Ranking College Football's Open Head-Coaching Jobs for the 2025-26 Carousel

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Ranking College Football's Open Head-Coaching Jobs for the 2025-26 Carousel

Steven Lassan · Athlon Sports

Thu, Oct 30, 2025 ·

16 min read

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College football's carousel for the 2025-26 season is already active with 12 job openings, including eight at the power conference level. Stanford and Kent State both made coaching changes prior to the '25 season, and the carousel has sped up significantly in recent weeks with Florida, Penn State, and LSU openings. And with several coaches still on the hot seat entering Week 10, the carousel doesn't appear to be slowing anytime soon.

Sorting out which college football program is the best job is a source of constant debate. Each of the 136 jobs in the nation presents its share of challenges, resource concerns, recruiting territory, or just the willingness to win or commitment level from the school.

Which of the open jobs is best in the 2025 coaching carousel? Athlon Sports takes a look at the pros, cons, recruiting, win trends, and other factors to consider for determining which open job should be the most attractive to head coaches.

(Note: This list will be updated as more jobs become open this season. Every job that opens this offseason will be included in this list.)

Ranking College Football's Open Head-Coaching Jobs for the 2025-26 Carousel

LSU Tigers cheerleaders perform during a game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Oct. 12, 2024.

1. LSU

Why LSU is Open:LSU fired coach Brian Kelly on Oct. 26 after the team's 49-25 loss to Texas A&M in Week 9.

Pros:This is one of the premier jobs in college football. LSU has won three national championships since 2003 and has all of the resources, fan support, and tradition to win at a high level and consistently make the 12-team College Football Playoff. The state of Louisiana produces a high level of talent each year. Despite different coaching tenures, LSU thrives at keeping that talent at home. The program also invested heavily in NIL last offseason after falling behind some of the SEC's top teams in recent years.

Cons:It's hard to find many (if any) drawbacks for this job. LSU is competing with Florida and Penn State, so it's a crowded competition to hire a top candidate. The school is also going through some turnover on the administrative side with a new president hire coming soon. Now, the governor is involved in the saga as well .

Other Factors of Note:LSU has posted only one losing season since 2000.

Potential Candidates: Complete list of LSU coaching candidates to replace Brian Kelly

2. Florida

Why Florida is Open:Florida fired coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19. The Gators went 22-23 under Napier's watch, including a 12-16 stint in SEC play.

Pros:Florida is one of the top jobs in the nation. With a talent-rich state to recruit from, a fan base eager to get back to the top of the SEC, along with a strong track record of success in the modern era of college football, there are few downsides to this job. The Gators have won three national championships since 1996, showcasing the program can consistently win at the highest level. After falling behind on facilities and NIL investment, Florida has made substantial progress. The program opened a new football training facility in '22 .

Cons:Florida is one of the top states for high school talent, but the Gators have plenty of competition from in-state rivals Florida State and Miami . Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia also recruit the state prominently. The administrative side of the school has been a mess in recent years. The next coach needs alignment in order to elevate the program to the highest levels of college football.

Other Factors of Note:Florida hasn't posted a winning season in SEC play since 2020. The program also has just two years of double-digit victories since '16.

Potential Candidates: Complete list of Florida coaching candidates to replace Billy Napier

The Penn State Nittany Lions run onto the field before their White Out game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium on Oct. 22, 2022. © Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

3. Penn State

Why Penn State is Open:Penn State fired coach James Franklin on Oct. 12. Franklin's dismissal came after the program lost three consecutive games after opening 2025 with national championship aspirations. Franklin went 104-45 with the Nittany Lions.

Pros:Penn State has all of the pieces in place to compete for national championships. The program has a strong tradition and a passionate fan base that fills the stadium for each home game. Additionally, the recruiting territory is outstanding with opportunities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and along the East Coast. Under athletic director Pat Kraft, the program has made the necessary investments to improve facilities (including a $700 million renovation of Beaver Stadium), hire or retain top assistants, and player retention.

