3 SEC coaches on verge of getting fired heading into Week 13 ft. Brent Venables
The SEC's coaching hot seat list is a strange thing. Billy Napier is the coach most assumed to be fired. But first, he got a vote of confidence, and second, his Gators may have turned the corner and be okay.
Mark Stoops has probably had the most disappointing season, but it's hard to fire the coach with the most wins in Kentucky history.
Meanwhile, Jeff Lebby at Mississippi State will have the worst record, but there's not much precedent for dumping a first-year head coach. However, several coaches could still be in imminent jeopardy.
Here's the rundown on three of the most likely to be heading out.
3 SEC Coaches on Verge of Getting Fired
3. Hugh Freeze, Auburn
As with Lebby, the timing is a little off. Firing a coach after two years isn't unusual, but it is uncommon. That said, the Hugh Freeze era has been a disaster. He's 10-13 in two seasons with two more likely losses upcoming. More than losing is the means of losing. Auburn's offense has been as bad under Freeze as it was under Bryan Harsin (who got fired after two years).
Barring a minor miracle, Auburn will have its record-fourth straight losing season. The offensive guru has one of the SEC's weakest offenses. And yes, firing a second-year coach is odd, but Auburn fired Harsin after an 11-14 run in 2022. Freeze's record will be worse.
2. Brian Kelly, LSU
If two 10-win seasons weren't enough (and many were less than thrilled with those), how do LSU fans feel about a 6-4 team? It's plausible that LSU wins its last two games and bowl eligibility and ends up 9-4, a one-game slide from last season.
But Brian Kelly came to LSU to pursue titles and in the first year of the 12-team playoff, the Tigers are going nowhere near the playoff. A 9-4 record won't cost Kelly his job, but a 7-6 season is the kind of finish that could lead to a mutual split. Kelly is a good coach, but LSU is unlikely to settle for less than a great coach.
1. Brent Venables, Oklahoma
OU's 5-5 season has been a massive disappointment. In the preseason, OU was picked to finish in the middle of the league pack, but a likely 1-7 SEC season won't do Venables any favors. If OU does lose its last two to Alabama and LSU, that'll be a second losing season in three years for Brent Venables.
At many schools, a 21-17 run of three seasons would be just fine. But OU didn't jump into the SEC to post those numbers. In the seven seasons before Venables was hired, Oklahoma lost 14 total games. He has already topped that total in year three. It's not a great situation.
Which coaches do you think could get dumped? Share your thoughts below in our comments section!