OT: College Football coaches on the hot seat. What do you think?
If "week zero" counts as the start - in less than two weeks - college football kicks off the '23 season.
Several publications have released their "hot seat" lists for this season.
At the bottom of the list - the five "coolest, most comfortable seats" - according to College Football News - belong to 1) Georgia, 2) Bama, 3) LSU, 4) Kansas State, and 5) Michigan.
Here's the link to CFN's article on the topic: https://collegefootballnews.com/cfn/preseason-hot-seat-rankings-of-all-133-college-football-coaches
From my perspective - the hot seat list includes:
1. Texas A&M - if not for the huge buyout to get rid of Jimbo Fisher.
2. Texas - Steve Sarkisian hasn't done much - and, they'll join the SEC next season. It would seem that the Longhorns' boosters expect a bit more in this final Big 12 season - before joining the SEC next year.
3. Florida - Billy Napier - it doesn't seem like he's competing effectively in the SEC East.
4. Miami - Mario Cristobal - though a favorite son - they need to improve on the field, perhaps their change at OC will help - but, will it be enough?
5. Oklahoma - Brent Venables - he's only in year two - but, like Sarkisian, an SEC schedule looms in '24 - and, they appear to have a "need to find something" when it comes to offense.
6. West Virginia - Neal Brown is entering his fifth season leading the Mountaineers - and, has a 22 - 25 record.
7. MSU - Mel Tucker - just like Jimbo - it's the buyout that will extend his tenure.
8. OSU - Ryan Day - I wouldn't say his seat is warm / hot - however, if he doesn't win in Ann Arbor this November - the rumblings will grow louder for sure.
9. Notre Dame - Marcus Freeman. He's only in year two - but, the expectations of the Irish faithful are National Championship - or - at a minimum - the CFP.
So - which college coaches do you think are on the hot seat?
August 14th, 2023 at 11:25 AM ^
I don't think Day is necessarily on the hot seat....but he sure is fortunate that Utah beat USC. OSU gained some momentum with their effort against Georgia. Three years in a row against Michigan would be fun to watch though.
Venebles seems like a good candidate if Oklahoma doesn't at least win 8-9 games. Legacy school that won't put up with that after Riley and Stoops.
The Tucker situation is downright hilarious. Going to be a tough fall for Sparty with almost an entirely new offense and top 10 SOS. I see 2 guaranteed wins on their schedule.
August 14th, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
Woodley - with all due respect - "I see 2 guaranteed wins on their schedule." Who besides Richmond do you see? Central Michigan? @ Indiana? @ Rutgers?
August 14th, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^
Love it 😂
CMU did beat MSU in 2009! I'm envisioning another 2-0 start for Sparty like they did last year, but then they will do worse in Big Ten play. They lost to Indiana by 8 and Maryland by 14 in 2022. They beat Rutgers by 6, but the game will be in NJ this year....Hammering the under on Vegas's 5.5 over/under win total for MSU. I could see their offense being one of the worst we've ever seen in East Lansing.
August 14th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
I think MSU’s offense could be better than people think. They have some young talent at WR with Gates Jr and Malik Carr at TE. Carter is a solid back. The offense really depends upon the OL. If it isn’t much improved…😬.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
So - what MSU needs is a QB and OL on offense. Peyton Thorne is competing for the starting QB position at Auburn - so, a first year QB will lead the green and white offense. This season in EL will be fun to watch.
August 14th, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
They are almost completely unproven on offense...To lose Reed and Coleman, their clear best two players hurt. Then Bernard was supposed to be the next man up and he transferred. On paper, their offense looks like a hodge podge of pessimism to me. They are hoping Carter is more Walker than Berger, but we shall see.....Not scared of their offense one iota.
August 15th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
CMU, Richmond and Nebraska are the only games the sparty faithful should feel confident about winning this season.
Washington, Michigan, OSU and PSU are most likely losses.
Maryland, @ Iowa, @ Rutgers, @ Minnesota and @ Indiana are toss ups.
