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Since the first major head coach to be fired, Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher, happened on Sunday, it's now time to look at who could be on the chopping block next as the college football season is quickly coming to a close. Technically, Fisher isn't even the first, as Michigan State's Mel Tucker and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald were released earlier in the season.
Nonetheless, it should be yet another interesting offseason of coaching searches, as more than just Texas A&M football, Michigan State and Northwestern will likely be in the hunt for new leading men.
Let's take a look at some teams who could be looking to make a replacement.
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Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Who knows where these latest sign-stealing allegations are going with Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan program. Currently, it's a battle between him, the University of Michigan, and the Big Ten about a three-game suspension that went into effect last Saturday when the Wolverines faced Penn State at State College. But this is far from over, especially considering the NCAA still has yet to finish its investigation into the whole ordeal, not to mention the previous allegations against Harbaugh for recruiting violations back in 2020.
With such a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the program right now, that means that either Harbaugh could be fired depending on the findings of the investigation, or Harbaugh could outright leave for an NFL job, which has been highly suspected going back to last year.
Either way, Michigan could be looking for its next head coach by season's end, which would turn up the Big Ten in a big way because the big question with any of these searches is, who is the next big name out there currently?
Zach Arnett, Mississippi State
Although it came with unwanted circumstances, Zach Arnett accepted the Mississippi State job after the unfortunate passing of Mike Leach. It came at such a time that there was little room to do much of a coaching search, so the Bulldogs basically settled for Arnett, who was already a highly regarded assistant.
So far, it's been a less than desirable season for Mississippi State, as they are 4-6 and will need to try to beat Southern Miss and Ole Miss to become bowl-eligible. Ironically, they were just walloped by Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M on Saturday. Nonetheless, it could be time for a legitimate coaching search in Starkville.
Sam Pittman, Arkansas Razorbacks
After a promising campaign in 2021, getting the Razorbacks to a 9-4 season and an Outback Bowl victory, Sam Pittman is now looking at a bowl-less season. That 2021 season came off a season before of just three wins, albeit in the pandemic year. But even last year, Arkansas slipped to 7-6, yet still with a Liberty Bowl victory.
Being that this was Year 4 and the team has regressed, Pittman could very likely be out as the head man for the Razorbacks, as now his winning percentage has dropped below .500 (.478) with two games remaining against FIU and No. 14 Missouri. Would five-wins, one being an upset over Missouri, be enough for Pittman to keep his job?
Neal Brown, West Virginia
Besides Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, it was Neal Brown at West Virginia who perhaps had the hottest seat of them all coming into the 2023 season. Coming from Troy where he had three consecutive 10-plus win seasons, Brown has yet to garner anything more than six wins while at West Virginia.
Currently, he's at 6-4 with two games remaining against Cincinnati and Baylor. Maybe if he pulls out one or both of those victories, he would be able to keep his job. But don't be surprised if the Mountaineers start their head coaching search again. Although, according his new athletic director, Wren Baker, is said to be a fan of Brown's, per Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.
Lincoln Riley, USC
Okay, no, Lincoln Riley is not going to get fired this season after regression from last year's 11-3 year. However, with his prized quarterback in Caleb Williams leaving for the NFL, so could the Trojans' football team's head coach.
This is only speculation but it would make a lot of sense, especially with the comfortability that Riley and Williams seem to have with each other with Williams following his coach from Oklahoma. Plus, USC is entering a completely different playing field next season entering the Big Ten conference, where things could be even more challenging than this season was for Riley and the Trojans.
By far, Jimbo Fisher's firing is the most notable, but Riley leaving would perhaps change the whole dynamic of the college football coaching search.
