No FBS head coach has been fired during the 2026 college football season as of Tuesday, September 29. That will change: 2025 set a record with 15 FBS head coaches fired in season, including Penn State’s James Franklin, LSU’s Brian Kelly and Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, at a combined buyout cost of about $270 million. The first firing of 2025 came on September 14. This page lists every 2026 in season firing as it happens, with the interim coach and the buyout, and keeps the watch list below it.
2026 Coaches Fired
| Date | Coach | School | Record at firing | Interim | Buyout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None yet |
Watch List
| Coach | School | Why he is here |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Norvell | Florida State | 7 and 17 over the past two seasons; new athletic director in place |
| Bill Belichick | North Carolina | Lost to Clemson in Week 3 after a 2 and 0 start |
| Dabo Swinney | Clemson | Two national titles, but pressure has built after recent seasons |
| Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | Trying to avoid a third straight losing season |
| Lincoln Riley | USC | Big contract, no Big Ten title yet |
| Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | Year three in Tuscaloosa |
| Shane Beamer | South Carolina | Athletic director confirmed his return for 2026 |
| Mike Locksley | Maryland | Back to back 4 and 8 seasons, 1 and 8 in the Big Ten both years |
| Dave Aranda | Baylor | Went 5 and 7 in 2025 |
| Greg Schiano | Rutgers | Fourth season of seven or more losses looms |
| Bill O’Brien | Boston College | 2 and 10 in 2025 with 10 straight losses |
| Dave Doeren | NC State | Moved onto hot seat lists in September |
| Deion Sanders | Colorado | National reports in September said his time may be running out |
The watch list is drawn from national hot seat reporting and is not a prediction. Our full rankings are on the coaches hot seat tracker.
How 2025 Went
| Date | Coach | School |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 14, 2025 | DeShaun Foster | UCLA |
| Sept. 23, 2025 | Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State |
| Sept. 28, 2025 | Sam Pittman | Arkansas |
| Oct. 12, 2025 | James Franklin | Penn State |
| October 2025 | Brian Kelly | LSU |
| Nov. 30, 2025 | Jonathan Smith | Michigan State |
Fifteen FBS coaches were fired without cause during the 2025 season and 32 jobs opened in all, the most active carousel on record. Lane Kiffin’s move from Ole Miss to LSU in December was the biggest hire.
Related
Coaches hot seat tracker · College football coaching salaries · College football TV schedule
2025 totals from The Comeback via Yahoo Sports.