Best case 7-5, worst case 3-9 and likely case 5-7 again.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
Day is absolutely on the hot seat. Those people aren't rational.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^
The random message board fans aren't, but the people with actual power aren't completely delusional. Fort he people who actually matter, Day's seat isn't hot yet. However, if OSU loses in Ann Arbor in non-close fashion again, that could change rapidly.
August 14th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^
The “people with actual power” is Gene Smith, who is out the door. That definitely hurts Day.
August 14th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
Trying to steal my thunder here, pal?
https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/ot-which-college-football-coaches-get-fired-year
August 14th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
Perkis - I posted the topic to provide an option to discuss something besides cheeseburgers and the NCAA.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:50 PM ^
No worries, buddy! I was just trying to be funny, but I probably could’ve done a better job indicating that.
August 14th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
I don't think he's in imminent danger of being fired, but I do believe Deion Sanders has a LOT to prove this year, and it will shape how we view him as a coach going forward.
His schedule is tough, his roster is shaky, and he's a first-time major conference coach. The best thing for him to do would have been to quietly assimilate himself, manage expectations, etc. Instead his hubris is creating a lot of press (more negative than positive, it seems) and it's creating an atmosphere where people actively root for him to fail.
August 14th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
He was literally just hired. He is going to get four years to fix the mess that is CU football.
I
August 14th, 2023 at 6:02 PM ^
It's more likely he gets pissed off and quit when Colorado keeps getting embarrassed and he decides its bad for his brand.
August 14th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
Agreed. To me what will be most interesting in Boulder is - at Jackson State Deion had a P5 roster playing FCS opponents. This season - he has a P5 schedule with a lot of new players - that isn't necessarily a bad thing - I just don't know how deep the Buffs roster is. It's going to be a significant challenge for the players and coaching staff.
Should Colorado finish 6-6 (or better) - it will be an incredible success. However, they'll be on the short side of talent when it comes to the roster.
Colorado will be tested out of the gate with games at TCU and hosting Nebraska. During the season - they'll travel to play Oregon, host USC, and play at both UCLA and Utah.
The six games the Buffs are most likely to win IMO are: Colorado State, @ Arizona State, Stanford, Oregon State, Arizona, and @ Washington State.
There are very few teams I root for to lose - and, Colorado isn't one of them. However, I will check out the Buffs scores weekly - just to see how the season goes.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
I don't know how good they'll be in 2023 but last year's Oregon State team went 10-3 and the score of their game against CU was 42-9. So I'd probably swap that game with Nebraska on the respective lists of "best chance to win"/"worst chance to win."
August 14th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
the only team on that likely to win list should be Stanford. This was an abysmal team last year with a lot of p5 castoffs. The talent level on this team is still very low and both lines are undersized and understaffed. By the time they get their heads bashed in by Oregon and Utah, if they don't have any key injuries hopefully they'll be able to muster up the will to play well down the stretch. I'm interested to see how Deion responds if they are 0-6...will he throw players under the bus? Coaches? the administrators? O/U on number of coaches he has public spats with at 1.5?
August 14th, 2023 at 7:18 PM ^
I'd take Oregon State and Washington State off that list; as EGD pointed out Oregon State was 10-3 last year and Washington State was a marginal bowl team at 7-6. Not sure about Arizona either; they still couldn't stop anybody last year but they could score points. They managed to play Washington and USC reasonably close and they upset UCLA.
The thing is, though, nobody will know what kind of shape the roster really is in until they play some games. If Deion is going to make a success of this, they'll start to improve over the course of the season.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:01 PM ^
I think the press will eat at him more than the admin. When you hitch to a persona like that, you have to be committed. They'll give him a long leash. And say what you want about the Big 12, and I know TCU beat Michigan last year, they aren't a conference of premier brands and I would say who is the bluest of blue bloods in that conference?
He's by all accounts hired excellent coaches to do the coaching and if he can lead the recruiting effort they might be ok. I think it may take 4 years. They aren't going to have NIL in place to compete for elite recruits this year, and a 1/2 win season, including them likely getting smoked on Big Noon a couple times won't help. But when he can get a little depth..they may be ok.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
The best thing for him to do would have been to quietly assimilate himself, manage expectations, etc.
