The 2026 College Football Hot Seat Rankings reveal the job security status of all 138 FBS coaches, with Florida State's Mike Norvell, Wisconsin's Luke Fickell, and Baylor's Dave Aranda at the top of the list, each receiving a 5.0 hot-seat rating average. This high rating signifies the urgency these coaches face to improve their teams' performance. Other coaches with high ratings include Maryland's Mike Locksley at 4.9, South Carolina's Shane Beamer at 4.3, and North Carolina's Bill Belichick at 4.1. However, a high hot-seat rating doesn't always guarantee doom, as recent history shows more firings than not. Coaches like Hugh Freeze, Sam Pittman, and Mike Gundy were fired, but others like Brent Venables and Arizona's Brent Brennan turned their tenure around. A better hot seat rating doesn't guarantee future employment either, as Brian Kelly had a 3.33 before his midseason dismissal, and James Franklin was fired by Penn State despite a 1.33 preseason rating. The rankings provide valuable insights into the pressure and challenges faced by college football coaches, offering a comprehensive overview of their job security status.
