Week 11 College Football Coaches' Hot Seat Rankings

November 9, 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 10?

As we roll into Week 11 of the 2023 college football season, let's turn our attention to the head coaches who are feeling the heat when it comes to their job security. College football is a highly competitive arena with big expectations, and coaches often find themselves in the spotlight. If they've been on a losing streak for a while, it can lead to some serious job uncertainty.

In this analysis, we're going to check out the job status of five big-name college football coaches. These coaches are dealing with various challenges, from struggling to win games to the high standards of their programs. How they handle the rest of the season will determine whether they'll keep leading their teams or face an uncertain future.

Now, let's jump into the midseason NCAA College Football Hot Seat Rankings for Power Five Coaches, following Week 10.

5. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M Aggies

Record at School: 44-25 / (5-4 in 2023)

The Aggies fall to 0-9 under Jimbo Fisher on the road against ranked teams, following their 38-35 loss at number nine Ole Miss. This is an admirable performance, fighting with a team that still has playoff aspirations, but Fisher is getting way too much money to be praised for solid performances. They want wins in College Station.

Texas A&M has the best record of any coach on this list, but the massive $75 million contract and pedigree of the program put his expectations higher than anyone. Boosters were not okay with the contract to be a six to seven-win bowl team; they have real expectations of SEC titles and playoff appearances. As it stands, the Aggies look to have a great shot to finish 7-5 and return to a bowl game, which is hardly the goal of this program.

Luckily for Fisher, the school will likely have more leeway with him because of the high buyout number that would be owed if they fired him. It likely would take another season missing a bowl game for that conversation to gain real traction at the moment, and that doesn't look likely with Mississippi State and Abilene Christian left on the schedule. The seat will be very warm next year if he survives 2023, and the Aggies will have to contend to keep Fisher around.

4. Tom Allen, Indiana Hoosiers

Record at School: 33-46 / (3-6 in 2023)

The Hoosiers have gained significant momentum after a dreadful 0-5 start to conference play. They battled number 10 Penn State in Happy Valley and secured a victory against the Wisconsin Badgers at home, despite being seven-and-a-half point underdogs. Tom Allen's coaching position was under intense scrutiny leading up to their Penn State matchup, but the Hoosier team has shown resilience and is now playing with great determination, despite a sluggish start to the season.

With upcoming games against three struggling teams in Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue, there's a chance that the Hoosiers could still qualify for a bowl game. This stretch of games is crucial for Allen, as their performance in these matchups could significantly impact his future as head coach. If they can win two out of three or even sweep these games to make a bowl game, he's likely to secure another season. However, if they only manage to win one of the final three or suffer losses in all of them, the pressure on his coaching position will intensify once again.

Hats off to Allen and the Hoosiers for their resilience, as they've shown great determination at a point in the season where many teams might have given up. The team's evident commitment to Allen will certainly play a role in his job security and the possibility of another season in Bloomington.

3. Dave Aranda, Baylor Bears

Record at School: 23-22 / (3-6 in 2023)

The Week 10 clash between Houston and Baylor held immense significance for the job security of both teams' head coaches. The winner would significantly ease the pressure on their coach, while the losing side would see their coach's position become considerably less secure. Regrettably for Dave Aranda, Baylor fell short in overtime at home to their new conference rival, Houston, with a final score of 25-24.

Baylor's season has been challenging, with a 3-6 overall record, including a 2-4 performance in conference play. Their victories, unfortunately, lackluster, including a win against FCS Long Island, a narrow one-point victory over UCF, who holds a 1-5 record in the Big 12, and a slim three-point win over Cincinnati, which has yet to secure a Big 12 victory at 0-6. While the rest of the conference has dominated the new additions from the AAC, Baylor finds itself stuck between the four newcomers in the lower ranks of the conference.

Their upcoming game against number 25 Kansas State represents their final opportunity to secure a significant win before the season concludes. It appears likely that Baylor is headed towards a season finish with four to five wins and no bowl game. With the addition of four new Pac-12 teams to the Big 12 next season, the conference competition is poised to become tougher despite losing Texas and Oklahoma. Baylor may find itself in need of a change to reestablish itself among the conference's elite.

2. Justin Wilcox, California Golden Bears

Record At School: 33-42 / (3-6 in 2023)

Fresh from a thrilling 50-49 loss to USC, which may well be the season's standout performance, the Golden Bears found themselves brought back to reality with a resounding 63-19 defeat at the hands of Oregon in Week 10. Although they were competitive at 14-13 in the second quarter, the Ducks asserted their dominance over the remaining three quarters, resulting in Cal's most lopsided loss of the season.

Under Justin Wilcox's leadership, the team hasn't reached a bowl game since 2019, when they concluded the season at 8-5 with a victory in the RedBox Bowl. To achieve that feat in 2023, they would need to win all their remaining games, including a challenging road matchup against UCLA. Currently, Cal finds itself tied for the last spot in the Pac-12 with a record of just 1-5 in conference play, and their sole conference win was against a struggling 2-7 Arizona State team.

In Week 11, they will be hosting Washington State, and they are currently slight one-point favorites against a Cougar team that also boasts a 1-5 conference record. Should they suffer a loss, this season could potentially end with a best-case scenario of 4-8, and it's unlikely they will surpass a 5-7 record. Another season without a bowl game could trigger changes as the Golden Bears prepare for their transition to the ACC.

1. Dino Babers, Syracuse Orange

Record at School: 40-54 / (4-5 in 2023)

Dino Babers has managed to stay off the hot seat list throughout this year after beginning the season with some concerns about his coaching position. The Orange got off to a strong start, going 4-0 in non-conference play and having high hopes for their performance in the ACC. However, their fortunes took a downturn once conference play began, and Syracuse currently stands at 0-5 in the ACC, making them the only team in the conference without a conference victory.

After suffering four consecutive lopsided losses to Clemson, North Carolina, Florida State, and Virginia Tech, the Orange finally had a close game that ended in a 17-10 home defeat against a Boston College team that can be considered, at best, average. In 2022, Syracuse had a promising 6-0 start but went on to lose six of the next seven games, including the bowl game, which cast a shadow on the season. Another season following a similar trajectory that doesn't result in a bowl game will likely spell the end for Dino Babers.

Syracuse is set to face a struggling 2-7 Pitt team in Week 11, a team with just one conference win. With the remaining schedule including games against Pitt, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest, Babers will almost certainly face job security concerns if he can't secure two wins to get the Orange back on track for a bowl game.

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