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Jackson's college football head coaches on the hot seat in 2025. Which CFB head coaches could be at risk of being fired following the 2025 campaign?
In the majority of professions, someone losing their job is not an interesting topic for debate. However, there are always conversations around which college football head coaches could be at risk of being fired, so let's take an early look for 2025. We're still several months away from the start of the next college football season, and this is always one of the hot talking points of the offseason.
Whether a program failed mightily last season has been trending down for several years, as universities expect results and turnarounds more quickly than ever before, and this offseason was relatively quiet from a coaching-change perspective. That means next offseason could be a period filled with coaching transitions.
Below, we'll highlight 11 coaches who could be on the hot seat in 2025, including Mike Norvell, Brent Venables, and more.
Mike Norvell, Florida State
Record With School: 33-27
2024 Record: 2-10
Mike Norvell was viewed as a brilliant coach entering the elite ranks after a 10-3 season in 2022, followed by a 13-0 regular season in 2023. Things can change quickly, and he's now at least somewhat on the hot seat after a 2-10 campaign in 2024.
At Florida State, the expectation is to compete for an ACC Championship every year, and failing to qualify for a bowl game is hard to comprehend. The Seminoles once again have a talented roster in 2025, and anything worse than a seven- or eight-win season could mark the end of Norvell's tenure.
Brent Venables, Oklahoma
Record With School: 22-17
2024 Record: 6-7
Bob Stoops and Lincoln Riley went a combined 246-58 (.810) over 23 seasons before Brent Venables took over the Sooners' program. Needless to say, his 56.4 percent win percentage isn't going to cut it at one of college football's most storied programs.
Perhaps the decision-makers in Norman will give him a pass for struggling in the program's first year in the SEC, but Texas' success on the other side of the Red River Rivalry isn't going to help his cause.
Venables must come up with at least eight wins in 2025 behind transfer quarterback John Mateer to keep his job. He's taking matters into his own hands by calling the Sooners defense next year.
Brent Venables explains why he’s reassuming defensive play-calling duties for Oklahoma in 2025 pic.twitter.com/QEutPCXova
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) March 31, 2025
Lincoln Riley, USC
Record With School: 26-14
2024 Record: 7-6
Speaking of Lincoln Riley, welcome to the hot seat. The grass isn't always greener, and Riley has found that out during his transition from Oklahoma to USC. Riley won 11 games in Year 1 with the Trojans but has regressed each season since.
His 8-5 campaign with Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams was a major disappointment, and a 7-6 initial season in the Big Ten didn't help his cause. USC has all the resources needed to compete with the elites of the Big Ten. It's do-or-die time, and he must post a respectable campaign immediately.
Hugh Freeze, Auburn
Record With School: 11-14
2024 Record: 5-7
Hugh Freeze was excellent at Ole Miss from 2012-16, but it turns out his program was violating every recruiting rule under the sun. He rebounded with a 34-15 record in four seasons with Liberty, but his return to the SEC at Auburn has not gone to plan.
Freeze, known for his high-flying offenses, has not been able to get consistent play out of the quarterback position. Now, his job at Auburn could be in danger, and transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold, who failed at Oklahoma, is tasked with saving it.
With Nick Saban gone, Auburn should have a window to compete for a top spot in the conference, or at least win the Iron Bowl every now and then.
Cal BEATS Auburn on the road 21-14 to move to 2-0 on the season‼️ pic.twitter.com/4m6PRJfWH0
— On3 (@On3sports) September 7, 2024
Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Record With School: 30-31
2024 Record: 7-6
Arkansas is not one of the elite SEC programs that come with national championship expectations, but the fan base and university expect more than 18 wins in the last 38 games.
Pittman delivered big with a 9-4 season in 2021, but hasn't replicated the success. His upset win over No. 4 Tennessee early in the 2024 season likely saved his job, but one signature win will only buy him so much time. This year, Arkansas has tough road games at Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, and Texas. Oh, and a home game against Notre Dame comes in late September. Good luck, Sam!
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Record With School: 13-13
2024 Record: 5-7
Luke Fickell was dominant at Cincinnati, compiling a 57-18 record, including a College Football Playoff appearance. He was viewed as a clear home-run hire for Wisconsin, but success has not come easily.
Fickell is 12-13 over the last two regular seasons and hasn't defeated an FBS team that finished with more than seven wins since becoming the full-time coach. In Year 3, expectations are raised, and he'll have to navigate a schedule featuring Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, and Washington.
It's make or break time for Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers.
How many wins do the Badgers get with this schedule in 2025? Retweet and Reply! pic.twitter.com/RW4CMEH40c
— CFBSelect.com (@CfbSelect) April 21, 2025
Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati
Record With School: 8-16
2024 Record: 5-7
Satterfield wasn't impressive at Louisville, and that has carried over to his Cincinnati tenure. Now in the Big 12, the Bearcats don't have a talent edge like the program did in the American Athletic Conference, so it could take an exceptional coach to thrive.
Satterfield's Power 4/5 coaching resume doesn't suggest he has what it takes, and the team's lack of success in the transfer portal this offseason signals another tough season ahead.
Mike Locksley, Maryland
Record With School: 33-41
2024 Record: 4-8
Locksley is responsible for Maryland's two most successful seasons since the program entered the Big Ten in 2014.
His 8-5 campaigns with Taulia Tagovailoa could buy him some time, but he needs to get back on the winning track after a 4-8 season in 2024 that included just one Big Ten win (USC) and several blowouts. The Big Ten isn't getting any easier, so this is undoubtedly one of the toughest Power 4 head-coaching jobs in the country.
Brent Brennan, Arizona
Record With School: 4-8
2024 Record: 4-8
Entering last season, Arizona had the fourth-best odds to win the Big 12 thanks to rising star quarterback Noah Fifita and first-round pick wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
The Wildcats went 10-3 in the final season of Jedd Fisch's tenure, so a 4-8 campaign and a 14th-place Big 12 finish in 2025 spell bad news. To make matters worse, arch-rival Arizona State, which was picked to finish last in the Big 12, won the conference crown and made the CFP. Hiring Brennan, who had a 34-48 record at San Jose State, never made sense.
“It’s gonna start with us playing better football.”
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan on getting buy-in from fans. pic.twitter.com/MwYg8BCNEy
— PHNX Wildcats (@PHNX_Wildcats) April 20, 2025
Justin Wilcox, California
Record With School: 42-50
2024 Record: 6-7
Being the head coach at Cal does not come with sky-high expectations, which is why Wilcox has remained in charge of the program for eight years despite posting a 42-50 record. However, he needs to deliver a "special" season every once in a while, and the team has not won more than six games in a single campaign since 2019.
Navigating being in the ACC while being thousands of miles away from most of the other conference schools is not easy, but this could be Wilcox's last chance to deliver.
Trent Dilfer, UAB
Record With School: 7-17
2024 Record: 3-9
Before Dilfer arrived, UAB had success under Bill Clark. The program qualified for five consecutive bowl games with Clark and made another under interim head coach Bryant Vincent.
The Blazers played in three conference title games in the five seasons before Dilfer jumped from the high school ranks to the college football world. Simply put, his 7-17 start is far below expectations, and he could be gone after 2025 if he doesn't at least reach a bowl berth.
Former NFL TV analyst Trent Dilfer is now the head coach at UAB... and he's losing his mind on the sidelines. 🏈😡pic.twitter.com/xMTtzMdNUQ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 30, 2023
