Patience for poor performance is a rarity in college football, and it's only become more clear in recent years. Eight power four coaches were jobless by November in 2025, and fifteen Bowl Subdivision coaches were fired throughout the season, totaling a record $270 million in buyout packages.
Florida State's Mike Norvell is under pressure for instant results after a shaky second half of the 2025 season. The Seminoles peaked too early, winning just two of their final nine games after a 3-0 start. Norvell is just above .500 in his six years at FSU (38-34), with 13 of those wins coming during the Noles' playoff run in 2023.
Bill Belichick, the former Super Bowl-winning coach of the New England Patriots, had a disappointing first year at North Carolina, with the Tar Heels ending up with more double-digit losses (five) than total wins (four). The team had 70 new players and missed a bowl for the first time since 2018, amidst multiple off-field headlines. This year, Belichick enters with 60 new players, a tougher schedule, and another off-field issue to deal with.
Shane Beamer's fifth year at South Carolina didn't go to plan, with the Gamecocks finishing 4-8 and 15th (1-7) in the SEC. Beamer returns with something to prove and has quarterback LaNorris Sellers, standout edge rusher Dylan Stewart, and receiver Nyck Harbor to help.
Wisconsin's Luke Fickell acknowledged he's on the hot seat at Big Ten media days. The Badgers had a 4-8 record in 2025, their second straight losing season for the first time since the early 1990s. They reached lows they hadn't seen since the 70's with shutout losses against Iowa and Ohio State in back-to-back weeks.
Boston College's Bill O'Brien led the Eagles to a 7-6 record and Pinstripe Bowl appearance in his first season, but they regressed in 2025, finishing with a 2-10 record and ahead of only Syracuse in the ACC. The sharp decline after an encouraging first season has left little margin for error heading into Year 3.
Maryland's Mike Locksley remains squarely on the hot seat after nearly identical seasons in 2024 and 2025, finishing 4-8 overall and 1-8 in Big Ten play. Locksley said the tough days are behind the program, looking forward to ramping up this season with what he described as one of the most talented rosters during his time at Maryland.
Source: Yahoo Sports