College Football Coaches on the Hot Seat After Week 3
Ranking College Football Coaches on the Hot Seat After Week 3
Barring a miraculous turnaround in the next nine games, it's hard to envision a scenario where Napier returns to Florida in 2025. The Gators were dominated by Miami and Texas A&M to start the season, and some of the team's biggest issues from the past couple years - specifically offensive line and defense - aren't improved. Napier inherited a Florida program in need of repair after it slipped in Dan Mullen's final season at the helm. Although some progress was made in off-field resources, Napier's record is 12-16 overall and 6-11 in SEC play.
How Arkansas performs in the next four contests - Auburn, Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU - could make or break Pittman's tenure in Fayetteville. Thanks to the hiring of Bobby Petrino as the team's offensive coordinator and a couple key portal additions (namely quarterback Taylen Green), the Razorbacks are a better team than the 4-8 squad that nearly cost Pittman his job last season. However, Arkansas had a head-scratching defeat to Oklahoma State in Week 2 despite outgaining the Cowboys 648-385. Small mistakes in close games continue to plague Pittman's tenure. Since taking over in 2020, Pittman is 25-26 overall and 11-23 in the SEC.
Baylor is off to a 2-1 start, but with those two victories coming against Tarleton State and a rebuilding Air Force team, it's hard to know how far Aranda's program has progressed since last season. A 3-9 record in 2023 prompted major tweaks, which included Aranda's taking over the defensive play-calling duties, a hefty portal haul, and a new offensive coordinator in Jake Spavital. The Bears play at Colorado this week, followed by matchups against BYU, Iowa State and Texas Tech. Getting to a bowl should be the goal for Aranda to keep his job next season.
After back-to-back 3-9 seasons to begin his tenure (2022-23), Drayton needs to show major progress in '24 to earn a fourth year in charge. However, the Owls have been largely uncompetitive through three weeks, losing 51-3 to Oklahoma in the opener, followed by defeats to Navy (38-11), and Coastal Carolina (28-20). The Owls are struggling on both sides of the ball. Temple's offense is averaging only 11.3 points a contest, while the defense is surrendering 39 points a game.
Hall's 7-6 mark in 2022 seemed to indicate Southern Miss was back on track and ready to emerge as a consistent winner in the Sun Belt. However, the Golden Eagles were unable to capitalize on that momentum. The program slipped to 3-9 last fall, which prompted Hall to make coordinator changes on both sides of the ball and reel in a handful of transfers to provide an instant turnaround. The results in '24 haven't surprised, as Southern Miss defeated Southeastern Louisiana for its only victory so far, along with losses to Kentucky and South Florida. After averaging only 23.2 points a game on offense last year, Hall's group is off to an even slower start in '24 (19.7 per contest).
Louisiana Tech's first two games have produced a mixed bag of results in a crucial third year for Cumbie. The Bulldogs struggled to knock off an FCS opponent (Nicholls) in Week 1 with a 25-17 victory but nearly upset NC State (30-20) in Week 3. With Tulsa, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and Kennesaw State coming to Ruston, there are several winnable games for Louisiana Tech the rest of the season.
This marks the ninth season with Neu in charge at his alma mater. Ball State won the MAC title in '20, but the program has eight losing records and just one other bowl trip outside of that year on Neu's résumé. Hopes of a rebound this season are off to a rocky start, as FCS opponent Missouri State gave the Cardinals trouble in Week 1 (42-34), followed by a 62-0 defeat to Miami last Saturday.
Moorhead is one of college football's top offensive minds and has won before as a head coach at Fordham (38-13 from 2012-15) and Mississippi State (14-12 from 2018-19). Considering Moorhead's past success, his 5-22 mark at Akron is a reflection of how tough it is to win there. The Zips posted back-to-back 2-10 seasons to start Moorhead's tenure and are 1-2 through three games this fall. A brutal road trip to South Carolina is on tap this week. After this Saturday's matchup, Akron's remaining schedule is all MAC games, giving Moorhead a chance to showcase improvement and cool the hot seat.
Rice posted its best season under Bloomgren (6-7) in 2023 and optimism was running high for another step forward this year. However, it's hard to find notable progress through the first three games. The Owls were pounded by Sam Houston 34-14 in the opener, and after a win over Texas Southern (69-7), Bloomgren's program was soundly defeated 33-7 by crosstown rival Houston last week.
Huff entered 2024 in an unusual position. The 41-year-old former Alabama assistant does not have a contract beyond this year but has expressed optimism an extension is coming soon. Huff's tenure started strong with a 7-6 debut, followed by a 9-4 campaign in '22. However, the Thundering Herd took a step back last season by finishing 6-7 and ranking 13th in the Sun Belt in scoring (22.8 points per game). Huff's team knocked off Stony Brook (45-3) in the opener and lost to Virginia Tech 31-14 in Week 2.
Temperature Rising
Don Brown, UMass UMass is a hard job and Brown has history here after leading the program to an appearance in the FCS Championship in 2006. However, the Minutemen are 4-23 since Brown returned as head coach in '22 and are off to an 0-3 start this fall.
Neal Brown, West Virginia Brown coached his way off the hot seat with a 9-4 mark last year. However, after losing to regional rivals Penn State and Pitt, Brown might be inching his way back to the hot seat if the Mountaineers struggle to reach bowl eligibility on a difficult Big 12 slate.
Tony Elliott, Virginia Elliott is 8-17 through three years at Virginia and faces a tough ACC slate after being picked near the bottom of the conference this fall.
Jim McElwain, Central Michigan Since going 9-4 in 2021, the Chippewas are 10-17 under McElwain's direction.
Joey McGuire, Texas Tech McGuire's tenure started with an 8-5 mark in 2022, but the Red Raiders underachieved with a 7-6 record last year. Although the team is 2-1 so far, it needed overtime to beat FCS opponent Abilene Christian and was handled 37-16 by Washington State in Week 2. Texas Tech's defense is once again a major issue (36.3 points per game allowed) after showing signs of progress early in McGuire's tenure.
Mike Norvell, Florida State A year after a 13-0 regular season and ACC title, the Seminoles have experienced a stunning collapse to begin '24. Despite being picked as a preseason favorite in the conference, Florida State is 0-3 and lacks a clear strength on either side of the ball. Considering the mess Norvell inherited from the previous two coaches (Jimbo Fisher and Willie Taggart), and his success in rebuilding the program, he should be awarded some patience.
Cooling Off
Mike Houston, East Carolina The Pirates already have matched their win total (two) from their disappointing '23 season (2-10).
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt Last week's loss to Georgia State was a setback. However, Vanderbilt is 2-1, and Lea's offseason changes resulted in an improved program.
Pat Narduzzi, Pitt Headlined by fourth-quarter comebacks against West Virginia and Cincinnati the past two weeks, Pitt is 3-0 after a disappointing 3-9 record last fall. An X-factor: Pitt will have a new athletic director after Heather Lyke was dismissed in early September.
Kalani Sitake, BYU After a 5-7 record for its Big 12 debut last fall, the Cougars are 3-0 so far in '24 and have shown progress on both sides of the ball.
Justin Wilcox, California California is 3-0 with solid wins over Auburn and San Diego State. Wilcox's team could pick up another huge victory with a road trip to play struggling Florida State this Saturday.
Retirement Watch?
If there is a surprise opening at the end of the '24 season, it could come from one of these four coaches opting to retire:
Mack Brown, North Carolina Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Mark Stoops, Kentucky Kyle Whittingham, Utah Morgan Scalley already selected as head coach in waiting for the Utes
