Fansided

College football hot seat: 10 coaches trying to save their jobs in 2021

By Rob Wolkenbrod

Nov 29, 2019; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Scott Frost watches during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2019; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Scott Frost watches during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Sep 26, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells reacts in the second half in the game against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells reacts in the second half in the game against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Which college football head coaches are on the hot seat entering the 2021 season? Who could be fired the earliest of this 10-man group?

The college football coaching carousel is chaotic when in full swing. There are ample moving parts, most of which are just trading spots across the FBS, whether it’s the Power 5 or Group of 5 conferences. It draws a variety of responses, with fanbases ready to be outraged or in high spirits.

The 2021 circus is far away, but a head coach can be fired at any point during the season. Some have their jobs on the line right now, before the campaign even begins. So the hot seat is scorching amid excruciatingly hot weather across the United States.

College football hot seat entering 2021

10. Matt Wells, Texas Tech

Texas Tech had to reassure Matt Wells’ position after the 2020 season. For someone just two years in, that’s not ideal.

Wells is just 8-14 overall and 5-13 in the Big 12. The Red Raiders don’t have expectations to test Oklahoma atop the conference but figure there is some pressure to make a bowl game for the first time in the ex-Utah State coach’s tenure. He probably deserves at least a fourth year, though, no matter how this year fares.

9. Mike Norvell, Florida State

Even more extreme, Mike Norvell enters just his second season as Florida State head coach, and unlike Texas Tech, expectations for the Tallahassee-based school are out of this world.

A 3-6 record in his first full year, a COVID-stricken campaign, puts him under a microscope. Willie Taggart underwhelmed at 5-7 in his first season and was fired after a 4-5 start to his second go-around. Norvell probably needs to close the first half of 2021 with at least four wins to salvage himself, but with UNC and Notre Dame within those first six games, it’s a tough road ahead.

The only saving grace is, potentially, how soon it is into Norvell’s FSU career, but it might not matter.

8. Jeff Brohm, Purdue

Jeff Brohm has four years and a middling 19-25 record on his resume. It’s nothing special and pretty forgettable for a school hardly in the Big Ten football race.

Year Five could be the end of the road for Brohm, who owns just one winning season. The program hasn’t flashed much promise, including going 6-12 in the last two campaigns. Maybe he saves himself with a bowl game appearance, but the Boilermakers have a brutal schedule from Oct. 16 and on.

7. Dino Babers, Syracuse

Dino Babers had Syracuse rolling as recently as 2018. Then all four wheels fell off the wagon, dragging this program to a 6-17 record the past two seasons and a miserable 1-10 record in 2020. This is always and forever a basketball school, but the promise of making football relevant doesn’t exist right now.

Another disastrous start will make Babers’ seat red hot. He has previous history on his side, but the Orange badly need a few wins.

Home/College Football