The pressure is on for a handful of Power Four coaches heading into 2026, and for some of them, the margin for error is basically gone.
After a 2025 season that saw nearly 20 Power Four programs move on from their previous head coaches at different points during the year, the coaching carousel figures to slow down in the 2027 offseason. But that doesn’t mean the hot-seat conversation is over. A few coaches cannot afford another step backward in 2026 if they want to keep their jobs secure.
Bill O'Brien is one of them at Boston College. A seven-win debut quickly gave way to a two-win follow-up, and that kind of drop-off has put him in a vulnerable spot.
The frustration around him has only grown because of testy press conference interactions, and Eagles fans are openly wondering whether he is the right fit. Boston College also faces a roster with major turnover beyond the defensive backfield, and the likely quarterback is Mason McKenzie, a Division II transfer from Saginaw Valley State.
The schedule does him no favors, either, with three Power Four non-conference games and a slate that includes several upper-echelon ACC opponents.
Luke Fickell is in a similar bind at Wisconsin, where steady decline across his first three seasons has pushed him onto the hot seat. The Badgers spent 2024 and 2025 trying an air raid offense, a move that never really matched Wisconsin’s identity or Fickell’s background, and the results never followed.
Wisconsin is now hoping Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph can stabilize the quarterback position after a long run of turnover there. The stakes are obvious: the Badgers are trying to avoid a third straight losing season for the first time since the early 1990s.
At USC, Lincoln Riley’s seat is hot for a different reason - expectations. The Trojans bring back 15 starters from a 2025 team that won nine games, and Riley has said this is the best shape his roster has been in to make a College Football Playoff run during his time in Los Angeles.
But the path is brutal. USC has to face all three of the Big Ten’s 2025 College Football Playoff teams, plus Washington and Penn State, two programs trying to break into the playoff picture.
If the Trojans again finish one or two losses short of a playoff berth, the questions around Riley’s long-term future at USC will only get louder.
North Carolina made a bold move in the 2025 offseason by replacing Mack Brown with Bill Belichick, but the switch from one older coach to another hasn’t produced the kind of stability the Tar Heels wanted. Brown never missed a bowl game in his later run, while Belichick’s first season was enjoyable for about one possession before things unraveled against TCU and then continued to slide through ACC play. The Tar Heels are turning to new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who has a reputation as a strong play caller, though he also has the unfortunate distinction of being unable to save the last two coaches he worked under from getting fired.
Mike Norvell enters 2026 with the least goodwill of the group at Florida State. The shine from his perfect regular season is long gone after the Seminoles followed it with a 2-10 collapse in 2024, and fans never really got over it.
Florida State opened 2025 with a win over Alabama, but the follow-up against Power Four competition was a disappointing 2-7. Even reaching bowl eligibility in 2026 would not be enough to satisfy Seminoles fans.
In Other News...
Ernie Sims Keeps FSU Linebacker Recruiting Surge Rolling
Florida States linebacker room has been one of the more active areas of the roster since Ernie Sims was promoted to linebackers coach, and the early returns on the recruiting trail have matched the staffs urgency. Sims has already helped the Seminoles land several linebacker commitments while the program continues to mix in experienced transfers and high school additions, giving the position group both immediate depth and a longer-term pipeline.
The next name on the board is Israel Samuel, a 2028 three-star linebacker out of Texas whom Florida State has offered as the search for future talent keeps rolling. Samuel already has a crowded offer sheet that includes several national powers, and the Seminoles are working to get him on campus in the near future, with a visit still to be arranged. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Adds Duke Safety As Defensive Rebuild Keeps Rolling
Florida States defensive overhaul kept moving this week with the addition of former Duke safety Makhi Jones, a portal pickup for the 2026 season who gives Mike Norvell another piece to work with on that side of the ball. Jones arrives with three years of eligibility left after a steady 2025 at Duke, where he played in every game and chipped in 35 tackles and a fumble recovery.
The fit is the part that stands out most. Jones is expected to slide into rover and nickel duties in Tony Whites defense, adding another versatile body to a portal class that has already become a major part of Florida States rebuild. He is one of 24 transfer additions overall and one of seven brought in for the defense, a sign the Seminoles are still shaping this unit with an eye toward both depth and flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Just Made Clear Who Will Set The Tone On Defense
Florida State has spent the summer looking for the kind of defensive voice that can steady a young group, and Ashlynd Barker has been at the center of that conversation. The veteran safety has drawn consistent praise from the coaching staff for his work ethic and the way he carries himself in the program, the sort of presence that matters even before the pads come on. With his final season approaching, Barker is positioned to be one of the Seminoles most important figures in the secondary.
His offseason standing got another boost with the programs Break the Rock honor, a nod to the leadership and standard-setting that coaches want from their upperclassmen. It fits the way Florida State has described Barker throughout the summer workout period, as someone who sets an example in the room and on the field. For a defense that will lean on experience wherever it can find it, Barkers role looks less like a supporting piece and more like a tone-setter. [Read more 🡒]