College Football Coaches' Hot Seat Rankings Following Week 6

October 12, 2023

Tony ranks the top power five head coaches in danger of being fired after the 2023 season. Which coaches are on the hot seat following Week 6?

Discussing job security in the world of college football is an unfortunate subject, but analyzing which head coaches might be under pressure is a frequent and essential conversation. After the conclusion of the sixth week of the season in 2023, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on the win-loss records.

These coaches may be facing uncertainty due to a prolonged history of poor win percentages or the high standards of their respective programs, where even a single disappointing season is deemed unacceptable. If their upcoming season takes a downturn, these five coaches may find themselves exploring opportunities elsewhere.

Let's take a look into the Power Five Coaches' NCAA College Football Hot Seat Rankings post the conclusion of Week Six.

5. Brent Pry, Virginia Tech Hokies

Record at School: 5-12 / (2-4 in 2023)

The Hokies have high expectations when it comes to replacing legendary coach Frank Beamer, and they will not settle for anything less than excellence. Justin Fuente went 43-31 in six seasons at Virginia Tech, yet he was fired near the end of the 2021 season.

Fresh off a disappointing 3-8 season in 2022, the pressure on new hire Brent Pry has quickly increased. Fuente's strong start, thanks to inheriting Beamer's recruits, allowed his tenure to last six seasons, but Pry may not enjoy the same luxury.

Currently standing at 2-4 this season, victories against Pitt and Old Dominion are likely insufficient to secure his job. It's challenging to identify four potential wins on the Hokies' schedule to finish the year, and the ACC is only becoming more competitive. The upcoming home matchup against Wake Forest holds significant importance for his job security, as a loss would likely eliminate any chance of bowl eligibility.

4. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M Aggies

Record at School: 43-23 / (4-2 in 2023)

With a $75 million contract, heavy expectations come into play, and Jimbo Fisher has thus far fallen short of bringing Texas A&M to the level they had anticipated. Following a disappointing 5-7 season, fans and boosters are growing increasingly impatient with the lack of playoff success despite their significant investment.

While they appear likely to regain bowl eligibility this year, that is far from the primary objective for a powerhouse program like Texas A&M. Their ambitions are focused on competing within the SEC and making a College Football Playoff appearance, and they haven't even come close during the Fisher era, except for the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

With the impending arrival of Texas and Oklahoma in the SEC, the task of ascending to the top of the conference becomes even more challenging for the Aggies. His insanely high buyout keeps him lower on this list because of the ridiculous $77 million the school would have to pay him.  Nonetheless, boosters may be willing to invest further funds to compete with the elite programs in the SEC.

3. Dana Holgorsen, Houston Cougars

Record at School: 29-23 / (2-3 in 2023)

Transitioning into the Big 12 is undoubtedly a challenging endeavor for any former mid-major school, and the Houston Cougars have struggled to find their footing. Even without facing any ranked opponents, they have suffered three-possession losses in both conference games, along with an embarrassing loss to Rice.

If Houston can manage to secure victories against former American Conference rivals UCF and Cincinnati, they might have a chance at a 5-7 finish for the season. However, these wins are far from guaranteed, and it appears that the Cougars are headed for a season with three to five wins.

With powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas leaving the conference and Utah and Colorado joining, the competition within the Big 12 is not becoming any less formidable for Houston. It might be time for the Cougars to aim for bold moves to remain competitive in the Big 12 and consider parting ways with Holgorsen.

2. Tom Allen, Indiana Hoosiers

Record At School: 32-43 / (2-3 in 2023)

Expectations for Hoosier football have traditionally been modest, but in 2023, Tom Allen and the Hoosiers appear to be lagging behind most other Big 10 schools. Their near-home loss to Akron and a decisive defeat on the road against Maryland suggest that changes may be necessary in Bloomington.

If the Hoosiers can mount a comeback and secure bowl eligibility, it would likely grant Allen another season. Throughout his six-year tenure, they have only been bowl-eligible twice, with one of those instances occurring during a COVID-affected season. Reaching a bowl game would require either an upset victory over teams like Penn State or Michigan or winning four out of five games against the other Big 10 schools.

Life in the Big 10 is becoming even more challenging with the addition of schools like USC, Oregon, UCLA, and Washington. To avoid getting stuck in the Big 10 basement for the foreseeable future, the Hoosiers may need to consider making changes.

1. Justin Wilcox, California Golden Bears

Record at School: 33-39 / (3-3 in 2022)

The Golden Bears have been absent from a bowl game since 2019, and it appears unlikely that this streak will be broken in 2023. With a current record of 3-3, Cal needs to secure three more victories, but their schedule includes tough opponents such as Utah, USC, Oregon, Washington State, and UCLA. Week 12, when they face Stanford, seems to be their best opportunity for another win, but they would still need to pull off two upsets against ranked teams to become bowl-eligible.

Moving into the ACC next year, life is not expected to get any easier for the Golden Bears, making it an opportune time for a fresh start. Coach Wilcox has yet to achieve a winning record in the Pac-12, and this trend is unlikely to change with a shift to a different conference.

On a positive note for Wilcox, their schedule includes several strong opponents who could significantly alter the team's momentum if they manage to secure one or two wins. Achieving a win against a ranked team and beating Stanford to reach a 5-7 record would at least provide him with a chance to remain in his position for the next year. Anything less, and it seems almost certain that he won't be retained.

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