Top 5 College Football Coaches “On the Hot Seat” for the 2025-26 Season.

The college football season starts on Saturday, August 23rd. That’s just 66 days away (as of this writing).

The coaching carousel ran its course in the offseason, with big names like Rich Rodriguez heading back to West Virginia. Dan Mullen leaving the booth to take the job at UNLV. Bronco Mendenhall going to Utah State. Of course, the one that got all the headlines was Bill Belichick leaving the NFL and taking the job at North Carolina.

So, we now look ahead to the 2025-26 season, and which coaches are or could be coaching for their jobs.

Luke Fickell – Wisconsin – (12-13 overall. 8-10 in the Big Ten).

I was all on this train back in 2023 when he was named the Badgers head coach. After compiling a 57-18 record at Cincinnati and taking them to the College Football Playoff. That success just hasn’t translated in Madison.

Wisconsin missed a bowl game for the first time since 2001, after going only 5-7 last year, and is only 12-13 in his 2 seasons. Getting smoked by rivals Iowa and Minnesota doesn’t make it any easier.

The alumni and the fans are not going to tolerate another losing season and are already demanding action. He must at the very minimum make a bowl game, or he’s getting canned.

Hugh Freeze – Auburn – (11-14 overall, 5-11 in the SEC).

Unlike at up north, I didn’t like this hire at all in 2023. So far, I’ve been proven right.

They always have talent at Auburn, and for a team with the history and traditions this is unacceptable to their alumni and fanbase.

There is a bit of hope here though. Freeze had great success in the transfer portal, landing QB Jackson Arnold and the #1 WR in Eric Singleton Jr. They return almost their entire OL intact as well.

While it would be nice to beat Alabama and/or Georgia, it isn’t a necessity right now, just don’t get clobbered again. A bowl game is an absolute must for this team.

Mike Norvell – Florida State – (33-27 overall, 20-20 in the ACC).

You do not go from an undefeated 13-0, to a 1-11 against FBS teams the very next season and think your butt ain’t on the line.

The college football world just doesn’t work that way.

They’ve been recruiting as well as any program in the country and have the NIL money to spend in the portal, which they do.

Something just isn’t right in that locker room down in Tallahassee.

Norvell brought in 2 brand new coordinators in Gus Malzahn (OC) and Tony White (DC).

They hit the portal hard, getting 4 new starters along the offensive line, 2 new starters at wide receiver Duce Robinson (USC) and Squirrel While (TENN). They brought in another transfer quarterback in Tommy Castellanos (Boston College), who worked with Malzahn when both were at UCF.

They MUST win at least one rivalry game (CLEM, MIA, UF) and make a bowl game, or he’ll be unemployed before leaving the locker room on November 29th.

Lincoln Riley – USC – (26-14 overall, 17-10 in conference).

Since quarterback Caleb Williams went to the NFL, Riley only has a record of 18-12 overall.

8-5 in 2023 and 7-6 in 2024.

USC has one of the best and richest histories and traditions in all of college football. Who doesn’t get goosebumps watching Traveler gallop onto the field. The Trojan Warrior piercing the turf at midfield with his sword.

The USC alumni has proven that they have NO QUALMS about paying out a “buyout penalty” and Riley’s is reportedly $90 million dollars.

Riley must win 9 games, make a bowl game, and beat UCLA if he’s going to keep his job.

Brent Venables – Oklahoma – (22-17 overall, 17-10 in conference).

Like Luke Fickell, I was all about this hire by the Sooners. Venables was a great defensive coordinator at Clemson, and deserved his shot.

Nobody said the transition from the Big-12 to the SEC was going to be easy. The 6-7 record last season, gave the Sooners 2 losing seasons in the last 3 years, and they hadn’t had a losing season since 1998 (5-6).

Fairly or not, Venables and Oklahoma’s successes and failures are directly tied to the burnt orange and white of Texas.

The Longhorns success since joining the SEC really puts the pressure on Brent in his 4th season at the helm.

To keep his job, I believe it starts with Oklahoma beating Michigan at home in Week 2, and somehow find a way to win 8 games, and make a bowl.

Question of the day – Which head coach do you think has the hottest seat in college football?

– by Sean McKenzie.

Follow me on X (Twitter) @JoeAmerican6771 and @allsportsfancom.

Stats and information courtesy of…..NCAA, ESPN, Lindy’s, sports-reference, and Athlon Sports.

Pictures courtesy of…..on3, MSN, LATimes, and wallpapercave.