ACC Coaches Hot Seat: Two red-hot seats, three worth monitoring according to Pete Thamel, ESPN

ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel broke down the hottest hot seats for coaches around the country this week. The list, topped by Nebraska head coach Scott Frost, includes five coaches in the ACC.

“History says (the post-2022 season carousel) will be slower, as the 30 changes following the 2021 season tied for the most historically since the FBS/FCS split in 1978, per ESPN Stats & Information research,” Thamel writes. “There were also 30 changes entering 2013, and just 19 the next season. Over the past 10 years, there has been an average of 23.8 changes per year in FBS.”

The college football landscape is as unpredictable as ever lately, however, a source told Thamel that they agree with the general trend shown by the data.

“I don’t think you’ll find a lot of good jobs open without retirements,” an industry source told Thamel. “Everyone wants and wishes for a huge carousel every year. This may be the year the carousel slows down. This doesn’t project to be the crazy year.”

Check out the coaches Thamel believes could be on the chopping block by the end of the 2022 season.

ACC Hot Seats

Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech
Record: 9-25

Like Scott Frost, Geoff Collins is feeling the heat heading into the new season. The roster overhaul in Atlanta has yet to bear fruit for Collins and if the team doesn’t show significant improvement, he’s unlikely to see a year five.

Dino Babers, Syracuse
Record: 29-43

Dino Babers is now several years removed from his one winning season with the Orange. His hot seat was only made hotter with three lopsided losses to end 2021. However, Syracuse would owe him $10 million to part ways after 2022.

Mike Norvell, Florida State
Record: 8-13

If Mike Norvell can’t notch a winning season for the Seminoles this year, there’s no telling what the FSU admin might do in the offseason. Florida State fans will have a tough time swallowing a fifth-straight losing season.

Scott Satterfield, Louisville
Record: 18-19

Depending on the season the Cardinals can pull together in 2022, Scott Satterfield is looking at either an extension or a trip around the coaching carousel this offseason. Louisville went 4-6 in 2020 then 6-7 in 2021 with a loss in the First Responder Bowl.

Mack Brown, North Carolina
Record: 21-17

The Tar Heels have made bowl games in each of the last three seasons under Mack Brown. However, the soon-to-be 71-year-old could hang up the whistle if they don’t muster more than six wins in 2022.