NCAAF · 1 year ago

College Football Coaches Hot Seat Update After Week 6

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

Off the Hot Seat: Sam Pittman - Arkansas Razorbacks (down from #2)
Sam Pittman nearly got let go from Arkansas after the 2023 season. He entered this campaign on the hot seat after the Razorbacks brought Bobby Petrino to revitalize the offense. The offense has looked great with new quarterback Taylen Green, but they lost a big lead late to Oklahoma State and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. That said, Pittman gets removed from hot seat discussion after a thrilling win over Tennessee. The victory followed a win over Auburn and a close loss to Texas A&M. Arkansas looks like a team that can win eight games this season.

2024 Record: 4-2 (2-1)

Next Game: Arkansas vs. LSU on October 19
1. Billy Napier - Florida Gators (Remains #1)
The Florida administration may have entered this season with the plan to be patient and give Billy Napier time to continue building the program. The schedule is brutal, and just showing progress on the field was likely enough to give him another year. After ugly losses to Miami and Texas A&M, the end appeared imminent but Florida rallied for wins over Mississippi State and UCF. Those were "must gets" but Napier is still in very hot water with games against Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, LSU and Ole Miss on the horizon.

2024 Record: 3-2 (1-1)

Next Game: at Tennessee (Oct. 12)

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2. Kenni Burns - Kent State Golden Flashes (up from #3)
An abysmal Year 1 for Kenni Burns at Kent State has only worsened in 2024, and things show zero improvement. The Golden Flashes lost by 31 points to Pittsburgh and then got hammered by 71 at Tennessee. Still, it was the game between those contests that spells doom. Kent State lost at home to the Saint Francis Red Flash. That is an FCS program based in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and it was possibly the only winnable game on the schedule for the Golden Flashes. Burns is now staring a winless season in the face after beginning conference play with a loss to Eastern Michigan. It would not be surprising to see him only last two seasons in charge.

2024 Record: 0-5 (0-1)

Next Game: Kent State (+6.5) vs. Ball State on October 12
3. Dave Aranda - Baylor Bears (up from #4)
Dave Aranda entered the season on the hot seat, and the heat has been turned up after an uncompetitive loss at Utah and a devastating late-game collapse against Colorado. The Bears needed quarterback Dequan Finn to play like a star, and he is already out after being underwhelming early on. Aranda is safe for now, but that likely will not last after an 0-3 league start. The Bears are on a bye before travelling to 5-1 Texas Tech.

2024 Record: 2-4 (0-3)

Next Game: Baylor at Texas Tech on October 19
4. Shawn Clark - Appalachian State (new arrival)
Shawn Clark is a new arrival on the hot seat list. Hurricane Helene ripped apart Boone and that may, understandably, put a stop to any coaching changes in the foreseeable future as the area attempts to rebuild and focus the school's money on more important things than the head football coach. The performance is concerning, though. After a rocky 2022 season finished 6-6, App State was 9-5 in 2023 but the floor has dropped out on defense this season and the Mountaineers are winless in a weakened Sun Belt. If they falter to a losing season, Clark's time might be up.

2024 Record: 2-3 (0-2)

Next Game: App State at Louisiana (-10.5)

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5. Joe Moorhead - Akron Zips (remains at #5)
The Akron Zips must show progress under Joe Moorhead, and the results thus far have been underwhelming. They were always going to lose to Ohio State and Rutgers, but losing by a combined score of 101-23 is not promising. Plus, the Zips were limited to just 5.5 yards per play and only scored three second-half points in an uninspiring 31-20 win over Colgate. Akron lost 50-7 at South Carolina before entering conference play and they opened with losses to Ohio (by 20) and Bowling Green. Fellow MAC schools keeping games competitive (or even winning) against high-major competition makes the blowouts look worse, and Moorhead needs a couple of wins to cool things down.

2024 Record: 1-5 (0-2)

Next Game: Akron (+9.5) at Western Michigan on 10/12
6. Sonny Cumbie - Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (remains at #6)
The critical 2024 campaign for Louisiana Tech and head coach Sonny Cumbie has gotten off to a worse-than-expected start. They survived a scare against Nicholls, had a bye week, and then lost at North Carolina State. The Bulldogs had a shot against the Wolfpack before fading in the second half. Things got dire in the past two weeks with losses to Tulsa and Florida International. Cumbie could be out of time to turn things around.

2024 Record: 1-4 (0-2)

Next Game: Middle Tennessee at Louisiana Tech (-4.5) on 10/10
7. Stan Drayton - Temple Owls (remains at #7)
Through two seasons at Temple, Stan Drayton was 6-18, and the program was backsliding with no positive momentum. The slide has continued in 2024 with a pair of blowout losses plus a disappointing home defeat to Coastal Carolina to begin the campaign. They picked up their first win of the season vs. Utah State before losing to Army and UConn. The American Athletic Conference is down, but Temple looks further away than ever from contending.

