CFB hot seat: Week 9

Every year we see the coaching carousel in college football. Coming into this year, very few coaches seemed to be in danger of losing their jobs, a rarity in the current landscape. A lot can change in two months, however, and there are coaches moving closer and closer to getting fired.

We’ve seen a couple of dominos fall, including Purdue offensive coordinator Graham Harrell and Seth Littrell being let go from the same position at Oklahoma. Will Hall at Southern Miss was the first head coach to be fired this season. Who is in danger of joining them in looking for new jobs?

Billy Napier: Head Coach, Florida

Napier was one of the few names coming into the year that was walking on thin ice. That wasn’t helped by the fact that Florida has one of the toughest schedules in college football history this year. After the first three weeks, it seemed a certainty that Napier was going to be fired at some point this season after two ugly losses at home and that Florida would target Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.

Since then, Napier’s team has shown fight and gone 3-1, with the only loss being on the road against current No. 7 Tennessee in overtime. The Gators are heading into the toughest part of their schedule where they will play four current top 20 teams in a row, three of which are in the top 10.

Winning just one of those games and making a bowl game might just be enough to give Napier another year.

Neal Brown: Head Coach, West Virginia

Brown was on maybe the hottest seat in the country to start the season last year, but a 9-4 record and win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl saved his job. It appeared as though he also cooled his seat considerably coming into this year.

That was before West Virginia compiled a 3-4 record to start the year and a recent press conference that didn’t go over well with fans and media. Brown is back on the hot seat, and this time, it might be harder to salvage than last time.

Kalen DeBoer: Head Coach Alabama

DeBoer has taken his fair share of heat from media and fans since losing two out of three games, with the only win being by two points at home against South Carolina. His coaching style difference from Nick Saban hasn’t fully resonated with fans yet who have the highest expectations.

Let’s be clear, DeBoer’s job is by no means in trouble. Nick Saban’s record cannot be the standard for any coach because what he accomplished is otherworldly.

DeBoer is only in year one in Tuscaloosa, and Alabama still has a chance at the playoff this year.

Lincoln Riley: Head Coach, USC

Riley is another who likely will not lose his job this year. He’s in the middle of rebuilding USC, particularly on the lines of scrimmage, and he has a heavy buyout.

With that being said, USC now has a losing record in its first year in the Big Ten. Riley will have to start winning in Los Angeles soon, or even his buyout won’t be a big enough shield.

Dave Aranda: Head Coach, Baylor

Aranda got off to a roaring start in Waco, going 12-2 and winning the Sugar Bowl in his second year for a top 5 finish to the year.

Since then, his teams have compiled a combined 12-20 record, including going 3-9 last year. Add to it losing to Colorado after a hail mary to end regulation and fumbling on the one-yard line in overtime. The good news is Baylor has a manageable schedule for the rest of the year, so a strong end of the year could buy Aranda more time.

Jacob Rudy is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.