Odds for next CFB coach to be fired: Mike Norvell, Ryan Walters among others on hot seat heading into Week 10
Many college football coaches entered the 2024 season knowing there was very little margin for error for keeping their jobs. Now that the season is over halfway done, those margins are starting to be breached by some. Speculation is on regarding which big-name coaches should be shipped off in the near future.
Some, like Arkansas' Sam Pittman, were discussed long before the season started as being on a perpetual hot seat. Others, like Florida State's Mike Norvell, entered the year coming off an undefeated season and slowly but surely stepped into the "could be fired at any moment" conversation.
You can bet on who you think will be the next coach fired in the Power Four conferences. It includes a good mix of unsurprising, familiar and wildcard names:
Brand bigger than the record
There are some unsurprising names on the list who make their way in for not delivering good records to teams with recent success.
Mike Norvell's place at the top of the list is very understandable: Florida State is bad. Not underperforming. Just bad.
At 1-7, the Seminoles are currently experiencing a season from hell that will not only likely cost Norvell his job, but cost the program several high-level players to the transfer portal. These are players who either committed to Norvell or those who want to find a more secure situation to be in.
Billy Napier has the Gators currently sitting at 4-3 after leading them to a losing 5-7 record last year. It was the lack of success that the Gators had not been used to and another mediocre finish could see Napier out of the job very soon.
Their three losses have come to teams currently ranked, in Miami (FL.), Texas A&M and Tennessee. It doesn't get any easier as they now have a four-game streak of ranked opponents – No. 2-ranked Georgia, No. 6-ranked Texas, No. 16-ranked LSU and No. 19-ranked Ole Miss.
That could result in a 4-7 record that might have Napier booted before the schedule officially ends.
Auburn's Hugh Freeze has brought Auburn one of its most subpar – embarrassing if you really think about it – seasons in recent memory. Not only are the Tigers 2-5, but their losses feel difficult to stomach. While they are coming off a 24-10 win against the Kentucky Wildcats, the season is far from saveable.
A team having a down year can add some silver lining to their season if they beat their rivals. Even if Auburn caught Alabama off guard, it doesn't seem like they could make up the ground for the humiliating losses to mediocre teams this year.
Justin Wilcox is a wildcard. He's only put together two winning seasons at Cal since getting there in 2017 – you'd figure that would show some patience from the university.
Cal currently stands at 4-4 in their first year in the ACC. If Wilcox doesn't finish the year strong, the Golden Bears might want to be looking for a new voice as they navigate their new home conference.