With any other coach, I would tend to agree with that. But this is Deion Sanders we are talking about. The man defines "brash." I think he needs to be himself and do things his own way, even if that may ratchet up the degree of difficulty a bit.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^
That's fair, his personality probably does go a long way towards recruiting and potential success.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
And Colorado is a program that desperately needed some publicity. At a minimum, having Coach Prime means having a lot more people paying attention to them.
August 14th, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
See their spring game attendance. He is exactly what a moribund program that ONCE was actually pretty damn good needs. For better or worse in 3 years it will be attention all over a program no one cared about (and Mel Tucker ran into the ground) :D
August 14th, 2023 at 8:58 PM ^
More than that they needed ticket sales. The stadium is sold out for 2023. They will give him time.
August 14th, 2023 at 3:13 PM ^
LOL - coach who hasn't coached a game is on the hot seat.
Got it.
August 14th, 2023 at 4:10 PM ^
No? The first sentence explicitly says I don't think he is.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
Crazy to see Texas still struggle to be a top program. I thought they'd continue to be like OSU, 10+ win seasons. Huge recruiting ground in Texas and huge success. They let Mack go and have been on a coaching carousal since. This was my main argument when people were on Harbaugh. It gets worse, much worse if you aren't patient.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
Mack Brown won 76% of his games at Texas. Sarkisian's been 13-12 (.520 winning percentage) in his two years at the helm.
This year - Texas' OOC includes two wins - Rice and Wyoming - and a trip to Tuscaloosa to face Nick Saban and the Tide. So, I predict they'll be 2-1 before Big 12 conference play begins.
I'll agree that "be careful of what you wish for" - and, Harbaugh (who I have always supported) - is an example that certain things take time. To me - if Texas has another 7-5 season - before moving to the SEC - those boosters will be more than a little restless.
August 14th, 2023 at 5:46 PM ^
I'm not sure I have ever understood the Sark hype, to be honest. He is a 59-47 career head coach. His best single-season record is 9-4. Was it worth throwing Tom Herman out just to get that?
August 14th, 2023 at 9:34 PM ^
I didn't understand the Tom Herman hate. Everyone expected more but the firing seemed premature.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
Sunbelt Billy will be fired before the end of the season. Mel Tucker will shift the deck chairs and be given a grace year due to hid bloated contract - but he will likely be fired soon.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Define "soon." That contract is an anchor that could hold an aircraft carrier still in a hurricane. Firing Tucker will be prohibitively expensive to even think about for 3 years, easy.
August 14th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
If they miss bowl season & maybe have another locker room/police incident I could see them figuring out how to dump him.
Mel is a looming PR nightmare, IMO.
August 14th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
Do you realize how many seasons remain on Mel Tucker's contract with MSU?
The answer is: Nine - yes, Mel has only completed one year in a ten year agreement / contract. This upcoming season - 2023 - will be the second year of the deal.
That means - after this upcoming (2023) season - MSU will still owe Mel $ 76M on his contract.
August 14th, 2023 at 2:27 PM ^
Exactly. Even if they wait 3 or 4 more years, they're looking at close to $50M just to get rid of the guy, and THEN they'll need to come up with MORE money for the next guy too. As long as Tucker can avoid the dreaded "for cause" firing where his contract is void, or unless some of their boosters come up with 8-figure donations, they're stuck with him.
August 14th, 2023 at 5:40 PM ^
You know MSU boosters are offering him coke, hookers, or whatever other show/cause triggers that might get him fired. Is there an entrapment clause on employment contracts?
I actually hope MSU gets back to being a 9-3 to 7-5 type team. I want them to be a quality win and I want them to have hope.
August 14th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
Tucker's seat will heat up as soon as MSU is willing to light fat stacks of cash on fire. I agree that they want to give him a grace year. They will at least wait to see how this season plays out.
August 14th, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^
I hate MSU as much as the next guy but dude is 1 year removed from a 11 win season and has a winning record vs UM which is all they care about.
This is sports talk radio speak. If he goes 4 or 5 wins this year he will rotate coaches and say "my guys are finally upperclassmen" next year etc etc.
