Several college football coaches have already been fired this season. There remains to be even more on the hot seat that a lot of people are talking about: Billy Napier, Luke Fickell, and more. However, there are a few coaches who are not talked about enough.
CFB Coaches On Hot Seat that no one is Talking About
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
The last time the Alabama Crimson Tide had lost more than three games was all the way back in 2007. Kalen DeBoer, however, managed to lose four games in his first season as the head coach of the Tide. 2024 was also unavoidable, as Alabama lost to three unranked teams while beating three out of the four ranked teams they faced. The Crimson Tide has so far begun the season showing flashes of potential and flashes of collapse. The two wins were good-looking ones over UL Monroe and Wisconsin.
However, both teams are pretty awful. Meanwhile, their only loss was an ugly one to the now No. 8 Florida State Seminoles. If DeBoer loses to Georgia, Alabama’s chances of making it to the College Football Playoff are significantly reduced. It doesn’t even need to be said that Alabama won’t tolerate that for long. A loss to Georgia could put DeBoer on the hot seat.
Sherrone Moore, Michigan
Michigan has seemingly saved its season with its big victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. If Michigan can defeat the Huskers, then this season shouldn’t be too horrible. Even then, though, the running game can only get you so far, while Biff Poggi, not Sherrone Moore, coached the Wolverines’ two big wins. With the Wolverines’ recent years, a 9-3 or worse season could mean the end of Moore’s career. For now, Moore has got some teams to beat down on. However, if anything goes wrong this season, then Moore could be on the hot seat. Another uncompetitive season could spell trouble for Moore.
There is good news though, with their victory over Nebraska, Michigan has one of the easiest BIG Ten schedules left. The two ranked teams are USC and Ohio State, and both are winnable. Perhaps Moore will surprise us all this season. One thing is for sure though, Moore needs to use this opportunity to get back to being a powerhouse. Otherwise, the seat will get much, much hotter.
Lincoln Riley, USC
This season may be among the last opportunities for Lincoln Riley. Joel Klatt has claimed that this team is underrated. However, the team actually feels overrated until they can prove otherwise. As has been in the past, the offense of the USC Trojans looks very good.
However, the defense looks shaky, allowing 13, 20, 17, and 31 points in their first 4 games. Sure, that might not sound like a lot, but almost all of those teams are pretty bad, with the one exception being the Michigan State Spartans. Even then, MSU scored 31 on the Trojans. Once USC encounters good offenses who also have good defenses, USC may begin to lose some games. The next four games are quite brutal:
@ No. 23 Illinois
Vs. No. 18 Michigan
@ No. 22 Notre Dame
@ Nebraska
All of those teams have lost at least one game. However, with how USC’s defense has begun the season, USC can lose each of these games, especially against the final 3 on the list. The question remains: how many chances will Lincoln Riley get to make USC the powerhouse they want to be. Overall, most teams probably won’t fire these coaches. However, don’t be surprised for these guys to be on the hot seat if the season doesn’t go well. And boy, for some of these teams, it might not go well.
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