The 2025 college football season has already delivered an astonishing number of coaching changes, exceeding previous years’ activity and fundamentally reshaping the landscape of major programs. From shocking firings at top-ranked teams to strategic interim appointments, the carousel’s rapid spin highlights the immense pressure and evolving priorities within college football, leaving fans eager to see who will step into these high-stakes roles.
The college football coaching carousel is spinning at an unprecedented rate in 2025, dwarfing the activity of previous seasons and setting a new standard for mid-year dismissals. Just five weeks into the season, the Power 4 conferences alone have seen a staggering six coaching changes, already surpassing the five changes recorded in all of 2024. This rapid turnover signals a heightened sense of urgency and expectation across the sport, leaving many programs scrambling for stability and a new direction.
Early Shockwaves: Major Power 4 Coaching Changes in 2025
The 2025 season delivered its most surprising news on October 12, with the simultaneous firing of James Franklin from Penn State and Trent Bray from Oregon State. Franklin’s dismissal was particularly shocking, given the Nittany Lions’ preseason ranking of No. 2 in the AP poll and his previous success, including a Big Ten championship in 2016 and a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance last season. However, a three-game losing streak, including losses to Oregon, UCLA, and Northwestern, proved to be his undoing, leading to a substantial $49 million buyout.
Bray’s situation at Oregon State was equally dire, though perhaps less surprising given the team’s 0-7 start. Hired in 2024, Bray concluded his tenure with a 5-14 record, highlighting the immediate pressure new coaches face, especially in programs navigating conference realignment challenges. Robb Akey has stepped in as the interim coach for the Beavers.
Before these October developments, several other prominent programs had already made changes earlier in the season:
- Troy Taylor, Stanford: Fired on March 25, Taylor’s departure followed allegations of staff mistreatment. Andrew Luck, Stanford’s general manager, appointed Frank Reich on a one-year interim basis. Taylor finished with a 6-18 record in two seasons.
- Deshaun Foster, UCLA: Dismissed on September 17 after a disastrous 0-3 start, which included unexpected losses to UNLV and New Mexico. Foster, a former Bruins running back, concluded his brief stint with a 5-7 record from the prior season and an additional three losses to unranked opponents, bringing his total to seven such losses in 15 games. Tim Skipper is currently serving as interim coach.
- Brent Pry, Virginia Tech: Fired on September 17 after an 0-3 start, sealed by a 45-26 loss to Old Dominion. Pry’s tenure, marked by a 16-24 overall record and 10-13 in ACC play, never gained significant traction. Philip Montgomery is the interim head coach.
- Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: A program legend with a 170-90 record and a 2011 Big 12 championship, Gundy was fired on September 23. His dismissal came after a 19-12 loss to Tulsa, just two weeks after a humbling 69-3 defeat at Oregon. Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham is leading the team as interim.
- Sam Pittman, Arkansas: Fired on September 28 following a 56-13 home loss to Notre Dame, marking the Razorbacks’ third straight defeat and a 2-3 start. Despite a popular nine-win season in 2021, Pittman’s overall 32-34 record led to the change. Intriguingly, former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino (34-17 from 2008-11) has returned as the interim offensive coordinator, a move expected to draw considerable attention.
The Shifting Landscape: Understanding Recent Hiring Trends
The frenetic pace of the 2025 carousel builds on recent trends where athletic directors face a crucial choice: take an “upside swing” on an up-and-coming assistant or Group of Five (G5) head coach, or pay a premium to lure a sitting Power 4 coach. The 2023-24 cycle, for instance, saw four power conference coaches move to other power conference roles, breaking the previous record. Notable examples include Kalen DeBoer moving from Washington to Alabama, Jedd Fisch from Arizona to Washington, Mike Elko from Duke to Texas A&M, and Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to Michigan State, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Conversely, many programs opt for “upside swings,” promoting coordinators or bringing in successful G5 coaches. The 2024 season saw new hires like Deshaun Foster at UCLA (from Las Vegas Raiders RB coach) and Trent Bray at Oregon State (promoted from defensive coordinator). The success of these strategies is a mixed bag, with overall winning percentages for “upside swings” (55.5%) and “power conference to power conference” moves (55.7%) being almost identical since the 2021-22 cycle. However, the larger sample size and often lower initial contract numbers for “upside swings” can make their hit rate more impressive.
Recruiting Prowess and G5 Coaches Lead the Way
Two key factors have emerged as indicators of success for these “upside swing” hires:
- Recruiters Win: Coaches with a strong track record in talent acquisition often find immediate success. Examples like Dan Lanning at Oregon, who brought in significant talent at Georgia, and Joey McGuire at Texas Tech, known for his deep ties in Texas high school football, underscore this trend. Their ability to attract and develop talent translates directly to on-field wins. Fran Brown at Syracuse, named 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year in 2024, is another prime example, quickly impacting Syracuse’s transfer class.
