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- š„ SPECIAL ISSUE: Which SEC Coaches Won't Survive 2025?
š„ SPECIAL ISSUE: Which SEC Coaches Won't Survive 2025?
We analyzed every factor that determines job security to rank the SEC's hottest seats


IN THIS ISSUE
The conference that eats coaches alive is hungry for more victims.
At least six head coaches are coaching for their jobs this season.
The SEC has always been ruthless, but 2025 represents a new level of coaching carnage. The conference now features 16 programs with championship expectations and zero tolerance for mediocrity.
Here's what makes this season different:
Buyouts that once seemed prohibitive are now routine expenses
Fan apathy develops after a single disappointing season
Recruiting battles determine job security more than bowl games
The transfer portal has become a coaching survival skill
In this special deep-dive issue, we rank all 16 SEC coaches from most likely to be fired to completely untouchable.
You'll discover:
Which coaches are already updating their rƩsumƩs
Who's walking the tightrope between security and unemployment
Why even some "safe" coaches should be watching their backs
The exact metrics that determine coaching survival in 2025
The coaching carousel is about to spin faster than ever.
Don't get caught off guard when the first domino falls.
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DEEP DIVE
The SEC coaching graveyard is about to get a lot more crowded.
After analyzing every factor that determines job security in today's college football landscapeāfrom win-loss records and recruiting momentum to fan sentiment and buyout structuresāwe've ranked all 16 SEC head coaches from most likely to be fired to completely untouchable. The results reveal a conference where even established coaches are just one bad season away from unemployment, and where traditional job security no longer exists.
1. Sam Pittman ā Arkansas
Status: Hottest Seat in the SEC
Record: Entering year 6, Pittman is 30-31 overall, with no upward trajectory since his early success.
Fan/Booster Sentiment: Enthusiasm has evaporated. Major boosters are withholding support, and the fanbase is disengagedāa critical warning sign in Fayetteville.
Historical Context: Arkansas rarely tolerates extended mediocrity. Pittmanās lack of progress and diminished excitement make a coaching change highly likely without a 9+ win breakthrough.
Bottom Line: Only a major turnaround can save him; otherwise, Arkansas will move on.

2. Brent Venables ā Oklahoma
Status: āWin or Be Firedā Year
Record: Two losing seasons in three years, including a 2-6 SEC debut.
Expectations: Oklahoma is historically intolerant of mediocrity. The move to the SEC has only heightened pressure.
Sentiment: Fans and boosters are out of patience. Administration has already made major staff and roster changesāVenables is out of excuses.
Bottom Line: Anything less than a clear winning season and bowl appearance likely ends his tenure.

3. Hugh Freeze ā Auburn
Status: On the Brink
Record: Year 3, two straight losing seasons, no bowl appearance yet.
Auburn Culture: Auburn has a short leash for underperformance, regardless of recruiting wins or roster excuses.
Fan/Booster Mood: Patience is gone; Freeze must deliver at least a bowl game or face dismissal.
Bottom Line: Auburnās history is ruthlessāFreeze is in the classic firing window.

4. Billy Napier ā Florida
Status: Critical Juncture
Record: 15-22 overall, no bowl in 2024.
Expectations: Florida expects to contend for SEC titles, not just bowl eligibility.
Sentiment: Fan patience is exhausted. Boosters are prepared to pay the buyout if thereās no significant improvement.
Bottom Line: Only a major leap in 2025 keeps him around.

5. Mark Stoops ā Kentucky
Status: Burning Hot Seat
Record: 4-8 in 2024, worst season in a decade, major roster turnover.
Fan Sentiment: Vocal frustration, buyout is large but not prohibitive. Fanbase wants change.
Expectations: Another losing season almost certainly ends his tenure.
Bottom Line: Stoops must deliver a bowl or better to keep his job.

6. Brian Kelly ā LSU
Status: Heating Up
Record: 8-4 last year, below playoff expectations.
Expectations: LSU expects national titles; another year short of a playoff berth will intensify scrutiny.
Sentiment: Media and fans openly discuss his future; buyout is significant but not a dealbreaker.
Bottom Line: Kelly must deliver a Playoff-caliber season or face real jeopardy.

