Nine coaching jobs are already open across college football. The carousel is spinning faster as programs calculate buyouts and consider their next moves.
1. Billy Napier — Florida
Brett McMurphy of On3 reports Billy Napier has been fired on Sunday.
A late Mississippi State interception may have delayed what seemed inevitable in Gainesville. Some reports suggested a move could happen regardless of Saturday’s outcome.
The Gators have a bye before facing Georgia in Jacksonville on November 1st. But patience in Gainesville has run out.
2. Luke Fickell — Wisconsin
Back-to-back shutouts in Madison.
A 37-0 defeat to Iowa last week didn’t end Fickell’s tenure immediately. These weren’t just losses — they were complete surrenders.
3. Mike Norvell — Florida State
Four straight losses after falling to Stanford 20-13 in Palo Alto.
How did this team beat Alabama?
4. Hugh Freeze — Auburn
At 3-4 with four consecutive losses, Freeze faces an uncertain future. This could end next Saturday if Auburn falls in Fayetteville.
Any scenario where he’s coaching Auburn next season seems unlikely.
5. Major Applewhite — South Alabama
Fans expected a playoff berth before the season started. The Jaguars have stayed competitive throughout most games.
Six straight losses tell the real story.
6. Brian Kelly — LSU
If this is playoffs-or-bust for Kelly, the Tigers are headed toward bust. LSU isn’t terrible, but 8-4 or 9-3 seems more realistic than postseason play.
The Tigers need to win all five remaining games to reach the playoffs. They start with Texas A&M at home, then travel to Alabama.
Not exactly an easy path.
7. Bill O’Brien — Boston College
Six straight losses after falling to UConn yesterday. Up next: at Louisville, then home games against Notre Dame, SMU, and Georgia Tech.
The ending seems predictable.
8. Bill Belichick — North Carolina
The Tar Heels beat Charlotte and Richmond.
That’s something.
9. Jeff Choate — Nevada
A 3-10 first season followed by a 1-6 start in year two.
That might be enough for Choate.
10. Mark Stoops — Kentucky
This could happen sooner than expected. The Wildcats have lost nine straight SEC games dating back to last season.
The next three games will decide Stoops’ future and bowl eligibility. Kentucky probably needs two wins among home vs. Tennessee, at Auburn, and home against Florida.
11. Dell McGee — Georgia State
After going 3-9 in 2024, the Panthers have fallen to 1-6 this season. Yesterday’s loss to rival Georgia Southern doesn’t help McGee’s prospects.
He’ll need several victories to keep his job.
12. Derek Mason — Middle Tennessee State
Similar situation to McGee and Applewhite. A tough first year gets understood, but no improvement in year two makes school presidents restless.
MTSU is 1-5 coming out of their bye week. They face Conference USA’s best with Delaware, Jacksonville State, and FIU ahead.
13. Shane Beamer — South Carolina
This may be working out exactly how Virginia Tech hoped. Beamer is a good coach in a tough spot in Columbia.
A split with the Gamecocks — and a new home in Blacksburg — could benefit everyone.
14. Thomas Hammock — Northern Illinois
At 1-6, that win over Notre Dame in 2024 feels like ancient history.
15. Greg Schiano — Rutgers
Winning at Rutgers is difficult for anyone. But going 13-36 in conference play during Schiano’s second stint raises questions about whether the gap is widening.
16. Scotty Walden — UTEP
Got a needed win against Sam Houston State, but things remain dicey in El Paso.
17. Jay Norvell — Colorado State
In year four, Norvell is 18-26 overall. Yesterday’s loss to Hawaii dropped the Rams to 2-5 this season.
They probably don’t need bowl eligibility but definitely need positive signs in the final five games.
18. Dave Doeren — North Carolina State
Year 13 continues what we’ve seen before. Reliable but unexciting.
Raleigh needs excitement, not another 7-5 bowl game in December.
19. Joe Moorhead — Akron
Moorhead should be much higher on this list. At 10-34 overall and 2-6 in year four, there’s little reason to believe he’ll lead the Zips next season.
20. Chris Creighton — Eastern Michigan
One of college football’s best personalities has spent 12 years in Ypsilanti. He’s shown loyalty to the school.
It’ll be interesting to see if they allow Creighton to turn things around after a tough season.
21. Brent Venables — Oklahoma
Huge win yesterday over South Carolina. But the Sooners face a brutal finish: Ole Miss at home, road trips to Tennessee and Alabama, then Missouri and LSU in Norman.
22. Jeff Lebby — Mississippi State
Just 6-13 in year two. The Bulldogs have improved over 2024.
Will there be patience in Starkville?
23. Troy Calhoun — Air Force
He’s been a consistent winner, but it might be time for change. The Falcons are 2-5 with Army visiting after the bye.
24. Jonathan Smith — Michigan State
Going 3-10 in Big Ten play could lead to an early exit in East Lansing.
25 (Tie). Joe Harasymiak — UMass and Phil Longo — Sam Houston State
First-year coaches were left off this list with two exceptions.
Avoiding an 0-12 debut helps if you plan on staying another year. Each coach has five more chances at that first win.
