10 College Football Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2020

quote:

---

10. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M Aggies

One thing is clear, Fisher isn’t going to be fired any time soon. Not because of his results or reputation, but because of his massive, fully guaranteed, $75 million contract. At the time of signing this contract drew criticism, and early results are showing that it may have been a huge mistake. Fisher’s results haven’t been too bad, with 17 total wins including two bowl victories. But that contract comes with pressure. Texas A&M isn’t paying him $7.5 million a year to win the Texas Bowl. The Aggies should be reaching at least double-digit wins, and actually beating some of the top SEC teams. So far they haven’t done that, and if Fisher doesn’t change that soon, his seat will really start to burn — not that he’ll actually be in danger of losing it.

9. Manny Diaz, Miami Hurricanes
8. Scott Frost, Nebraska Cornhuskers
7. Randy Edsall, Connecticut Huskies

6. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt Commodores

It’s unclear why Mason hasn’t been fired yet. He was already popping up on lists like this heading into 2018. That season, the Commodores went 6-7. That was enough for him to stay for a 3-9 2019, after which he somehow still appears to be hanging on. The only reason he isn’t higher on this list is that Vanderbilt’s decision makers are clearly determined to give him a more than fair chance. If finishing the season with the nation’s sixth-worst offense wasn’t enough to get him fired, it’s unclear what will. But that breaking point surely has to be coming, so Mason will have to get his team to pick things up in 2020 if he wants to keep surviving.

5. Will Muschamp, South Carolina Gamecocks

Last year was the first time Muschamp has failed to lead the Gamecocks to a bowl game. Their 4-8 record was also the worst in his tenure, a continuation of a downward trend three years in the making. In Muschamp’s defense, playing in the stacked SEC is always tough: According to Sports Reference, South Carolina faced the fourth-hardest schedule in 2019. Unfortunately for Muschamp, their schedule isn’t looking any easier in 2020. Easy wins will be few and far between next season, and if Muschamp doesn’t find a few more wins somewhere, it may be his last.

4. Chip Kelly, UCLA Bruins
3. Tom Herman, Texas Longhorns

2. Kevin Sumlin, Arizona Wildcats

Sumlin was hired at Arizona in 2018 after a successful stint at Texas A&M, where he earned a reputation as a quarterback guru and capable head coach. Since arriving at Arizona, he has failed to live up to that reputation. In 2019, Arizona finished with a 4-8 record and at the bottom of the Pac-12 South. Meanwhile, electric Wildcat quarterback Khalil Tate regressed under Sumlin’s tutelage. Tate’s best year in completion percentage, passer rating and rushing production was 2017, before Sumlin arrived. If Sumlin doesn’t start delivering on his reputation soon, he will be hoping that reputation is enough to find him another job.

1. Clay Helton, USC Trojans

---