Everybody talks about college football head coaches on the hot seat, but what about the coaches just one step away from that. Many seem to be settled into their roles, but they need to be careful. These are the 10 head coaches who could be on the hot seat by the end of 2024 if they aren’t careful.
10. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
While Kirk Ferentz’s model of consistency over 25 years with the Hawkeyes is something to admire, the Big Ten’s new TV deal won’t allow programs like Iowa to just be content with eight-win seasons on average and never shooting higher. He can’t fall back on just playing in the Big Ten West anymore either, so a bad year with a bad offense could hurt him.
9. Mack Brown, North Carolina
Once again, the Tar Heels are a program that may have been content with Mack Brown’s eight wins a season. However, the ACC is about to fold, and they are likely jockeying as much as anybody else to get into a major conference, and they have a strong hand to play. That combined with Brown’s age means a bad season could immediately put him on the hot seat.
8. Josh Heupel, Tennessee
Nobody blames Josh Heupel right now for a drop-off last year, going from 11-2 in 2022 to 9-4 in 2023, but with Nico Iamaleava stepping in at quarterback, the college football world expects him to return to form. If the Vols’ offense doesn’t, then consensus will be that he’s been figured out, and that could be devastating for him entering 2025.
7. Deion Sanders, Colorado
Going 4-8 was actually a dramatic overachievement by Coach Prime and the Buffaloes last year, but this past offseason, they did a ton of extra chirping and added even more talent. With his use of the transfer portal and the move to the Big 12, Deion Sanders should be able to get this team to a bowl game. If that doesn’t happen, chatter will get louder this offseason because of all his talk.
6. Mark Stoops, Kentucky
The dean of SEC coaches has made the Wildcats the Iowa of the SEC in football, but Mark Stoops just had to vacate 10 wins, pushing his record in 11 years there to under .500, and now he doesn’t have the SEC East to fall back on. As the Louisville Cardinals get more dangerous, Stoops’ schedule gets tougher too. He could take a leap and put UK in the CFP talk, but he could also fall to 5-7.
5. Brent Venables, Oklahoma
One decent year with the Sooners in a Big 12 conference that wasn’t that good is not enough for us to believe Brent Venables has figured things out. If not for the Florida Gators, OU may have the toughest schedule in college football this year, and they have to navigate joining the SEC. Things could go south for Venables fast if he’s not careful.
4. Jake Dickert, Washington State
Taking over amidst the COVID issue bought Jake Dickert some time with the Cougars, but he had a Heisman candidate last year in Cam Ward and still finished 5-7. Entering his fourth year there, third full year, with a 15-16 record leaves a lot to be desired, and with Ward gone, they could collapse, at which point he’ll enter 2025 on the hot seat.
3. Sonny Dykes, TCU
The luckiest run in college football history bought Sonny Dykes some time with the Horned Frogs, but they went 5-7 last year. Remember, he made an early splash with the Cal Golden Bears too before faltering and then getting fired. Dykes will last until 2025 no matter what, but he could be on the hot seat if he regresses again.
2. Brian Kelly, LSU
Winning the West his first year with the Tigers was impressive, but Brian Kelly took a step back in 2023 and did that despite a Heisman winner in Jayden Daniels. His mismanagement of the defense is concerning, and LSU didn’t open up the checkbook for him to go 10-4 and then 10-3. He’s got to be in the national championship conversation this year, or there will be trouble.
1. Lincoln Riley, USC
That LSU-USC game to open the year will be to determine which coach is on the hot seat. Paul Finebaum says Lincoln Riley did the worst coaching job in college football last year. I won’t go that far, but Riley did drop off, losing five regular season games with a returning Heisman winner. Now, Caleb Williams is gone, and he still cares nothing about defense. He should maybe already be on the hot seat.
