With only four weeks left to go in the college football season, the madness of the offseason coaching changes are already upon us. To begin this season, 31 teams had new head coaches, and while this offseason may not have as many changes, they could be the biggest changes in years.
USC Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin was fired at the end of September, leaving one of the most sought-after jobs in the country being temporarily filled by Ed Orgeron. Connecticut, Miami-Ohio and Florida Atlantic are also searching for replacements after firing their coaches in the middle of the season.
Along with the USC job, there has also been speculation Texas coach Mack Brown will either be terminated or forced into retirement after several lackluster seasons. With two of the highest paying jobs potentially open, a domino effect among other high-profile jobs could happen if the coaches choose to leave.
Every high-profile coach in the country will be on the radar for these universities, along with their own universities searching for potential replacements. Even Alabama coach Nick Saban has been linked to the Texas job through Terry Saban’s house shopping in Austin, although Saban has denied any involvement with UT.
The SEC seems poised to have another wild offseason, even after four teams just replaced coaches last year. In the past 15 years, only once (2006) did the SEC not have a head coaching change in the offseason.
Vanderbilt’s James Franklin and Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin continue to be hot names on search committees’ lists, and no coach is ever off the hot seat in the SEC. While the coaches of the six SEC teams ranked in the top 13 of the AP Poll will most likely retain their jobs, the bottom eight coaches should all have reason to be concerned.
Dan Mullen was once believed to be the key to turning Mississippi State around, but his team is 4-4 and will end its season on a tough stretch of games, in what could be his final year as coach. Both Georgia’s Mark Richt and Florida’s Will Mushamp, viewed as two of the best coaches in the nation at the last season, are now scrambling to end the season on a good note. An offseason with either job open could easily snag a coach from another great program.
With four games to go in the regular season, anything can happen.