2024 Record: 1-5 (0-2)

Next Game: Temple vs. Tulsa on 10/19

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8. Will Hall - Southern Miss Golden Eagles (remains at #8)
Will Hall was widely praised when Southern Miss hired him. The Golden Eagles went just 3-9 in his first season, but the optimism around his hire appeared validated in 2022 when Southern Miss built a 7-6 record. They fell back down to 3-9 again last season, and the pressure is now on in year four for Hall in Hattiesburg. Southern Miss is in the competitive Sun Belt and was blasted by Kentucky and South Florida. The Golden Eagles had a critical three-game stretch and were beaten soundly by Jacksonville State and Louisiana to begin. They now travel to Monroe to play the hot Warhawks, and Hall desperately needs a quick turnaround.

2024 Record: 1-4 (0-1)

Next Game: Southern Miss (+6.5) at UL Monroe on 10/12
9. Mike Neu - Ball State Cardinals (remains at #9)
Mike Neu is a former player at Ball State University. Coaching at your alma mater typically provides a bit more of a runway if there are struggles, as schools might be reluctant to fire a former player early. Still, Neu has had eight seasons in Muncie and only one winning season. It was in 2020 when the Cardinals went 7-1 and won the Arizona Bowl. They have had three straight losing seasons since that campaign, and the 2024 season has gotten off to a rough start.

Ball State barely beat Missouri State and then lost 62-0 to Miami in Week 3 to drop to 1-2. The misery continued with two conference losses and Neu is now 18 games under .500 in MAC play. Ball State is not a MAC power historically, but they are usually more competitive than they have been under Neu, and the 2024 season needs to be a success for him to keep his job.

2024 Record: 1-4 (0-2)

Next Game: Ball State (-6.5) at Kent State on 10/12
10. Ryan Walters - Purdue Boilermakers (new arrival)
Welcome to the hot seat, Ryan Walters! Midway through his second season in charge, Walters has already had to fire his offensive coordinator and his recruiting class is losing commits on a weekly basis. Purdue had a rough 2023 and the Boilermakers are just 1-4 and one of the worst teams in any power conference. They have given up 184 points through five games and no additional wins are guaranteed on the remaining schedule. If the Boilermakers don't show some life, it could be two and out for Walters.

2024 Record: 1-4 (0-2)

Next Game: Purdue +19.5 at Illinois on 10/12
Off the Hot Seat - Scott Satterfield - Cincinnati Bearcats (down from #10)
The Cincinnati Bearcats have a proud football history but are attempting to adjust a step up in competition. The Bearcats moved from the American Athletic Conference at the same time that Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin, and many immediately questioned the hiring of Scott Satterfield. Satterfield is in his second season, and his contract would make it difficult to move on, but his first season was a disaster. The Bearcats were only 3-9 and last in the Big 12. It was the worst season for Cincinnati since 1999. A meltdown against Pittsburgh hurt but the Bearcats have rebounded with two solid performances, including their first Big 12 win (a blowout over Houston). The offense has performed well enough to remove Satterfield from the hot seat.

2024 Record: 3-2 (1-1)

Next Game: Cincinnati at UCF (-3.5)

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Off the Hot Seat: Sam Pittman - Arkansas Razorbacks (down from #2)
Sam Pittman nearly got let go from Arkansas after the 2023 season. He entered this campaign on the hot seat after the Razorbacks brought Bobby Petrino to revitalize the offense. The offense has looked great with new quarterback Taylen Green, but they lost a big lead late to Oklahoma State and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. That said, Pittman gets removed from hot seat discussion after a thrilling win over Tennessee. The victory followed a win over Auburn and a close loss to Texas A&M. Arkansas looks like a team that can win eight games this season.

2024 Record: 4-2 (2-1)

Next Game: Arkansas vs. LSU on October 19
1. Billy Napier - Florida Gators (Remains #1)
The Florida administration may have entered this season with the plan to be patient and give Billy Napier time to continue building the program. The schedule is brutal, and just showing progress on the field was likely enough to give him another year. After ugly losses to Miami and Texas A&M, the end appeared imminent but Florida rallied for wins over Mississippi State and UCF. Those were "must gets" but Napier is still in very hot water with games against Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, LSU and Ole Miss on the horizon.

2024 Record: 3-2 (1-1)

Next Game: at Tennessee (Oct. 12)

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College Football Coaches Hot Seat Update After Week 6

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