Hot Seats and High Stakes: College Football Coaches Battling for Their Jobs in 2025
By Jay Berry
Several coaches are on the hot seat entering the 2025 season due to underwhelming records, fan expectations, or rigid schedules. Let’s analyze the key candidates and their scheduled matchups. The coaches listed below are facing intense scrutiny. We will also examine critical matchups involving coaches under pressure to retain their positions.
Coaches on the Hot Seat for 2025
Brent Venables (Oklahoma): With a 22-17 record over three seasons, including two 6-7 seasons, Venables is under fire at Oklahoma, a program with high expectations. His team’s struggles in the SEC and a challenging 2025 schedule (including Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and LSU) put him at risk.
Sam Pittman (Arkansas): Pittman’s 27-27 record over five seasons, with recent 7-6 and 4-8 campaigns, has him on thin ice. Arkansas fans expect more in the SEC, and a brutal 2025 schedule (Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, Texas) increases the pressure.
Hugh Freeze (Auburn): Freeze’s 11-14 record (5-11 in SEC) and 0-2 Iron Bowl losses have Auburn fans restless. Despite a strong 2025 recruiting class, another subpar season could end his tenure.
Mike Norvell (Florida State): After a 13-0 season in 2023, Norvell’s 2-10 collapse in 2024 has him under scrutiny. Florida State expects ACC contention, and anything less than 7-8 wins in 2025 could be fatal.
Billy Napier (Florida): Napier’s 8-5 season in 2024 showed improvement, but his 15-22 overall record and a challenging 2025 schedule (Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU) keep him on the hot seat.
Mark Stoops (Kentucky): Despite a solid tenure, Stoops’ 4-8 season in 2024 and a 5-14 record against power conference teams over two years have raised concerns. A demanding 2025 schedule (Georgia, Tennessee, Texas) adds pressure.
Luke Fickell (Wisconsin): Maybe not on the hot seat, but it's lukewarm at Camp Randall. Fickell’s 12-13 record over two seasons, including a 5-7 2024, has disappointed Wisconsin fans. A challenging 2025 schedule (Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon) makes improvement critical.
Lincoln Riley (USC): Riley’s 7-6 season in 2024, following 11-3 and 8-5, has cooled his reputation. USC’s high expectations and a $ 10 M+ salary make another mediocre year risky.
Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State): Gundy’s 0-9 Big 12 record in 2024, after a 3-0 start, was a disaster. A restructured contract bought him time, but another poor season could end his long tenure.
Scott Satterfield (Cincinnati): Satterfield’s 8-16 record at Cincinnati, with back-to-back losing seasons, has him on the hot seat. A $11.7M buyout complicates matters, but 2025 is pivotal.
Trent Dilfer (UAB): Dilfer’s 4-8 and 2-10 seasons, plus off-field controversies, have him in trouble at UAB. A $3.3M buyout looms, but 2025 is make-or-break.
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Brian Kelly (LSU): Kelly’s record is decent, but LSU expects titles. A demanding 2025 schedule could amplify pressure if results falter. I have the Tigers making the college football playoff this season.
Dec 31, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on during the second half against the Baylor Bears at NRG Stadium. The Tigers defeat the Bears 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Identifying the Game With The Hottest Seats
To find a 2025 game featuring two coaches on the hottest seats, we need a matchup between teams led by these coaches. Let's examine key games based on the 2025 schedules and the intensity of the hot seat (with Venables, Pittman, Freeze, Norvell, and Napier often ranked highest).
Oklahoma vs. Auburn (September 27, 2025, at Auburn): This SEC matchup pits Brent Venables (Oklahoma) against Hugh Freeze (Auburn). Both are among the most endangered coaches. Venables faces immense pressure after two losing seasons, and Oklahoma’s demanding SEC schedule makes this game critical. With an 11-14 record and no bowl game in 2024, Freeze needs a strong 2025 to survive Auburn’s high expectations. This game stands out as both coaches have scorching seats, and a loss could significantly hurt their job security.
Florida vs. Arkansas (November 8, 2025, at Florida): Billy Napier (Florida) and Sam Pittman (Arkansas) are both on shaky ground. Napier’s 8-5 season in 2024 bought some time, but Florida’s demanding fanbase and tough schedule keep him under scrutiny. Pittman’s inconsistent results and Arkansas’s failure to reach double-digit wins since 2011 put him at risk. This game is crucial, but Pittman’s seat is slightly cooler than Freeze’s due to a recent bowl win.
LSU vs. Oklahoma (November 29, 2025, at LSU): Brian Kelly (LSU) and Brent Venables (Oklahoma) face off in a late-season SEC clash. Kelly’s seat is warm but not as hot as Venables’, a top candidate for the hottest seat. This game has high stakes, but Kelly’s stronger record makes this matchup less balanced regarding hot-seat intensity.
Florida vs. Florida State (November 29, 2025, at Florida State): Billy Napier (Florida) and Mike Norvell (Florida State) are both under pressure. Norvell’s 2-10 season in 2024 was a disaster, and Florida State’s expectations are sky-high. Napier’s seat is hot but slightly steadier after 2024’s improvement. This rivalry game is significant, but Norvell’s situation feels more dire than Napier’s.
Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell raises the ACC Championship trophy with his players after the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images © Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Alabama vs. Auburn (November 29, 2025, Iron Bowl at Alabama): Kalen DeBoer (Alabama) and Hugh Freeze (Auburn) are both mentioned on hot-seat lists, but DeBoer’s seat is less hot than Freeze’s. Alabama’s expectations are astronomical, and missing the 2024 CFP was a blow, but DeBoer’s first-year status gives him some leeway. Freeze, however, is in a more precarious position. This game is high-profile, but DeBoer’s situation is less urgent.
The Oklahoma vs. Auburn game on September 27, 2025, stands out as the matchup with two coaches on the hottest seats. Brent Venables and Hugh Freeze are both in dire situations:
Venables: His 22-17 record, including two 6-7 seasons, and Oklahoma’s struggles in the SEC make him a top candidate for the hottest seat. A loss to Auburn early in the season could set a negative tone for a brutal schedule.
Hugh Freeze: Auburn’s 11-14 record under Freeze, combined with fan frustration and a 0-2 Iron Bowl record, puts him in a similar bind. A home loss to Oklahoma could accelerate calls for change.
Other games, like Florida vs. Arkansas or Florida vs. Florida State, involve coaches with hot seats. Still, Pittman and Napier have slightly more breathing room than Venables and Freeze, who face relentless pressure at programs with lofty expectations. The Oklahoma-Auburn game’s early-season timing also amplifies its impact on both coaches’ fates.
The 2025 college football game featuring two coaches on the biggest hot seats could be Oklahoma vs. Auburn on September 27, 2025. Brent Venables (Oklahoma) and Hugh Freeze (Auburn) could face intense scrutiny after disappointing tenures.