Cons:James Franklin won 104 games and guided the program to six seasons of double-digit victories. Although this year's underachievement played a significant role in his dismissal, it's clear Penn State wants its next coach to lead this program beyond being a top-10 team and into contention for the national title. The expectations are high for the next head coach.

Other Factors of Note:Penn State reached the College Football Playoff last season but has not won a national title since 1986. Franklin's coordinators, Andy Kotelnicki (offense) and Jim Knowles (defense), were among the highest-paid assistant coaches in the nation.

Potential Candidates: Complete list of Penn State coaching candidates to replace James Franklin

4. Arkansas

Why Arkansas is Open:Arkansas fired coach Sam Pittman on Sept. 28. Pittman went 32-34 with the Razorbacks since 2020 and guided the program to three bowl trips in that span.

Pros:This job has its share of challenges, but Arkansas has a passionate fan base that wants to win at a high level, along with solid facilities to sell on the recruiting trail. Northwest Arkansas is also home to a growing corporate sector (Walmart and Tyson Foods), giving the program (potentially) untapped resources to expand its NIL ability.

Cons:The state of Arkansas doesn't produce enough high-level talent to win a SEC title. The Razorbacks need to recruit Texas, Oklahoma, and the surrounding states to elevate this program. However, with Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma joining the SEC, the task of luring talent to Fayetteville has grown more challenging. Also, athletic director Hunter Yurachek recently admitted the program has room to catch up to its SEC peers on the budget front. The nine-game SEC slate won't make life any easier for the next Arkansas head coach in '26 and beyond.

Other Factors of Note:Arkansas has just three double-digit win seasons since 1990.

Potential Candidates: Complete list of Arkansas coaching candidates to replace Sam Pittman

Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker George Ballance (41), linebacker Antwone Santiago (26) and offensive lineman Aidan Lynch (76) carry flags into Lane Stadium before their team's game against the California Golden Bears in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Oct. 24, 2025.© Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

5. Virginia Tech

Why Virginia Tech is Open:Virginia Tech fired coach Brent Pry on Sept. 14 after a 45-26 loss to Old Dominion, which dropped the Hokies to 0-3. Pry went 16-24 overall as the head coach in Blacksburg.

Pros:Virginia Tech is a solid job with the potential to compete for the ACC title. The school also plans to make a significant investment in athletics, adding $229 million to the budget over the next four seasons. The next coach has fertile recruiting territory to mine in the state of Virginia, as well as the surrounding DMV area. Lane Stadium is one of the ACC's top home fields, and the Hokies have a passionate fan base that wants to win. Also, the path to the College Football Playoff is favorable in the ACC.

Cons:How fast will Virginia Tech see the increased investment pay off for the program? Of the 20 times the Hokies finished a season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, 16 came during Frank Beamer's tenure. Can another coach replicate Beamer's success after the last two coaches (Justin Fuente and Pry) both ended with a firing?

Other Factors of Note:Virginia Tech did not have a losing season from 1993-2017. However, the Hokies have posted five since '18 and face an uphill battle to record a winning mark in '25.

Potential Candidates: Complete list of Virginia Tech coaching candidates to replace Brent Pry

6. UCLA

Why UCLA is Open:UCLA fired coach DeShaun Foster on Sept. 14 after a 35-10 loss to New Mexico, which dropped the team to 0-3. Foster went 5-10 as head coach of the Bruins.

Pros:Potential. With a location in the talent-rich state of California, along with Big Ten resources, UCLA should be able to compete at a high level.

Cons:Although this job has a ton of potential, resources and fan support have lagged. Will UCLA's administration continue to make necessary investments into the program to help the Bruins compete for playoff trips in the Big Ten?

Other Factors of Note:UCLA last won a conference title in 1998. The Bruins have just one finish in the top 25 since '16.

