.

“I could not take my family, myself, and get on that plane,” Nutt said at a news conference Saturday. “My heart was here.”

Nutt, teary at times, said he was flattered by Nebraska’s offer, but it was best for him to remain in his home state.

“For six long years we’ve poured our heart into this program and we feel that our work isn’t finished,” Nutt said. “I know we can do better. So many times I think we’re not far off.”

Nebraska fired coach Frank Solich in November after a 9-3 regular season. The Cornhuskers finished 10-3, beating Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl under interim coach Bo Pelini.

Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson said Saturday the head coaching job hadn’t been offered to anyone yet and he simply wanted Nutt to come to campus for a formal interview.

Pederson also said reports Nutt was offered a package worth up to $2.5 million were false.

“I about fell out of my chair when I read that,” Pederson said.

Nutt confirmed that there had been no offer on the table.

Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt, left, talks at a news conference as athletic director Frank Broyles listens. Nutt spoke Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.

“He didn’t actually ever offer me the job, but I’m protecting him a little bit, too,” Nutt said. “Things would have gotten very difficult if I had gotten on that plane.”

Details of the new contract at Arkansas were not announced, but Nutt said the deal was worth close to $1.5 million annually, almost doubling his salary.

“They’re going to take care of me. There are some things still being worked out,” Nutt said.