By this point last year, the college football coaching carousel was in full spin.
Coaches had been fired at UCLA, Virginia Tech and Arkansas. Penn State was 10 days away from dismissing longtime coach James Franklin. Coaches like Florida's Billy Napier and LSU's Brian Kelly wouldn't make it through October with their jobs.
The 2026 cycle is off to a slower, albeit predictable, start. No Power 4 jobs have opened, and only one major coordinator change came down this week, as Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck is out after only four games. Some head coach firings likely will come later this month, but a repeat of last year's bloodletting seems unlikely.
"It's a weird year," an industry source said. "It's a weird year in candidates, a weird year in jobs, a weird year with money."
Still, conversations are happening behind the scenes about a group of coaches who need to deliver fast. The current hot seat list features some names that have been there a while, but also some unexpected coaches off to challenging starts.
The coaching scene has featured plenty of early-season developments, especially involving new coordinators and some coaches who have helped their profiles for possible Power 4 consideration. After talking to several sources around the industry, let's take a closer look at some of the key storylines.
Coordinator promotions at Texas A&M and Oregon draw scrutiny
Texas A&M and Oregon both lost their offensive and defensive coordinator pairings from College Football Playoff teams in 2025, and both went internally to fill those roles. Aggies offensive coordinator Collin Klein returned to lead the program at Kansas State, his alma mater, while defensive coordinator Jay Bateman left College Station for Kentucky, to work under former Oregon OC Will Stein. Ducks DC Tosh Lupoi also departed Eugene for the top job at Cal, his alma mater.
Rather than open up desirable coordinator jobs, Texas A&M's Mike Elko and Oregon's Dan Lanning promoted from within the staff. Both sets of moves have drawn scrutiny, especially at A&M, which is 0-2 in SEC play.
The Aggies didn't reach the end zone in last week's loss to LSU, and quarterback Marcel Reed continues to struggle, completing just 10 of 26 passes with an interception. So far, new OC Holmon Wiggins hasn't found the formula to help Reed, who struggled late last season. Wiggins has primarily coached wide receivers in his career, including a five-year stretch under Nick Saban at Alabama, and held a co-OC role the past two years with Klein at Texas A&M. But he has not been a primary playcaller or quarterbacks coach until this year.
"The minute they lost Collin with that money and coming off of a playoff appearance, they could have gone and gotten essentially who they wanted at OC," an industry source said. "To promote a guy who's never called it, it's just very bizarre."
Texas A&M enters Week 5 ranked 112th nationally in yards per game, 102nd in percentage of plays 10 yards or longer and 114th in raw QBR. Reed's progress remains the focus, but the Aggies are also working with practically a brand-new offensive line.
"We've got to do a better job of creating explosive plays," Elko said Monday. "We've got to find better leverages and create better opportunities. We're having to be too precise. ... We've got to make sure that we're developing a rhythm of what our kids can do comfortably, and try to create a little bit more flow. We're so choppy right now."
Elko elevated Lyle Hemphill, a senior assistant at A&M last year who has worked with Elko on multiple defensive staffs, to the primary defensive coordinator role. The Aggies' problems on defense aren't quite as glaring, but they allowed a combined 18.2 yards per completion in the Kentucky and LSU losses.
The heat on Oregon's new coordinators isn't as strong after last week's 14-point road win against USC. Lanning made continuity a theme of the offseason, both in retaining top players and not shaking things up schematically. He elevated co-coordinators Drew Mehringer (offense) and Chris Hampton (defense) to the primary coordinator roles. Both had been lead coordinators before -- Mehringer at Rutgers and Hampton at Tulane -- and knew the Ducks' personnel and the philosophies Lanning wanted to continue.
But Oregon's Week 2 loss at Oklahoma State set off alarms about many things, including Lanning's coordinator decisions. The game exposed several pre-snap indicators, or tells, that limited the offense's effectiveness. Mehringer bounced back nicely at USC, overcoming the loss of quarterback Dante Moore as Oregon rallied behind Dylan Raiola for six scoring drives.
A Ducks defense that returned all four starters up front and several accomplished players in the back end has allowed 93 points in three games against FBS competition and 274.7 passing yards in those games, which ranks 114th nationally. The Ducks have only five sacks in those games.
Not surprisingly, Lanning has backed up both coordinators, saying after the Oklahoma State loss, "This isn't a Hamp or Drew -- oh, that's the reason? No. We have to go execute plays. If we were executing plays and they weren't working, that would be different."
Assessing other new coordinators through the first month
The performances of new coordinators, both good and bad, have been under the microscope through the first month of the season. Here's how 10 have fared:
USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson: USC made one of the biggest assistant coach hiring splashes of the winter by hiring Patterson, a College Football Hall of Famer, to run Lincoln Riley's defense. Patterson was a celebrated defensive mind for more than two decades as TCU's coach, but had not been a coordinator since the 2000 season with the Horned Frogs. The experiment hasn't worked so far, as USC is 100th nationally in points allowed. Since an impressive shutout of Fresno State, the Trojans have surrendered 106 points in three games, including 38 last week to an Oregon offense led by backup quarterback Dylan Raiola. They rank 82nd in third-down defense and 105th against the pass.
Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner: Ball-knowers around the ACC and the Southeast knew about Faulkner, whose innovative formations and plays had helped Georgia Tech and other programs. His work is now on a national stage at Florida, where coach Jon Sumrall seemingly hit a home run with his first OC hire. The Gators rank second nationally in scoring and fifth in yards after piling up 96 points in their first two SEC games. Although quarterback Aaron Philo (917 passing yards, 72.4% completions) had been with Faulkner at Georgia Tech, other players also are thriving in his system, including lead running back Jadan Baugh, who has 600 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns through the first four games.
Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris: After a 2025 season in which Clemson finished 71st nationally in scoring and 87th in raw QBR, coach Dabo Swinney opted against taking a transfer quarterback and went back to Morris, Clemson's OC from 2011-14, to lead the offense. Morris had not been a coordinator since his first Clemson stint, and the offense has endured some early challenges, averaging just 21 points per game in the first month. The Tigers already went through a quarterback change from Christopher Vizzina to freshman Tait Reynolds, and are still looking for their first 30-point effort as No. 4 Miami visits Saturday.
Northwestern offensive coordinator Chip Kelly: For years, Northwestern won in spite of its offense. The team went 69-67 between 2015 and 2025 despite an offense that ranked 132nd out of 137 teams in scoring (21.3) and 136th in average yards per play (4.8). Kelly is already proving to be a change agent, as Northwestern is 30th in yards per play and 27th in offensive success rate percentage (52.1). Quarterback Aidan Chiles is thriving under Kelly, who is crafting big-play opportunities for running back Joseph Himon II, tight end Luke Dehnicke and others.
Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp: Coach Boom's return to The Forty Acres has paid off so far, upgrading an already talented defense, which is tied for 18th nationally in fewest points allowed (13.3) and tied for fourth in sacks (15). Texas' defense has been the team's signature unit so far, limiting Ohio State to three second-half points in the Longhorns' historic come-from-behind win, and then allowing only two scoring drives last week at Tennessee, while racking up 10 sacks, five by Colin Simmons.
TCU offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis: His arrival in Fort Worth alongside Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig was rightfully viewed as a philosophical shift for TCU and coach Sonny Dykes. But so far, things haven't clicked, as the Horned Frogs have produced 23 total points in losses to North Carolina and UCF. Craig is completing 68.2% of his passes, a good sign, but TCU is tied for 119th nationally in red zone touchdown percentage (41.7). The offense is moving the ball (it ranks 16th in lowest percentage of three-and-outs) but not putting up enough points.
Pitt defensive coordinator Cory Sanders: Not all promotions are off to shaky starts around the sport. Sanders, who took over for Randy Bates after eight seasons coaching the team's safeties, is overseeing a unit that has allowed only 34 points through the first four games. The competition level will go up beginning this week as Pitt visits Virginia Tech, but a defense that lost linebackers Kyle Louis (NFL) and Rasheem Biles (Texas) and others, is getting strong play from veterans Alex Sanford Jr., Isaiah Neal and others.
Cal offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville: Rather than hiring established college coordinators, Lupoi brought in Somerville and defensive coordinator Michael Hutchings from the NFL ranks to anchor his first staff. Somerville lacked playcalling experience as he began working with talented Cal sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, and so far the results haven't been good. Cal is averaging just 18.3 points against FBS competition, and JKS has completed just 58.7% of his passes in those games with multi-interception performances against both UCLA and Clemson. Lupoi this week called the offense's production "flat-out unacceptable" and said it's his job to "fix" things, which likely will include different responsibilities for assistants going forward.
Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith: The Buckeyes looked for an offensive CEO-type to free up coach Ryan Day for teamwide responsibilities and hired Smith, who brought playcalling experience from the NFL. Ohio State is No. 6 nationally in scoring and No. 3 in percentage of plays 10 yards or longer, while star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has thrived under the new OC with 33 receptions for 617 yards and seven touchdowns. The Buckeyes have scored at least 14 points in every half but the second at Texas, where they twice went three-and-out and struggled to finish drives. Arthur Smith's performance against the better defenses on the schedule, beginning this week at No. 14 Iowa, will be closely watched.
South Carolina offensive coordinator Kendal Briles: He was brought in to reboot quarterback LaNorris Sellers and an offense that backslid sharply in 2025, finishing 102nd in scoring and 114th in raw QBR. SEC coaches had optimism about the Briles-Sellers combination, as one defensive coordinator said. "Kendal will make it a little bit more friendly." But Sellers has struggled with accuracy and interceptions, completing just 57% of his attempts in the past three games with four interceptions. He continues to be most effective when on the move, piling up 243 rushing yards in the past three games.
Which head coaches are helping their cause for the cycle?