Potential Candidates: Complete list of UCLA coaching candidates to replace DeShaun Foster

Oklahoma State's Josh Ford (40) celebrates a touchdown with teammate Shamar Rigby (7) during their team's game against the Baylor Bears at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Sept. 27, 2025.© SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

7. Oklahoma State

Why Oklahoma State is Open:Oklahoma State fired coach Mike Gundy on Sept. 23 after a 19-12 loss to Tulsa in Week 4. Gundy — a former Oklahoma State quarterback — finished his tenure in Stillwater with a 170-90 mark.

Pros:Considering how wide open the Big 12 is on a year-to-year basis, the right coach can build rosters capable of consistently competing for the conference title and a playoff berth. Oklahoma State has a solid recruiting territory in Texas, with Dallas less than five hours away.

Cons:Oklahoma State has work to do to catch up in the NIL space for attracting roster talent. Stability is also needed in the school's leadership positions to help the new coach grow this program in the new era of college football.

Other Factors of Note:Under Gundy's watch, Oklahoma State had just two losing seasons from 2005-24. However, from 1989-2001, the program posted losing records in 12 of those 13 years.

Potential Candidates: Complete list of Oklahoma State coaching candidates to replace Mike Gundy

8. Stanford

Why Stanford is Open: Stanford fired coach Troy Taylor in April after an off-field investigation. Former NFL coach Frank Reich is working as the team's interim coach for the '25 season. He's not expected to pursue the job on a full-time basis.

Pros:Stanford is a job with challenges, but for the right coach, this program can be a long-term fit. Also, Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw proved you can win (albeit in a different era of college football) at a high level here. With former quarterback Andrew Luck in charge of the program, there's a willingness to do what it takes to become a consistent winner again. Although there are financial challenges with travel in the ACC, Stanford has a solid conference home after the Pac-12 fell apart.

Cons:Even if Stanford wants to build a winning program, the academic admissions at this school limit the recruiting pool and could make it difficult to manage the transfer portal. Going to a bowl is a reasonable goal, but the Cardinal have not posted a winning mark in a full season since '18. Simply put, it's hard to build a high-level winner on an annual basis here.

Other Factors of Note:Stanford had one of the more challenging schedules in terms of travel this year. The Cardinal rank No. 2 among teams at the FBS level in total distance to matchups. Having a home in the ACC provided a safe landing after the Pac-12's collapse, but Stanford is clearly a geographic outlier.

Potential Candidates: Complete list of Stanford coaching candidates to replace Troy Taylor

Oregon State Beavers mascot Benny Beaver performs before a game against the Lafayette Leopards at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon, on Oct. 18, 2025.© Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

9. Oregon State

Why Oregon State is Open:Oregon State fired coach Trent Bray on Oct. 12. Bray finished his tenure in Corvallis with a 5-14 record.

Pros:The Pac-12 is no longer a power conference, but Oregon State invested at that level prior to the collapse of the league. With good facilities — including a major renovation to Reser Stadium — the Beavers are positioned to compete at a high level in the new Pac-12. Although this is a challenging job, Mike Riley, Dennis Erickson, and Jonathan Smith all showed you can consistently piece together winning seasons.

Cons: Oregon State is one of the programs impacted the most by conference realignment. The Beavers went from a home among teams in power conferences to a revamped Pac-12 that includes Washington State, Boise State, Fresno State, Utah State, Texas State, San Diego State, and Colorado State. In addition to the step back in conference strength, the new Pac-12 won't match the television revenue of the old 12-team conference. Regardless of the Pac-12 membership, Oregon State has traditionally ranked among the toughest places to win, and it lacks a strong in-state base of talent to recruit.

Other Factors of Note:Oregon State is expected to have one of the top football budgets in the Pac-12 in '26.

