College Football Hot Seat: CBS Sports ranks head coaches with hottest seats

CBS Sports ranked all the head coaches in college football who are on the hot seat going into the 2025 season. The outlet used a ranking system to rate just how hot the seat is going into the fall.

As far as the ranking system is concerned, CBS Sports explained that 0-0.99 is untouchable, 1-1.99 to safe and secure, 2-2.99 is all good for now, 3-3.99 is pressure is mounting, 4-4.99 is start improving now and 5 is win or be fired. There are 14 coaches listed per CBS this time around.

So without further ado, these coaches have to get it rolling or it might be time to start packing. The pressure is on with hot seats.

Sonny Cumbie, Louisiana Tech (5)

Cumbie has had a tough time here and is firmly on the hot seat. He is 11-26 in three seasons as head coach after his interim stint at Texas Tech.

As CBS points out, Cumbie has little excuse to struggle against Conference USA competition to this point. As the rating points out, he has to win or he’s gone.

Brent Venables, Oklahoma (4.67)

People are high on Venables and Oklahoma going into this season. But a 10-3 2023 campaign is sandwiched with two 6-7 seasons. Venables is on the hot seat, the second hottest on this list.

The transition to the SEC didn’t start out well last fall and Venables has yet to win a postseason game at a place where he was a standout DC. If there’s a year to finally step it up, compete for the SEC and a playoff spot, it’s now.

Trent Dilfer, UAB (4.44)

Dilfer is on the hot seat going into Year 3 with the Blazers. He was a highly successful high school coach, but a record of 7-17 in two years isn’t going to quite cut it.

Under Bill Clark, UAB was rolling. But CBS described this program as a “laughingstock” under Dilfer. It’ll be hard for him to save his job, outside of a successful season.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State (4.33)

It wouldn’t really seem that Gundy should be on the hot seat, but that looks like reality going into 2025. Over the last quarter-century, he’s been one of the best coaches in the country.

But a 3-9 season in 2024 showed a lot of cracks in the foundation. He has to win much more this season, but it’s hard to envision the school firing a legend. But, anything’s possible and the results speak for themselves, recently anyway.

Brent Brennan, Arizona (4.22)

Arizona had something going under Jedd Fisch, but after he left for Washington, Brennan was tasked to keep it rolling. Safe to say, he hasn’t done that and is now on the hot seat.

He was moderately successful at San Jose State, including a conference title in 2020, but a 4-8 campaign in 2024 with the Wildcats proved to be less than stellar. The roster was entirely remade over the last two years, so he has to get something going.

Sam Pittman, Arkansas (4.22)

Pittman’s hot seat was definitely scorching last season, but he cooled it down a bit going 7-6 and winning the Liberty Bowl. But, the Razorbacks coach isn’t out of the woods yet.

A brutal schedule is on the horizon, but Pittman has some exciting talent that could salvage another year. That includes QB Taylen Green, who should be one of the top players to watch in the SEC.

Hugh Freeze, Auburn (4.22)

Over the course of two seasons, Freeze is 11-14 and it just hasn’t quite clicked with the Tigers to this point. So, he’s on the hot seat. To be fair, Freeze is starting to see more success on the recruiting trail and transfer portal, but now results have to be positive.

Freeze was very successful at Liberty following an ugly ending at Ole Miss (2012-16), going 34-15 with the Flames. He can coach, there’s no doubt. But 2025 might prove if he’s in over his head or not at Auburn.

Brent Pry, Virginia Tech (4.11)

Expectations were higher last season, but the Hokies managed just a 6-7 record and Pry is feeling the hot seat a little bit. It’s not as scorching as others, but Pry is above a four on CBS’ rating, meaning he has to win this year.

In three seasons, Pry is 16-21 but has made the postseason in back to back years. The problem is, missing a bowl game could kick him out, so at least getting back to a bowl should give him a fifth year.

Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati (4)

Satterfield was a weird hire when it happened, but following a decent tenure at Louisville, his time at Cincinnati hasn’t been stellar. So, he’s on the four and above scale in terms of the hot seat, per CBS.

He’s 8-16 in two seasons, which is a far cry from Luke Fickell’s time where he actually got them to the four-team College Football Playoff. Satterfield has stars like QB Brendan Sorsby and DT Dontay Corleone, but they definitely have to win this season.

Joe Moorhead, Akron (3.78)

Moorhead went back to an area where he felt most comfortable following a solid time at Oregon as the OC. But the Zips haven’t played up to snuff at this point.

His hot seat is getting warmer as “pressure is mounting,” per CBS. He’s 8-28 in three seasons so a bowl game appearance would be nice for Akron. Otherwise, they could pull the plug.

Billy Napier, Florida (3.67)

It’s actually surprising to see Napier on the hot seat with below a 4.0 rating, per CBS. Based on the conversation surrounding the Florida coach, you would think it would be hotter.

To be fair, Napier got more things right in 2024 and has a star QB in the making with DJ Lagway. The expectations are high for Florida against a brutal schedule this season, so if the Gators are in the thick of the SEC and CFP race, Napier should be back with authority in 2026.

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin (3.67)

Fickell did wonders at Cincinnati, so when Wisconsin wanted a splash following the Paul Chryst area, he was the guy. However, he’s got a bit of a hot seat going into 2025 because the Badgers can’t be mediocre for too long.

Fickell opted to go back to a run-first approach with OC Jeff Grimes this year, so that could certainly help. But missing a bowl game in 2024 certainly puts the pressure on Fickell.

Mark Carney, Kent State (3.56)

Carney went from OC to interim head coach just a couple of months ago as Kent State fired Kenni Burns. The Golden Flashes were 1-23 in two years under Burns so this is almost a no-win situation for Carney.

Carney’s been with the program since 2023 where he’s risen the ranks, but he’s already on the hot seat due to, perhaps, no fault of his own. We’ll see how this turns out by season’s end.

Mark Stoops, Kentucky (3.56)

Even CBS Sports was hesitant to give this rating to Stoops, but he’s on the hot seat. Maybe it’s just the new era of college football, since Stoops went to eight straight bowl games and won 10 games twice before last year’s 4-8 campaign.

But, since that was the first losing season (outside of 2020) since 2015, Kentucky might be ready to turn the page soon. A quick return to success could keep Stoops around for 2026 and beyond, but it’s a little shaky.