7. Jeff Lebby ā Mississippi State
Status: Short Leash
Record: First year, but MSU is known for quick coaching turnover.
Expectations: Results are expected immediately; patience is minimal.
Sentiment: Any sign of regression or lack of competitiveness could result in a swift change.
Bottom Line: No grace periodāmust win now.

8. Shane Beamer ā South Carolina
Status: Cool, But Must Sustain
Record: 9-4 in 2024, best SEC record since 2017, major wins over ranked teams.
Expectations: Exceeded modest preseason projections, but must maintain momentum.
Sentiment: Fanbase is re-energized, but the SEC is unforgiving if progress stalls.
Bottom Line: Not in danger now, but regression could heat his seat quickly.

9. Eliah Drinkwitz ā Missouri
Status: Safe, But Watchful
Record: Coming off a strong year and bowl appearance.
Expectations: Must maintain momentum; a major drop-off would invite scrutiny.
Sentiment: Job is currently secure, but the leash isnāt infinite.
Bottom Line: Continued progress keeps him safe.

10. Mike Elko ā Texas A&M
Status: Secure for Now
Record: Year 1 at A&M, following a high-profile firing of Jimbo Fisher.
Expectations: High, but Elko is given time to implement his vision.
Sentiment: Not on the hot seat unless things go disastrously wrong.
Bottom Line: Has time, but expectations are massive.
11. Josh Heupel ā Tennessee
Status: Cool, But Canāt Regress
Record: Three straight AP Top-25 finishes.
Expectations: Must keep trending upward; fans expect continued relevance.
Sentiment: Not on the hot seat, but a major backslide would change that.
Bottom Line: Safe, but the standard is rising.
12. Kalen DeBoer ā Alabama
Status: Very Secure
Record: Second year, following Nick Sabanās retirement.
Expectations: Immense, but given time due to transition and strong debut.
Sentiment: No serious pressure unless thereās a total collapse.
Bottom Line: Safe for now, but the Alabama job is always high-stakes.
13. Steve Sarkisian ā Texas
Status: Ice Cold
Record: Back-to-back CFP semifinals, SEC title, elite recruiting.
Expectations: High, but heās delivering.
Sentiment: Strong support from administration and boosters.
Bottom Line: Job is extremely secure.
14. Lane Kiffin ā Ole Miss
Status: Among the Coolest
Record: 11-2 last year, consistent Top-15 finishes.
Expectations: Kiffin has exceeded program history; the fanbase is happy.
Sentiment: No credible pressure for a change.
Bottom Line: The Seat is among the coolest in the league.
15. Clark Lea ā Vanderbilt
Status: Very Secure
Record: 7-6 in 2024, first bowl appearance since 2018, historic win over Alabama.
Expectations: Program overachieved; Lea is credited with a breakthrough.
Sentiment: No pressure unless thereās a total collapse.
Bottom Line: The Job is very safe.
16. Kirby Smart ā Georgia
Status: Safest Job in College Football
Record: Two national titles, perennial playoff contender.
Expectations: National championship or bust, but Smart consistently delivers.
Sentiment: Unquestioned support.
Bottom Line: No scenario short of scandal or a multi-year collapse would put him at risk.

THATāS A WRAP
The SEC coaching carousel will spin faster in 2025 than it has in years.
By November, at least three of these coaches will be updating their rƩsumƩs. By December, athletic directors will be making calls to agents. And by January, the most unforgiving conference in college football will have claimed more victims.
Stay tuned as we expand our coaching hot seat analysis beyond the SEC.
Next up: We're diving deep into the Mountain West Conference, where coaches at Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, and more face their unique pressures and expectations. The Group of Five landscape presents different challenges, but the stakes for job security remain just as high.
Don't miss our comprehensive Mountain West coaching analysis, because every conference has coaches fighting for their professional lives.
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