Hot Seat Rankings: Pressure Mounts for Power-Conference Coaches

Every college football coach faces pressure to win, but a select few are under intense scrutiny heading into the 2026 season. With widespread coaching changes in recent years, over half of FBS coaches have stable jobs, but three power-conference coaches have earned the hottest possible seat on our 0-to-5 scale, with a 5.0 hot-seat rating average.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell, Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, and Baylor coach Dave Aranda have received a unanimous 5.0 hot-seat rating average from CBS Sports experts. This rating indicates that these coaches face significant pressure to improve their teams’ performance. The stakes are high, and recent history shows that coaches with high hot-seat ratings are more likely to be fired.

Last season, five coaches with a hot-seat rating of 4.1 or higher were let go during or after the season. However, some coaches, like Oklahoma’s Brent Venables and Arizona’s Jay Johnson, managed to reverse the narrative around their tenure with impressive performances. It’s worth noting that a high hot-seat rating does not guarantee doom, but it’s a clear indicator of the pressure these coaches face.

Coaches on the Hot Seat

• Florida State coach Mike Norvell (5.0)
• Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell (5.0)
• Baylor coach Dave Aranda (5.0)
• Maryland coach Mike Locksley (4.9)
• South Carolina coach Shane Beamer (4.3)
• North Carolina coach Bill Belichick (4.1)

Coaches like Hugh Freeze, Sam Pittman, and Mike Gundy were shown the door last season, but some, like Oklahoma’s Brent Venables and Arizona’s Jay Johnson, managed to turn their seasons around. The hot-seat rankings serve as a warning to these coaches: perform or face the consequences.

Expert Insights

CBS Sports experts were asked to rate each coach’s job security on a scale of 0 to 5. The ratings were then averaged to determine the hot-seat ranking. While a high hot-seat rating doesn’t guarantee doom, it’s a clear indication of the pressure these coaches face. The experts’ unanimous 5.0 rating for Norvell, Fickell, and Aranda drives home the urgency these coaches face to improve their teams’ performance.

The hot-seat rankings are a valuable tool for coaches, teams, and fans alike. They provide insight into the pressure and expectations surrounding each coach’s job. With the 2026 season just around the corner, the hot-seat rankings will be a topic of discussion throughout the year.

Stable Jobs and Pressure

More than half of FBS coaches have stable jobs, but a few are under intense scrutiny. Coaches like Norvell, Fickell, and Aranda face significant pressure to improve their teams’ performance. The hot-seat rankings serve as a warning to these coaches: perform or face the consequences.

Coaches like Hugh Freeze, Sam Pittman, and Mike Gundy were shown the door last season, but some, like Oklahoma’s Brent Venables and Arizona’s Jay Johnson, managed to turn their seasons around. The hot-seat rankings are a valuable tool for coaches, teams, and fans alike, providing insight into the pressure and expectations surrounding each coach’s job.