USA Today Puts 11 College Football Coaches On The 'Hot Seat'

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A dozen college football head coaches were fired mid-season in 2025 and several more got the boot once the regular season was over. As the 2026 season approaches, USA Today has tried to identify which coaches are most likely to get axed if they fail to meet expectations.

USA Today's Blake Toppmeyer came up with a list of 11 coaches who are firmly on the hot seat (with some in more danger than others), along with a few others who were worth "keeping an eye on."

The six coaches that Toppmeyer labeled "scalding hot seat" were Wisconsin's Luke Fickell, Florida State's Mike Norvell, Baylor's Dave Aranda, Maryland's Mike Locksley, South Carolina's Shane Beamer and – most notably by far – North Carolina's Bill Belichick.

"Belichick hasn’t just been bad for North Carolina. He’s been a national embarrassment. There was his bizarre interview with CBS before he ever coached a game. There’s the persistent drama with Belichick’s 25-year-old girlfriend, aka his “Muse,” who’s waged a crusade against the university. Then, Belichick’s GM got placed on administrative leave. Belichick might be the GOAT in the NFL, but he’s a joke in college football, and it’s hard to justify playing the long game with a 74-year-old coach. Either he wins now, or North Carolina can fork over $10 million to fire him after this season and cut its losses," Toppmeyer wrote when explaining the addition of Belichick to the list.

'Could Get Hot'

Toppmeyer listed another five head coaches that he considers not quite as big of a risk for dismissal as the other six, but potentially on the outs if things fall apart midseason. That list consists of Cincinnati's Scott Satterfield, Mississippi State's Jeff Lebby, Boston College's Bill O'Brien, MTSU's Derek Mason and USC head coach Lincoln Riley.

"USC pushed in a big stack of chips to plunder Riley from Oklahoma. What’s it got to show for its investment? No playoff appearances, and Riley’s best season was his first, when the Trojans played in the Pac-12. USC is a private school, so Riley’s buyout is not public, but it’s believed to be a whopper. That may keep him off the scalding seat, but he’s facing undeniable pressure in Year 5. Perhaps, he’s ready to kick into gear with an experienced team. No team returned more starters than USC," Toppmeyer wrote.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 27: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans reacts after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Trojans defeated the Aggies 35-31. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)David Becker/Getty Images

There were also three other coaches that Toppmeyer labeled "fine, but keep an eye on." Those three are Clemson's Dabo Swinney, Nebraska's Matt Rhule and Oklahoma's Brent Venables.

There's always plenty of surprises of course. Who would have predicted last year that James Franklin would get the boot and that all of that craziness with Sherrone Moore would happen a few weeks after the season?

Will anyone from this list wind up unemployed before the end of the 2026 season?

This story was originally published by The Spun on Aug 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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