College Football Coaches' Hot Seat Rankings - Top Power Five Conference Head Coaches Who Could Be Fired

Jackson's ranks the top power five head coaches in danger of being fired after the 2023 season. Which coaches are on the hot seat heading into 2023 college football?

They say no one likes to talk about people losing their jobs, yet diving into which head coaches are on the hot seat is always a key topic of discussion. Ultimately, college football is all about the win-loss column, and five head coaches are in deep trouble before their 2023 seasons begin.

Whether a coach has a poor win percentage over several years or is at a program where one down year is not acceptable, these five coaches could be on the hunt for a new opportunity should their upcoming season go awry.

Without further ado, let's dive into the NCAA College Football Hot Seat Rankings for Power Five Coaches.

5. Neal Brown, West Virginia Mountaineers

Record at School: 22-25 / (5-7 in 2022)

Neal Brown took over a program in decent shape after former head coach Dana Holgorsen left for Houston. Holgorsen's squads hadn't had a losing season since 2013 as he went 61-41 over eight seasons in West Virginia.

Simply put, the Mountaineers program has performed far below expectations since Brown arrived. In five seasons as the head man, the program has failed to win more than six games in a single season and has captured just one bowl victory.

The writing is on the wall for Brown, whose team will start the season on the road against No. 7 Penn State, who has one of the greatest home-field advantages in the nation. An eight-win season could save his job, but that feels far-fetched.

4. Tom Allen, Indiana Hoosiers

Record at School: 30-40 / (4-8 in 2022)

Indiana University has practiced patience with Tom Allen since he took over a mediocre program left behind by Kevin Wilson, but time could be running up as the Hoosiers head ball coach.

In six full seasons at the helm, Allen's squads have qualified for just two bowl games, losing both. Indiana has an abysmal 6-18 record over the last two seasons and just witnessed former IU quarterback Michael Penix Jr. lead the No. 2 ranked offense at Washington in 2022. Penix was a pedestrian producer under Allen's coaching staff.

With the Big Ten set to welcome USC and UCLA in 2024, they'll likely look to break in a new coach unless Allen's team vastly exceeds expectations this year.

3. Jeff Hafley, Boston College Eagles

Record at School: 15-20 / (3-9 in 2022)

Jeff Hafley did not inherit a monster program when he took over the Eagles' job in 2020, but after going 12-11 during his first two seasons and BC, then following it up with a 3-9 campaign -- he's in hot water.

In 2023, Boston College has a weak non-conference schedule, so the team will just need to upset a handful of ACC rivals for Hafley to stick around. Given the regression of the program during his tenure, that's far from a certainty.

2. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M Aggies

Record At School: 39-21 / (5-7 in 2022)

Texas A&M began last season as a sleeper to win the College Football Playoffs National Championship and was ranked No. 6 in the preseason AP Poll. Jimbo Fisher's 2022 recruiting class ranked No. 1 in the nation, and hopes were as high as ever in Aggie land.

However, the results on the field left a lot to be desired. In Week 2, A&M suffered a 17-14 humiliating defeat at the hands of Appalachian State from the Sun Belt Conference that finished the season 6-6.

The Aggies won its next two contests against ranked opponents (Miami, Arkansas), then lost six games in a row to Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida, and Auburn. The team projected to contend for the SEC West crown ultimately finished last in the division.

When Fisher is in the SEC, making $9 million annually, and has one of the most talented teams in the nation -- a 5-7 finish is downright laughable. If Fisher doesn't pull at least eight wins out of his hat in 2023, he could be gone.

The only thing keeping him from the No. 1 spot is the unbelievable $77 million buyout he'd be owed if he is let go. No, that's not a typo.

1. Justin Wilcox, California Golden Bears

Record at School: 30-36 / (4-8 in 2022)

The expectations at Cal are not sky-high, but the administration likely won't allow Wilcox's failures to continue. The Golden Bears have not qualified for a bowl game since 2019 and are 10-18 since that season.

The 2023 Cal team will face Auburn at home then a Pac-12 schedule that looks incredibly tough throughout the season. There's no reason to believe this Cal roster can defeat Washington, Oregon State, Utah, USC, Oregon, or UCLA.

That said, it would be a shocker if Wilcox returns as the head coach in 2024.

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