5 CFB Coaches on Hot Seat for Firing & Their Buyouts Ft. Brian Kelly

Have you ever heard that old saying, “Pressure makes diamonds or busts pipes”? Well, let’s just say some college football coaches are about to find out if they’re shining or leaking ‘cause the heat under their seats literally cranked up to full blast. The 2025 season hasn’t even started yet, but for these five coaches, it might as well be Judgment Day. Contracts? Huge. Expectations? Even bigger. Fan patience? Running on fumes. A couple of these HCs are one bad season away from job hunting on LinkedIn. Spoiler alert and a pretty obvious one: Brian Kelly is leading the hot-seat race. Anyway, so, who’s really sweating bullets, and how fat is their golden parachute if they get canned? Let’s dig in:

1. Brian Kelly (LSU Tigers)

Ain’t gonna lie, when Brian Kelly pulled up to Baton Rouge, he wasn’t just talking about winning—he was talking about getting nattys. The man literally ditched Notre Dame for better odds: ‘I want a squad who can win a championship,’ And boy, Baton Rouge literally ate it up. But now? Entering Year 4, there’s still no natty, no playoff apps, and no reason to believe he’s the guy to restore the Tigers’ glory. Look, LSU didn’t hire Brian Kelly to be good; they hired him to win it all. And he simply hasn’t.

Look, the 2023 season should’ve been the year. Kelly had Jayden Daniels—who went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year—alongside elite weapons like Brian Thomas Jr. (10 TDs, top-five in receiving yards for Jags) and Malik Nabers (a rookie-record 108 receptions with the Giants). And they still came up short. Then came 2024—LSU went 9-4, finishing 5-3 in the SEC, and looked painfully average. The offense? Ranked 47th in points per game (30.5). The defense? Even worse at 59th (allowing 24.3 PPG)

Now, the Greg Brooks Jr. situation has put an even bigger dent in his reputation, and fun fact: Brian is 0-3 on the opener for the last 3 seasons. With Clemson waiting in Week 1, Kelly ain’t just coaching for wins—he’s coaching for his career. If he doesn’t deliver in 2025, that $60.8M buyout might be the last LSU check he ever cashes.

2. Lincoln Riley (USC Trojans)

When Lincoln Riley ditched Oklahoma for sunny SoCal, it felt like the Trojans had hit the jackpot. The man had a 55-10 record with the Sooners, and he was supposed to bring Hollywood back to the glory days. And at first, it looked like cooking in the making—11-3 in Year 1 with Caleb Williams. But now? It’s looking more like a box-office flop. 8-5 in Year 2. 7-6 in Year 3. If it keeps slipping during the 2025 season, that 10-year, $100M contract might start feeling like dead weight.

Let’s talk defense—actually, nah, let’s not, ‘cause Riley’s teams ain’t got one. Since arriving at USC, his squads have been getting cooked week after week, and it’s embarrassing. The Trojans were one of the worst defensive teams in the country last season, and it cost them games they had no business losing. Oh, and off the field? Riley’s got problems, too. He suspended a reporter for two weeks (thin-skinned much?), and USC got slapped with a $50,000 fine and probation for breaking NCAA rules. The man’s got heat from all angles. And with Oregon, Washington, and Michigan joining the Big Ten NIL party, it ain’t getting any easier. If 2025 ain’t a bounce-back year, the SoCal massacre might be incoming.

3. Hugh Freeze (Auburn Tigers)

When Auburn hired Hugh Freeze, they thought they were getting a miracle worker. Instead, they got a man running out of tricks. Past season? Finished 5-7. The season before? The Tigers finished 6-7. Auburn fans don’t do “rebuilds.” They want rings. And if Freeze doesn’t start delivering, he might as well start house hunting.

Freeze’s off-field baggage already made this hire risky. But now, his on-field results aren’t helping his case. The Tigers’ offense has been stagnant, the defense inconsistent, and to make things worse, Freeze was recently diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. While it’s treatable, it raises serious concerns about whether he can handle the grind of leading an SEC program long-term.

He’s got a lifeline in Jackson Arnold, a former 5-star QB transfer from Sooners. But let’s be real—Arnold got yanked in Norman. Relying on him to come in and save the day? That’s some high-stakes gambling right there. Auburn’s 2025 schedule? Straight-up brutal. If those back-to-back 5-7 seasons don’t turn into 8 or 9 wins fast, that $20M buyout check could be getting handed out quicker than you can say, “New coach.” It could be a wrap before Thanksgiving even hits.

4. Billy Napier (Florida Gators)

Billy Napier’s record at Florida? 19-19. Mid. Florida’s patience? Running out. Fast. The only thing that saved his job in 2024 was DJ Lagway stepping in after Graham Mertz got hurt. Lagway went 5-1 as a starter, and that’s the only reason Napier wasn’t jobless by Christmas. The Gators’ 2024 schedule was diabolical, with L to Mario Cristobal’s Miami, Texas A&M, Vols, Bulldogs, and Texas. But 2025? It’s even worse. They gotta face Longhorns, A&M, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Ain’t no room for slip-ups.

For Napier, making the expanded playoff ain’t just a goal—it’s the damn entry fee. Florida ain’t sniffed real dominance since Urban Meyer was running the show and Gator fans? They’re straight-up starving in the Swamp. If Napier doesn’t get it done, he won’t just be on the hot seat—he’ll be watching the next guy take his coaching clipboard and his parking spot. Billy Napier’s $27.1M Buyout is looking really bad.

5. Luke Fickell (Wisconsin Badgers)

Didn’t see this one coming, huh? Luke Fickell wasn’t supposed to be on this list. But after a 5-7 disaster that snapped a 22-year bowl streak, here we are. Wisconsin didn’t just miss a bowl—they literally got embarrassed on national television. Five straight L’s to close the season, including a 24-7 loss to Minnesota that sealed their fate? That’s unacceptable.

Luke Fickell is basically Big Ten’s Bill Napier—13-13 in two seasons, and it’s not looking any better. Wisconsin used to be a powerhouse—now? They’re a punchline. His $40.1M buyout is steep, but if he flops again, the Badgers might just eat the cost.

Honorable Mention: Sam Pittman has been skating on thin ice. That 9-4 season in 2021? Feels like a lifetime ago. Since then, it’s been straight downhill—4-8 in 2023 and 7-6 last year. And in SEC country? That’s basically the athletic department saying, “You can stick around… for now.” Arkansas ain’t in the business of mid. If Pittman doesn’t crank out at least 8 wins this year, he won’t just be on the hot seat—he’ll be out the door before the brisket’s done smoking.

The SEC and Big Ten just cashed in big with three playoff spots each in the new format, and let’s be real—those spots low-key already spoken for. With Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, and Penn State all lurking, there ain’t much elbow room left. The cold truth? At least 3 of these coaches ain’t making it to 2026. The heat is on, the leash is short, and every game from here on out might as well be a job interview. Slip up too many times? That buyout check’s getting cut real quick. The clock’s ticking, and for some of these guys, it’s already past midnight.