4 Under-the-Radar Coaches Emerge for 2026-27 College Football Carousel

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 25

Four lesser-known coaches — Jeff Traylor, Willie Fritz, Eric Morris and Tony Annese — were flagged as potential hires for major programs if 2026 hot-seat firings trigger another coaching shuffle.
Baylor, Florida State, South Carolina and Wisconsin were cited as plausible landing spots because each enters the season with pressure on its current coach and a need for quick turnaround options.
Traylor’s case rests on UTSA’s rise to conference titles and three straight bowl wins, while Fritz boosted Houston to 10 wins in 2025 after earlier success at Tulane.
Morris is cast as the fastest-rising name after jumping from North Texas to Oklahoma State at age 40, while Annese brings a different profile with four of the last five Division II national titles at Ferris State.
The picks come after a historic 2025 carousel that opened jobs at LSU, Florida and Penn State, even as expectations are for a somewhat calmer 2026 cycle.