Five College Football Coaches Feeling the Heat Heading Into 2026
February is usually the calm before the storm in college football. The transfer portal is closed, recruiting is in the books, and most coaches are catching their breath-maybe even sneaking in a beach day or two.
But not everyone’s relaxing. For a handful of head coaches, the pressure is already cranked up to full blast.
After a 2025 season that fell short for several high-profile programs, some big names are entering 2026 needing wins-and fast. Let’s break down five coaches with hot seats that are getting hotter by the day.
Matt Rhule - Nebraska
Three years in, and Nebraska fans are still waiting for the breakthrough.
Matt Rhule took over a program desperate for relevance, and while there’s been progress, it’s not the kind that satisfies a fanbase that remembers national titles, not just bowl eligibility. Rhule’s 10-17 record in conference play tells the story-competitive at times, but never quite climbing over the hump. Zero wins over ranked opponents during his tenure doesn’t help either.
Yes, the Cornhuskers are better than they were when he arrived. But “better than rock bottom” isn’t the standard in Lincoln.
Championships are. If Rhule doesn’t deliver a signature season soon, Nebraska could be looking for its next rebuild architect.
Deion Sanders - Colorado
Coach Prime lit up the college football world when he arrived-and for a while, the results matched the hype.
A win over TCU and a 3-0 start in 2024 turned Colorado into the biggest story in the sport. Travis Hunter.
Shedeur Sanders. Swagger.
Attention. But then came the crash.
A blowout loss to Oregon that season showed the cracks, and 2025 brought a full-on collapse. Medical issues limited Sanders during recruiting, and the Buffaloes spiraled to their worst record under his watch.
Now, the novelty is wearing off. The record is under .500.
The media frenzy is quieter. The question is simple: Can Coach Prime win consistently at the Power Five level?
If 2026 doesn’t bring answers, Colorado might start asking different questions.
Shane Beamer - South Carolina
Confidence has never been Shane Beamer’s issue. After a rough 4-8 season in 2025, including a 1-7 mark in SEC play, he still made a bold prediction: that the Gamecocks would be in the College Football Playoff conversation by this time next year.
That’s a tall order for a team that just coughed up a 27-point lead at Texas A&M and hasn’t shown much consistency on either side of the ball. Beamer’s energy and recruiting chops have bought him time in Columbia, but another sub-.500 campaign could be the end of the line.
In the SEC, hope is great. Results are better.
Bill Belichick - North Carolina
The Belichick experiment at UNC was always going to be fascinating. One of the greatest minds in NFL history stepping into the college game?
Intriguing. But so far, it’s been more frustrating than fruitful.
A 4-8 debut season was a far cry from the expectations that came with Belichick’s arrival. Losses to TCU, UCF, and Clemson stung.
Getting swept by Duke, NC State, and Wake Forest? That’s a dagger for Tar Heel fans.
The gruff demeanor that worked in Foxborough doesn’t hit the same when you’re losing to in-state rivals.
And now, the circus is going international-UNC opens the 2026 season in Ireland. Whether Belichick makes it that far is anyone’s guess.
With a $51 million buyout, the school may be stuck for now. But patience is wearing thin, and the results have to change.
Mike Norvell - Florida State
Just two years removed from a 13-1 season and an ACC title, Mike Norvell’s seat is suddenly scorching.
Florida State followed that high with two straight years of disappointment-2-10 and 5-7. Not exactly what you expect from a program that expects to be competing for national titles. The 2025 season teased a turnaround with a win over Alabama to open the year, but four straight losses quickly erased that momentum.
Norvell’s massive 10-year, $80 million extension-negotiated after the 2023 title run-has made him tough to move. But that didn’t stop Florida State from sniffing around Lane Kiffin in November. The buyout might be the only thing keeping him in Tallahassee right now.
The 2026 schedule offers no favors, with Miami, SMU, Clemson, Alabama, and Florida all on the docket. If Norvell doesn’t turn things around, the Seminoles could be writing a very expensive check to start fresh.
Bottom Line
The offseason may be quiet, but the pressure never really stops in college football-especially when expectations are sky-high and results fall flat. For these five coaches, 2026 isn’t just another season. It’s a make-or-break year, and the clock is already ticking.