Summer is just around the corner, but these college football head coaches are already feeling the heat as they enter the 2026 season on coaching hot seats. Here are the hottest seats among the four power conferences (SEC, Big Ten, ACC & Big 12):
10. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Lebby inherited a terrible situation in Starkville but you don’t last long in the SEC when your conference record is 1-15. While Ole Miss made it to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season, Mississippi State lost 8 of its last 9 games to end Year 2 of the Lebby Era with a thud. Bulldog fans are hoping Lebby can get Mississippi State back to where it was under under Mike Leach, featuring an exciting offense and at least competing with much bigger and storied programs.
9. Dabo Swinney, Clemson Tigers
It’s hard to believe Swinney is now on the hot seat at Clemson after he won two national titles in a span of three years in the late 2010s. But the last three years have been a struggle for Dabo, as the Tigers are just 26-14 over that span. A preseason Top 5 team last year that many predicted to win the national title, Clemson finished just 7-6 with a loss in the Pinstripe Bowl. Swinney needs to proof this fall he can still win big in the NIL and transfer portal era.
8. Bill Belichick, North Carolina Tar Heels
Belichick is the greatest NFL head coach of all-time but the jury is still out on “Chapel Bill.” Expectations were sky high when Belichick and his seven Super Bowl rings arrived on campus, only for the Tar Heels to have a woeful 4-8 season on the field and Belichick’s relationship with much-younger girlfriend Jordon Hudson turn into a major distraction. If North Carolina doesn’t make a bowl game in Year 2, Belichick and UNC might decide to “consciously uncouple.”
Related: Why North Carolina Tar Heels HC Bill Belichick Could Be in Trouble
7. Lincoln Riley, USC Trojans
USC’s 10-year, $110 million gamble on Lincoln Riley has yet to pay off. Entering his fifth season with the Trojans, Riley has yet to make the College Football Playoff and has made a routine of starting the season strong only to struggle down the stretch. With Riley proclaiming USC’s “championship window” is now open, anything less than a playoff berth will be viewed as a disappointment in Troy.
6. Shane Beamer, South Carolina Gamecocks
A year ago, Beamer seemed to be on the rise after a 9-win season in 2024 and a Top 15 team heading into the 2025 season. But a lot changed last fall, as the Gamecocks went 4-8 overall and just 1-7 in the SEC. You don’t get many mulligans as a head coach in the SEC, so Beamer needs to pull a 180 from last season to cool his seat off.
5. Bill O’Brien, Boston College Eagles
Boston College is a very difficult place to win but you have to at least be competitive. After a solid 7-6 season in O’Brien’s first year on the job, the Eagles were terrible last season and went 2-10 overall. At one point considered a top NFL head coach with the Houston Texans, O’Brien needs to pump some new life into this once-proud program ASAP.
4. Mike Locksley, Maryland Terrapins
Maryland has shown extreme patience with Locksley, who is entering his 8th season in College Park with just a 33-30 overall record. And after back-to-back 4-8 seasons, there’s not much optimism for the Terps, especially now that the Big Ten has surpassed the SEC as the best conference in college football.
3. Dave Aranda, Baylor Bears
Aranda’s time in Waco has been a rollercoaster. In 2021, the Bears went 12-2 and won the Sugar Bowl; but four of Aranda’s other five seasons at Baylor have ended in losing records. After losing 5 of his last 6 games to end last season, Aranda was lucky he even got another year as the Bears’ head man. Now it’s time for Aranda to reward Baylor’s faith in him by repeating his 2021 season.
2. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin Badgers
Fickell’s incredible success at Cincinnati has not translated at all in Madison. He became the hottest name in coaching after leading the Bearcats to the 2021 College Football Playoff but Fickell’s time at Wisconsin has been a disaster. Just 17-21 overall in four years at UW, Fickell needs a breakthrough season in the worst possible way this fall. Fickell will face a stiff test right away, as Wisconsin plays Notre Dame in Week 1 at Lambeau Field.
1. Mike Norvell, Florida State Seminoles
Florida State’s last two seasons have been an unmitigated disaster, as the Seminoles’ are just 7-17 in that span. Norvell’s buyout over $50 million is likely the only reason he hasn’t been fired yet, as FSU signed him to a huge extension after the ‘Noles 13-1 season in 2023. FSU has a tough start to the season, hosting SMU in Week 2 and playing at Alabama in Week 4. If Norvell misses a third bowl game in a row, not even a hefty buyout will save him this time.
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