Even though jobs haven't opened, the decision-makers at schools must be ready when they do. They're tracking not only results but how potential candidates handle themselves in media appearances and other public settings.
So, who has helped themselves ahead of the cycle? Here are seven coaches taking advantage of the first month.
Duke coach Manny Diaz: He might be putting together his most impressive coaching job, and that's coming off of a surprise ACC championship. Duke was widely expected to backslide after losing star quarterback Darian Mensah (and standout wide receiver Cooper Barkate) to Miami. Instead, the Blue Devils have leaned into their defense and run game, led by standout Nate Sheppard, and are off to a 4-0 start that includes a road win against Illinois.
Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert: Some coaches are tied to regions. Others are closely affiliated with A-list programs. Dickert doesn't check either box, which makes him even more appealing. He has won at two challenging programs (Washington State and Wake Forest) and has consistently identified and developed under-the-radar players. After a 9-4 debut season at Wake Forest, Dickert has the Demon Deacons at 3-1 with road wins against Louisville and Purdue. He should be a coveted coach in the cycle.
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson: Two years removed from a CFP run, Boise State is back in the race following an impressive opening performance at Oregon and wins against Group of 6 playoff challengers Memphis and Western Michigan. The Broncos shut out WMU for nearly 59 minutes, and Dylan Riley has propelled the offense with 592 rushing yards this season. Danielson is 27-9 as a coach and has spent his entire career at Boise State and Azusa Pacific. He clearly would fit for jobs in the Northwest and West Coast, but could he venture outside the region?
New Mexico coach Jason Eck: He entered the season as arguably the most desirable Group of 6 candidate, and nothing has changed the designation. Despite the preseason news that starting quarterback Jack Layne's injury would prevent him from playing this fall, New Mexico has three lopsided wins and pushed Oklahoma in a 14-6 road loss. Several schools on the fence about whether to keep their current coach could be motivated by the chance to secure Eck, who is 38-18 at New Mexico and FCS Idaho.
North Dakota State coach Tim Polasek: Teams like James Madison have successfully navigated the FCS-to-FBS move before, and North Dakota State certainly seemed ready for the jump after 10 FCS national titles since 2011. The Bison have been dominant to start the season, winning their first four games by a combined score of 140-49. Polasek's 30-3 record certainly could generate some interest, especially for jobs from the Midwest to the Rockies.
Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor: The irony of WMU's controversial season-opening loss to Michigan is that it put Taylor in a much brighter spotlight than most Group of 6 coaches receive, and he thrived under adversity. His handling of the loss impressed athletic directors and others around the industry, according to sources, and likely helped Taylor's chances of landing a Power 4 job. Western Michigan will be closely watched as it tries to repeat as MAC champion.
UMass coach Joe Harasymiak: Could a coach whose team went 0-12 last season and was outscored 463-133 become a Power 4 candidate the very next year? Harasymiak might test the theory after a 4-0 start and a realistic chance to contend in the MAC. UMass dominated Rutgers in its opener and could start 5-0 for the first time as an FBS member if it takes down Eastern Michigan this week. Harasymiak also had success in the FCS at UMass, and could be a candidate for Power 4 openings in the Northeast.
Diving into the Wisconsin dilemma
Maryland, Rutgers and South Carolina are among the hot spots being watched as October kicks off. But Wisconsin might be the most fascinating situation to monitor.
Here's why: Luke Fickell is coming off of his biggest win as Wisconsin's coach, a 24-20 triumph at Penn State that marked the Badgers' first road victory since 2024, their first at Beaver Stadium since 2003 and their largest road comeback (17 points) since 2001. Going back to November 2025, the Badgers have taken down Washington, Illinois and now Penn State. Fickell made it through 2025 with a chance to get things right and more financial backing. Since then, Wisconsin has had an athletic director change (Chris McIntosh to Shawn Eichorst) and hired a new general manager (Morocco Brown).
After consecutive losing seasons, the coach who needed results is now getting them. Wisconsin doesn't have Ohio State, Indiana or Oregon on its remaining schedule, and a path to eight or more wins certainly exists.
So what's the problem here?
There might be none. Eichorst certainly would rather raise money and create greater alignment around the program and the university than go through a coaching search. But two of the most appealing candidates in the cycle, Eck and Dickert, both have ties to Wisconsin. Eck played offensive line for coach Barry Alvarez's Rose Bowl teams in the late 1990s. Dickert grew up near Milwaukee and played college ball at Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
"[Eck and Deckert] want your job," an industry source said.
No one in the industry would be surprised if both are coaching elsewhere in 2027. Would Wisconsin worry about missing out? Ultimately, the school will have to assess its faith in Fickell, who is 20-22 with the Badgers but trending in the right direction. Eichorst also is in an AD chair for the first time since 2017 at Nebraska, where his last head coaching change, firing Bo Pelini at the end of the 2014 season, didn't go well.
"What's got to be in the back of his mind is he's already done this once, and he's damn lucky to be back in the position that he's in," an industry source said. "[Nebraska is] still not back to where they were under Pelini."
