USA Today put Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield on its list of 11 coaches on the hot seat heading into the 2026 college football season, a group that also includes Bill Belichick, Luke Fickell, Mike Norvell, Dave Aranda, Mike Locksley, Shane Beamer, Lincoln Riley, Jeff Lebby, Bill O'Brien, and Derek Mason.
The list appeared in USA Today’s Aug. 11 article, “College football hot seat list: 11 coaches facing heat, with Bill Belichick on fire.” For Satterfield, writer Blake Toppmeyer made the case that the pressure around him has been hard to pin down from week to week.
As the article put it, “the temperature around Satterfield fluctuates like spring in the Midwest... He entered last season facing heat.
Then, the Bearcats started 7-1. Ah, a nice cool breeze...
They finished by losing five straight, continuing Satterfield's trend for November swoons.”
Toppmeyer also described Satterfield as “just a .500 coach,” noting that he cannot count on contract protection even though he is under contract through 2028. His buyout drops to $5.53 million after this season, a number that could become a major factor if Cincinnati struggles again.
The article also framed several of the other names on the list as coaches who are expected to deliver this season. Shane Beamer is said to have his best roster at South Carolina, while USC and Lincoln Riley are being positioned for their best season as part of the Big Ten. At the same time, Luke Fickell, Bill Belichick, and Mike Norvell are among the coaches who need a strong year to be back in the conversation next season.
In Other News...
Bearcats Still Chasing A Final Backcourt Piece For Calhouns First Roster
Jerrod Calhoun is still piecing together his first Cincinnati roster, and the work has remained centered on the backcourt as he builds mostly through the transfer portal. The Bearcats are among several programs showing interest in a seasoned guard with a track record at both Michigan State and NC State, a player who has earned a reputation for defense and steady production while fitting the kind of experience-laden approach Calhoun has leaned into.
The timing, though, is tied to a bigger question than just fit or interest. Cincinnati is waiting along with the rest of the field on an NCAA eligibility decision that could shape where this veteran guard lands next, and until that gets sorted out, the Bearcats can only keep doing what they have been doing this offseason: chasing one more backcourt piece that could help make this new-look group more tournament-ready. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Looks Like An Early Big 12 Test For Cincinnati
Arizona arrives in the Big 12 conversation with enough proven pieces to look like an early measuring stick for Cincinnati, even before the schedule fully settles in. Quarterback Noah Fifita gives the Wildcats a steady presence at the most important position, while running back Kedrick Reescano adds another layer to an offense that already has enough returning talent to make opponents pay for mistakes.
For the Bearcats, that makes this one more than just another new-league matchup. Arizonas mix of established playmakers and a defense that still has some unknowns could tell a lot about where Cincinnati stacks up in a conference where there is little room to ease in, and it is the kind of game that can reveal both a teams ceiling and the holes it still has to patch. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Are Counting On Two Early Signs As Camp Nears The End
As fall camp winds down, the Bearcats are closing in on the kind of final scrimmage that can tell a staff a lot about where things stand before the season starts to take shape. Scott Satterfield has liked what he has seen from the defense, especially up front, where the defensive line has drawn praise for showing real improvement and helping a unit that has flashed more consistently as camp has gone on.
The more delicate evaluation is on the other side, where JC French IV is taking on new responsibilities and being asked to process a lot in a short time. Satterfields staff has pushed him through the usual camp growing pains, and the emphasis has been less on avoiding mistakes entirely than on making sure they turn into lessons, while safety MJ Cannon has set an ambitious tone for the defense by talking about creating turnovers. What happens in the final scrimmage will not settle everything, but it should offer one last look at whether those early signs are holding up. [Read more 🡒]