5 college football coaches on the hot seat in 2026
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Every college football season comes with pressure. But for some head coaches, the 2026 season could be make-or-break.
Expectations have never been higher. With the expanded College Football Playoff, bigger NIL budgets, stronger recruiting classes and heavy use of the transfer portal, schools expect to win now rather than wait for long-term rebuilds.
A few coaches have already shown they can succeed, but haven’t been able to do it consistently. While others have had enough time to build their programs and are still falling short of expectations. A few are trying to recover from disappointing seasons, while others simply need to prove they can compete with the top teams in their conference.
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Several programs think they have the talent to challenge for conference titles and CFP spots this year. That means every game will matter, and every loss will bring more scrutiny. If those expectations aren’t met, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some schools make a coaching change once the season is over.
Following are five FBS coaches who begin the 2026 season on the hot seat.
5. Brent Venables, Oklahoma
Brent Venables enters the 2026 season with plenty to prove. Since returning to Oklahoma in 2022, he has helped the Sooners improve. Still, the expectations at one of college football’s biggest programs are much higher than simply being competitive.
Venables has a 32-20 overall record through four seasons. Since Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024, he is 8-8 in conference play. The Sooners took a big step forward in 2025, finishing 10-3 and earning the No. 8 seed in the expanded CFP. However, their first-round loss to Alabama showed they still have work to do before they can compete with the SEC’s top teams.
With quarterback John Mateer returning and an experienced defense back in 2026, expectations are even higher. If the Sooners miss the CFP or finish in the middle of the SEC again, questions about Venables’ future will only grow more.
4. Shane Beamer, South Carolina
Shane Beamer has become a popular figure at South Carolina, but he needs to turn that support into consistent results on the field.
Beamer enters the season with a 33-30 overall record and a 16-24 SEC record. The Gamecocks have pulled off some memorable upset wins during his time in charge, but they have been unable to put together a full season as a serious conference contender.
With the expanded CFP, many SEC programs think they have a real chance to compete for a playoff spot. South Carolina wants to be one of those teams. If the Gamecocks finish with six or seven wins again while other SEC schools continue to improve, athletic director Jeremiah Donati could start looking at other options. A season that keeps South Carolina in the SEC race until late November would go a long way toward easing the pressure on Beamer.
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3. Dave Aranda, Baylor
Dave Aranda has been on the hot seat before, and the 2026 season could decide whether he stays at Baylor. After leading the Bears to a Big 12 title and Sugar Bowl win in 2021, Aranda has watched the program struggle to reach that level again.
Aranda enters the year with a 36-37 overall record and a 24-30 mark in conference play. Baylor has been too inconsistent on both offense and defense, and the Bears have fallen behind several Big 12 rivals in recruiting.
The new-look Big 12 gives more teams a chance to compete for a conference championship, and Baylor is expected to be in that mix. If the Bears spend another season in the middle of the standings instead of competing near the top, the school could decide it’s time for a coaching change.
2. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Wisconsin hired Luke Fickell with the hope that he would turn the Badgers back into contenders. So far, things have not gone as planned.
Fickell built a strong reputation by leading the Cincinnati Bearcats to the CFP, but finding that same success in the Big Ten has been much more difficult. Wisconsin has struggled to compete with the conference’s top teams while adjusting to a new offensive system. Fickell’s teams are 16-21 in the past three seasons, including 10-17 in the Big Ten.
The Badgers have invested heavily in recruiting, NIL and facilities, so expectations are much higher than simply finishing in the middle of the conference. If Wisconsin misses another major bowl game or fails to compete for a playoff spot, Fickell could find himself out of time.
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1. Mike Norvell, Florida State
No coach enters the 2026 season under more pressure than Mike Norvell. Florida State looked like it had returned to the national spotlight a few years ago, but back-to-back disappointing seasons have changed the mood around the program.
Norvell begins his seventh season with a 38-34 overall record and a 22-26 ACC record. The recent struggles have erased much of the momentum he created during Florida State’s rebuild, which culminated in an ACC title and 13-1 record in 2023.
His contract buyout is still expensive, but that alone may not be enough to save his job if the Seminoles struggle again. Florida State expects to compete for ACC championships and CFP spots every year. Another disappointing season or another average finish could convince the administration that it’s time to move in a different direction.
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