The Athletic Flags Bill Belichick, Lincoln Riley Among 2026 College Football Hot Seats
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 28
The Athletic Flags Bill Belichick, Lincoln Riley Among 2026 College Football Hot Seats
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 28
Summary
The Athletic’s 2026 hot-seat ranking says the coaching carousel could turn chaotic again, with North Carolina’s Bill Belichick and USC’s Lincoln Riley among the most endangered big-name coaches.
7 of the 12 Power 4 coaches The Athletic flagged before 2025 were later fired, underscoring why this year’s list carries weight after last season’s upheaval.
Belichick enters Week 0 after a 4-8 debut at UNC, a $10 million-a-year hire now facing program dysfunction, an HR investigation involving GM Mike Lombardi and a schedule that could produce a 1-3 start.
Riley faces Year 5 pressure at USC after back-to-back uneven seasons; even 8-4 could be dangerous despite the nation’s No. 1 2026 recruiting class and major NIL and facilities spending.
Florida State’s Mike Norvell also lands in the hottest tier, with a buyout around $45 million and sources saying even an 8-4 finish may not secure him after a 5-7 season.