Potential Candidates:Bryan Harsin (California offensive coordinator), Nick Rolovich (California offensive assistant), Brent Vigen (Montana State head coach), Paul Chryst (former Wisconsin head coach), Kirby Moore (Missouri offensive coordinator), Ryan Grubb (Alabama offensive coordinator), Tim Plough (UC Davis head coach), Bobby Hauck (Montana head coach), Tim Polasek (North Dakota State head coach)

A general view of Canvas Stadium is seen during the Colorado State Rams' homecoming game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Oct. 18, 2025.© Kevin Lytle/The Coloradoan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

10. Colorado State

Why Colorado State is Open:Colorado State fired coach Jay Norvell on Oct. 19. The Rams went 18-26 under Norvell and posted just one winning season (2014). Tyson Summers is the team's interim coach for the remainder of '25.

Pros:There's a lot to like about this job. Colorado State opened a new stadium in 2017, and Fort Collins is widely regarded for its livability. The Rams are also on the move from the Mountain West to the Pac-12. Colorado State is willing to pay its next head coach. Norvell was the Mountain West's highest-paid coach in '24 and ranked second to UNLV's Dan Mullen in '25.

Cons:Despite a lot of positives about this job, Colorado State has only one double-digit win season since 2003. The Rams also have just one winning mark in Mountain West play since '18. The state of Colorado doesn't produce enough talent to build a roster capable of winning the Pac-12. The next coach must thrive at recruiting California, Texas, Nevada, Utah, and the transfer portal.

Other Factors of Note:Colorado State ranked third among Mountain West teams in average attendance (33,082) last season.

Potential Candidates:Collin Klein (Texas A&M offensive coordinator), Brent Vigen (Montana State head coach), Tony Alford (Michigan running backs coach), Klint Kubiak ( Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator), Kirby Moore (Missouri offensive coordinator), Jay Hill (BYU defensive coordinator)

11. UAB

Why UAB is Open:UAB fired coach Trent Dilfer on Oct. 12. The former NFL quarterback was a questionable hire in 2023 and went 9-21 over three seasons in charge.

Pros:The state of Alabama and the surrounding area produces plenty of talent for the Blazers to build a roster on the recruiting trail. UAB's home venue, Protective Stadium, opened in 2021, and the football facilities have been upgraded in recent years.

Cons:UAB has room to catch up to its American Conference rivals on the budget side. Also, there's not a ton of football tradition or success. The Blazers have just five bowl appearances since 1996. Can the next coach help this program tap into its recruiting strengths and return UAB to the winning ways Bill Clark brought from 2014-21 with a 49-26 mark?

Other Factors of Note:UAB has just one season of double-digit victories since moving to the FBS level.

Potential Candidates:Bill Clark (former UAB head coach), Bryant Vincent (ULM head coach), Drew Cronic (Navy offensive coordinator), Neal Brown (former West Virginia head coach), Skip Holtz (UFL Birmingham Stallions head coach), Tyson Helton (Western Kentucky head coach)

12. Kent State

Why Kent State is Open:Kenni Burns was dismissed in April as Kent State's head coach following a 1-23 record due to violations of his contract. The program opted to promote Mark Carney as the interim coach for 2025.

Pros:Kent State is a difficult job, but the program has a solid base of high school talent to recruit from in the state of Ohio as well as Pennsylvania and Michigan. Also, the MAC is a relatively stable conference, so the program won't have to worry about getting shuffled out of a home. With the right coach, in a conference that's as unpredictable as the MAC, Kent State can turn around its fortunes in a hurry.

Cons:This is one of the toughest jobs in college football. Facilities and financial resources are a major issue with this program. The next coach will have to thrive at doing more with less and find ways to retain talent in the program to overcome NIL disadvantages.

Other Factors of Note: Since 1962, Kent State has posted only three seasons of more than seven victories. The Golden Flashes have played in four bowl games in that same span.

The Hire:Mark Carney was promoted from interim to the full-time role on Oct. 30.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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