Being a college football head coach isn’t an occupation that you can ever feel comfortable and safe. Things can change very quickly on the field and because of that, they can also change very quickly off-the-field. Below is a Big 12 head coach who is not currently on the hot seat (at least seriously) but could see that change this season if things don’t go his way.
Brent Brennan (Arizona)
It isn’t often that a head coach is on the hot seat after his second season, but that will be the situation in Tucson if Coach Brennan’s Wildcats don’t show improvement in 2025. Coach Brennan was hired after the sudden departure of Jedd Fisch to Washington. Unfortunately for Arizona, the positive trajectory of the program also departed when Coach Fisch went to Seattle.
A season after the Wildcats became one of the biggest surprises of 2023 with a 10-3 finish, they finished 4-8 in 2024. While a downgrade shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise considering the mass exodus of Arizona players via the transfer portal, it was still a disappointing performance.
However, Arizona was in a similar situation not too long ago. During Coach Fisch’s first season with the Wildcats they finished 1-11, which was followed by 5-7 and then 10-3. Can Coach Brennan bring about similar improvements in 2025 and then 2026?
Finishing at .500 and earning a bowl game this season would go a long way in quieting any doubters around Tucson. If the Big 12 is anything like it was last year, nobody truly knows what will happen this season, but when looking at the schedule in August there are opportunities for wins.
After likely (and very importantly) starting 2-0 against Hawaii and Weber State, Arizona must find four more wins against the likes of Oklahoma State, Houston, Colorado, Kansas and Cincinnati. It is possible, but in order for it to happen, Coach Brennan will have to show everyone that his vision is becoming a reality.
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If this doesn’t happen, Coach Brennan’s name will be on all of the hot seat lists prior to the 2026 season.