They actually had a good recruiting class last year as well (this year so far is poop in general)
He has the Ferentz contract without any of the accomplishments aside Kenneth Walker. But unless it's a disaster or you are Urban or Saban who won everything in year 2, they tend to give college coaches 5ish years to see how their recruiting classes look as upperclassmen.
Repeat he has the Ferentz and Jimbo type albatross contract.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
Ryan day will be run out of town with another loss unless he somehow wins the cfp.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
John Cooper was the only Ohio State coach to lose three in a row to Michigan and keep his job. Even Woody was canned. Although there were extenuating circumstances about his firing, I believe OSU would have let him go after the Clemson game.
August 14th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
Yep. This. Michigan is going to 45-23 OSU again. He's going to get the axe. I think he will feel it leading into The Game this year too. It will permeate their lockerroom and OSU and Day will crumble under the pressure. Predict 2023 will be an even worse beating than the previous two.
August 14th, 2023 at 5:44 PM ^
Michigan is loaded this year. Day would have to have 3, 4 or more total losses including Michigan this year for firing to be considered. They would give Day the following year to redeem himself when Michigan is re-loading.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Fisher needs to compete in the SEC west. No bad losses either by blowout or to bad teams, and he'll be ok.
Many Texas fans and boosters aren't happy with Sark....so....If I were Texas and Sark underwhelms...Urban rumors again? Urban at Texas and back in the SEC would be unreal.
Napier has a great recruiting class...as long as there aren't a lot of decommits from a poor season, he'll get one more.
Miami will be better if they learn how to tackle and get the Gattis stink off.
Venables is fine, he had a good recruiting class which will help. Next year though if they struggle in the SEC, I think he's gone.
I don't think MSU will be as bad as everyone thinks. If he can make a bowl, I think Sparty fans will be content...also don't get blown out by UW, UM, PSU, OSU.
Ryan Day loses again to Michigan, with no playoff appearance...24 will have a 12 team playoff so they'll certainly make it then. But it depends on how they lose.If they lose any other games or lose to Michigan by let's say 4 tds this year...then he'll start the Nick Saban School for Wayward Coaches™ in Tuscaloosa next year
Solid Verbal mentioned the many of the ND faithful aren't in love with Freeman. He'll need to win at least 10 games this year or his seat will be hot for next year. They have USC, Clemson, and OSU on the schedule. Fortunately they miss Marshall this year.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
I don’t see Ryan Day being on the hot seat. Unless they start losing the non-Michigan games too.
We saw last year that OSU 1) is capable of making the playoffs despite a loss to Michigan, and 2) is capable of not embarrassing themselves when they do.
So there’s definitely scenarios where Ohio State wins a national championship despite losing to Michigan. Or at least is in the running for a championship. And they’re not going to lose to us every year - they’re too good to keep making the same mistakes.
They’d be fools to fire the coach that’s accomplishing that. God I hope they’re fools.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:39 PM ^
I agree with most of this, but Michigan looms very large in the collective OSU psyche. There's a very good chance OSU loses 3 in a row this year, and that might be enough to spook them into some John Cooper fever dreams and fire one of CFB's better coaches.
Personally, if they have any brains whatsoever, they'll give Day through 2024. Michigan is set to lose a TON of players to the draft after this year, and 2024 will be in Columbus. If Day can't win THAT game, then it's definitely time to fire him.
August 14th, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
Agree. OSU's mercenaries are built for fast track indoor stadiums where the CFP games are held. With expansion they will be in the playoffs every year and their fans will "get over it" if they lose to UM but with a NC v a SEC team.
UM is built for OSU at this point (and outdoors in conditions) and OSU is built for the SEC upper echelon.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
There are too many second-year coaches on this list. Coaches nearly always get three seasons. Brown is the only one here who I'd say is definitely on the hot seat. He's in year five and has never won more than six games in a season.
I'm not too bullish on Sarkisian but UT did show progress in his second year, going from 5-7 (3-6) to 8-5 (6-3). I think he'll probably have a similar season and survive, unless a big-name coach comes on the market.
Tucker's contract keeps him safe for awhile but also, he's only two years removed from going 11-2, and even with a loss to us, would still be 2-2 in the series.
Day won't get fired, but if he drops a third consecutive Michigan game, he might decide to take a look at the NFL.