Boston College Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien leads his team against the Syracuse Orange on Nov. 29 during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.

Rich Barnes, Imagn Images

Derek Mason, Middle Tennessee

Mason’s Power Four experience in the same position at Vanderbilt was supposed to be what Middle Tennessee needed to get back on track in the new-look Conference USA. But the Blue Raiders have posted matching 4-8 marks in Mason’s two seasons and finished in a tie for eighth and ninth in the conference standings. He easily tops the list among Group of Six coaches on the hot seat.

Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati

There’s been progress, just not enough: Cincinnati has gone from three wins in 2024 to five wins in 2025 and then seven wins and a bowl bid last season, but at no point has it been a legitimate Big 12 contender. The 2025 Bearcats won seven games in a row and rose as high as No. 16 in the Coaches Poll but dropped five in a row to end the year. At a minimum, Satterfield needs another six- or seven-win season to return in 2027.

Joe and Scott discuss potential exits for FSU’s Mike Norvell and USC’s Lincoln Riley due to rising pressures and underperformance throughout their tenures.

SportsGrid

Lincoln Riley, USC

Riley could solidify his job status with a rebound season behind a veteran starting quarterback, a wealth of skill options and the arrival of one of the nation’s top recruiting classes. But all bets are off if the Trojans don’t make the leap from eight or nine wins and remain in the playoff mix until the final weekend of the regular season. In fact, Riley might need to land a playoff berth to ensure that he sticks around beyond this year.

Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State

Mississippi State was undoubtedly better in Lebby’s season year, climbing from 2-10 in 2025 to a backdoor bowl bid as a 5-7 team – though the Bulldogs went from 0-8 in the SEC in Lebby’s debut to just 1-7 last fall. That lack of growth against elite competition is highlighted by the way rival Ole Miss has evolved into a legitimate title threat. Combined, these factors paint Lebby as the SEC coach under the most pressure to deliver in 2026.

Be the first to know