🏈 College Football
10 Coaches Feeling the Heat in 2025
Some are chasing legacy. Some are chasing their last paycheck. In 2025, the pressure’s brutal, the margin’s razor-thin, and one slow start could blow it all up. From Belichick in Chapel Hill to Venables in Norman — it’s put up or pack up season.
One Bad Month, and It’s Curtains.
1. Mike Gundy – Oklahoma State
The Mullet’s Magic Might’ve Run Out
- 2024: 3–9, winless in the Big 12
- Gave up 36 a game, defense in shambles
- Fanbase ready to hit eject after 18 straight winning seasons ended with a crash
OSU quietly restructured Gundy’s deal — his buyout is now $15M, which isn’t unthinkable. If he can’t turn it quick with two new coordinators? It might be exit stage left.
2. Billy Napier – Florida
Hot Finish or Just a Mirage?
Finished 2024 with a four-game heater and wins over LSU and Ole Miss.
But Florida expects Playoff runs, not “nice efforts.”
DJ Lagway is the truth, and the defense finished strong.
But a step backward this year?
The boosters will be asking questions…again.
3. Luke Fickell – Wisconsin
No More Excuses in Madison
Fickell arrived with Playoff buzz. Two years later?
- 2023: 7–6
- 2024: 5–7
- 2025 schedule: Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan
It’s about to get real.
New OC. New QB.
And if Wisconsin loses big at home this year? The whispers get louder.
4. Brent Venables – Oklahoma
This Is It. Win Now or Be Gone by Halloween
Two losing seasons in three years.
New OC? ✅
New QB? ✅
Elite expectations? Always.
The Sooners could start 5–0…
Or they could get steamrolled by Michigan, Texas, Bama, LSU, and Tennessee.
There’s no more learning curve.
5. Lincoln Riley – USC
Offense Slipped. Defense Improved. Result: Still Mid.
- 2022: 11–3
- 2023: 8–5
- 2024: 7–6
Not trending the right way.
Jayden Maiava is back, but the offense has holes and the Big Ten road trips are brutal.
USC had one road win in 2024 — at UCLA.
If this team doesn’t win at Oregon or Notre Dame? The shine wears off fast.
6. Kalen DeBoer – Alabama
Tuscaloosa Don’t Do Patience
9–4 is solid… unless you’re following Nick Saban.
Penalties were out of control, the offense stalled late, and Bama missed the Playoff.
DeBoer brings in Ryan Grubb to settle things down, but there’s no grace period.
If the Tide don’t hit double-digit wins again, expect heat — and noise.
7. Mike Norvell – Florida State
From Unbeaten to Unwatchable
2023: Left out of the CFP after a perfect season.
2024: 2–10 meltdown.
They’ve added weapons.
New OC (Gus Malzahn), new QB (Thomas Castellanos), and some SEC firepower.
But 6–6 won’t cut it. Norvell needs to deliver immediately, or the whispers become shouts.
8. Sam Pittman – Arkansas
The Honesty’s Real. The Pressure is Too.
Pittman doesn’t sugarcoat it:
“You want off the hot seat? Win more games.”
He’s 7–6 after a 4–8 year — but Arkansas fans want more than bowl eligibility.
Recruiting gets tougher every time his name’s on a “hot seat” list. And in the SEC, momentum is everything.
9. Bill Belichick – North Carolina
The Legend Steps Into the Chaos
This isn’t a grace-period year.
Belichick took the job to win now — and UNC fired Mack Brown to chase that very thing.
He’s never coached college ball. The program hasn’t won an ACC title since 1980.
He’s got NIL. He’s got attention.
Now let’s see if the GOAT can handle Wake Forest on a Thursday.
10. Hugh Freeze – Auburn
Rebuilding or Regressing?
- 2023: 6–7
- 2024: 5–7
Now comes Jackson Arnold to fix the QB spot.
Freeze has never had two losing years in a row until now.
If 2025 doesn’t pop — especially with LSU, Georgia, and Texas lurking — Auburn fans may move on fast.
🔥 Final Word from Unc:
Coaches don’t get fired for losing one game.
They get fired for killing momentum, for burning buzz, for losing locker rooms.
Some of these guys just need 8–4 to breathe.
Others? If they don’t make the Playoff, they’re gone.
Week 1 ain’t warm-up season anymore. The clock’s already ticking.