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After the conclusion of the seventh week of the season in 2023, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on the win-loss records for college football coaches on the hot seat. Discussing job security in the world of college football is an unfortunate subject, but analyzing which head coaches might be under pressure is a frequent and essential conversation.
These coaches may be facing uncertainty due to a prolonged history of poor win percentages or the high standards of their respective programs, where even a single disappointing season is deemed unacceptable. If their upcoming season takes a downturn, these five coaches may find themselves exploring opportunities elsewhere.
Let's take a look into the Power Five Coaches' NCAA College Football Hot Seat Rankings post the conclusion of Week Seven.
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5. Dave Aranda, Baylor Bears
Record at School: 22-20 / (2-4 in 2023)
Fresh off a bye week, the head coach of the Baylor Bears takes over the number five spot following a Virginia Tech Hokie win against Wake Forest to move Brent Pry to six for now. Dave Aranda has guided the Bears to bowl games in the last two seasons, including a remarkable 12-2 finish in 2021 that culminated in a Sugar Bowl victory over Ole Miss.
However, a 6-7 season in 2022 did not meet the fans' expectations, and the 2023 season is unraveling. While losses to Texas and Utah are understandable, home losses to both Texas State and a blowout against Texas Tech are unacceptable for a program of this caliber.
Baylor's remaining schedule doesn't feature any currently ranked teams, but there isn't a single game that can be considered an easy win. While there is a somewhat reasonable path to turn the season around and make a bowl game, there's also a scenario that could leave the Bears with only three to four wins by the end of the season.
4. Dana Holgorsen, Houston Cougars
Record at School: 30-23 / (3-3 in 2023)
A fourth-down Hail Mary touchdown was needed to defeat the Mountaineers on Thursday, marking a significant win for Dana Holgorsen and the Cougars. With a current record of 3-3, there is a clear path to securing a fourth consecutive bowl game, as they still have Baylor, Cincinnati, and UCF left to play.
Houston is set to host the Texas Longhorns this week, providing a major opportunity for Holgorsen to demonstrate their place in the Big 12 against a powerhouse team heading to the SEC. A win would virtually guarantee another year, but even putting up a tough battle would likely be sufficient for Holgorsen to secure another season.
While the miraculous victory on Thursday night moves Holgorsen down to four, and despite the coach of the imploding Aggies surpassing him, his seat remains warm. Successfully handling business against their former AAC rivals is crucial to earning another season in the Big 12.
3. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M Aggies
Record at School: 43-24 / (4-3 in 2023)
Back-to-back losses are not what the program had in mind when they awarded Jimbo Fisher a $75 million contract. With a current record of 4-3, all three of Fisher's losses this season have been to currently ranked teams, including their recent 20-13 road loss to Tennessee.
Looking ahead, Ole Miss and LSU pose as the toughest opponents left, and the Aggies should secure bowl eligibility this season. For a program of this caliber, with a coach earning such a hefty salary, it's embarrassing to even have to mention the possibility of a 5-7 finish like last year, which significantly raised the heat on Fisher's coaching seat.
Fisher's remarkably high buyout might keep him in place longer than warranted unless the boosters are prepared to go all-in to see the Aggies return to the nation's elite. With the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, life in the conference is only going to become more challenging. If A&M cannot secure victories against either of the final two ranked opponents, it will be increasingly difficult to justify keeping Fisher as head coach.
2. Tom Allen, Indiana Hoosiers
Record At School: 32-43 / (2-4 in 2023)
One of the hottest seats in college football got even hotter this past weekend, despite facing a seemingly insurmountable task. The Hoosiers had to travel to Ann Arbor to take on the number two team in the country, and they were thoroughly defeated. After briefly taking a 7-0 lead, Indiana surrendered 52 unanswered points, resulting in an embarrassing 52-7 loss to Michigan.
While expectations in Bloomington aren't excessively high, performances like this highlight the substantial gap between the Wolverines and the Hoosiers, like they aren't even in the same conference. The addition of USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon is only going to increase the difficulty of winning in this conference. It appears that it's time for the Hoosiers to consider their options.
With six games remaining, the Hoosiers likely need to beat Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue to secure a bowl game and potentially save Coach Allen's job. Penn State and Wisconsin are expected to be challenging matchups, leaving no room for error against lower-tier Big Ten teams in a last-ditch effort to secure another year.
1. Justin Wilcox, California Golden Bears
Record at School: 33-40 / (3-4 in 2022)
The Golden Bears haven't seen a bowl game since the Cheez-It Bowl in 2019, and that trend likely won't change in 2023. Following their 34-14 road loss against a tough Utah team, Cal falls to 3-4 with three ranked teams left on their schedule to close out the year. Unless they can upset either USC, Oregon, or UCLA, this is a four to five-win team.
After a four-win season last year, things seem to be heading in the wrong direction for Cal. The program is struggling more each year, and they are about to undergo some major changes as they shift to the ACC.
With just one bowl win and two appearances since 2017, Wilcox's coaching record might not be enough to secure his position. The move to the ACC next year seems like the perfect time for the Golden Bears to embrace change and bring in a new head coach.
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