- Group of Five Coaches Hit the Ground Running: Over the past two cycles, G5 coaches transitioning to power conferences have shown remarkable immediate success, boasting a 43-24 record in their first season. All five coaches in this category—Billy Napier (Florida), Kalen DeBoer (Alabama), Sonny Dykes (TCU), Hugh Freeze (Auburn), and Luke Fickell (Wisconsin)—led their teams to at least a bowl game in their inaugural year. DeBoer’s transformation of 4-8 Washington into an 11-win team and Dykes’s miraculous run to the CFP National Championship with TCU highlight this trend, although sustained improvement beyond the first year can be challenging.
Lessons from Program Builders and “Hot Iron” Hires
The coaching carousel also reveals patterns in how successful coaches are identified and recruited. “Program builders” are coaches who demonstrate the ability to systematically elevate programs over time. Jeff Brohm at Louisville, who rebuilt Purdue and then achieved significant success in his first year with the Cardinals, exemplifies this. Similarly, Jedd Fisch‘s gradual build at Arizona (one win in 2021 to 10 wins in 2023) and Jonathan Smith‘s methodical improvement at Oregon State (from losing seasons to consecutive winning campaigns) made them attractive hires when they moved to Washington and Michigan State, respectively.
The timing of a hire, or “striking while the iron is hot,” often plays a crucial role. Recent success suggests that hiring coaches immediately following a peak performance—like DeBoer after leading Washington to the CFP National Championship or Smith after two strong seasons at Oregon State—tends to yield better initial results. Conversely, coaches hired after a slight dip in performance, such as Lincoln Riley at USC (who failed to win the Big 12 title in his final season at Oklahoma) or Mario Cristobal at Miami (who left Oregon after losing two of his last three games), have sometimes seen more mixed results in their new roles.
On the Hot Seat: Who’s Next in the College Football Coaching Carousel?
With so many positions already open, the focus now shifts to which coaches might be next on the hot seat or in line for a move. Billy Napier at Florida and Luke Fickell at Wisconsin were already rumored to be under pressure heading into the second half of the 2025 season, a sign of the immense scrutiny faced even by relatively new hires.
Beyond those explicitly mentioned, fan discussions and insider reports highlight other high-profile coaches whose futures are generating significant buzz. Could Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), known for his dynamic offensive schemes, look to move to a program with greater resources? Is Clark Lea‘s tenure at Vanderbilt secure, or might he seek a fresh challenge? And what about the highly scrutinized positions of Brian Kelly at LSU and Hugh Freeze at Auburn, where major games in the coming weeks could potentially be decisive for their job security? The constant pressure means every game, every loss, and every win can significantly impact a coach’s standing, as noted by ESPN‘s ongoing coverage of the hot seat.
Rising Stars: Group of Five Coaches and Coordinators to Watch
The vacancies created by the carousel, along with potential future openings, will draw attention to a new crop of promising coaches. Many athletic directors will look to successful Group of Five head coaches or highly regarded Power 4 coordinators, hoping to find the next breakout star. Some names frequently circulating in the fan community and among analysts include:
- Jon Sumrall (Troy)
- Bob Chesney (currently at James Madison, formerly Holy Cross)
- Alex Golesh (USF)
- Eric Morris (North Texas)
- Jim Mora (UConn)
These coaches are admired for their program-building capabilities, innovative play-calling, or success with limited resources, making them prime candidates for bigger jobs. Similarly, accomplished assistants like Bobby Petrino (Arkansas interim) and even program legends like Michael Vick (Norfolk State coach, rumored for Virginia Tech) are considered by fans and media alike as intriguing possibilities for these high-profile roles, reflecting the diverse approaches to finding new leadership.
The Fan Perspective: Rumors, What-Ifs, and the Search for a Savior
For devoted fans, the coaching carousel is more than just news; it’s a saga filled with speculation, hope, and anxiety. The firing of James Franklin, for example, was a genuine shock to the Penn State faithful, despite recent struggles, given his historical success and the team’s high preseason expectations. These moments spark intense debate on fan forums and social media, where every potential replacement is dissected, every rumor is amplified, and “what-if” scenarios abound.
The appointment of interim coaches often adds another layer of intrigue. Bobby Petrino‘s return to Arkansas, even temporarily, has captivated Razorbacks fans, eager to see if a former controversial but successful figure can reignite the program. The mention of Michael Vick as a potential candidate for Virginia Tech taps into a deep well of program legend, demonstrating how emotional ties can influence fan speculation. This collective engagement underscores the vital role of the fan community in shaping the narrative and pressure points of college football’s coaching changes.
Looking Ahead: The Continuing Spin of the Carousel
The 2025 college football season is far from over, and with the coaching carousel already in overdrive, more changes are undoubtedly on the horizon. The rapid dismissals of established coaches, combined with the strategic shifts in hiring trends, illustrate the intensely competitive and high-stakes environment of modern college football. Athletic directors are under immense pressure to make decisions that not only win games but also align with the long-term vision and financial realities of their programs.
For fans, this means a constant state of anticipation, as every game carries the potential to impact a coach’s future. The implications extend beyond just wins and losses, affecting recruiting cycles, player transfers, and the very identity of beloved programs. As the season progresses, expect more twists and turns, further solidifying 2025 as one of the most turbulent, yet fascinating, years in college football coaching history.
