Coaches On The Hot Seat: Won’t Get Fired, But … WIN NOW
5. Gus Malzahn, Auburn
It’s a list of hot seat coaches – it’s as if we’re required by law to put Malzahn on here before the season starts. It’s not fair, and it’s not right considering he’s coming off a good 2019 with a win over Alabama. However, lose to Kentucky this week to kick things off, and there’s a big, big issue with three of the next four games on the road, starting with a trip to Georgia.
4. Les Miles, Kansas
The guy just started Year Two of a major rebuilding job, but …
Don’t get boat-raced by Coastal Carolina at home for a second straight season.
No excuses – a Power Five program shouldn’t look that much slower and out-of-sync than a Sun Belt squad that’s going to struggle to get to a winning record. The Jayhawks will come up with a win somewhere, but consider it a shock if they’re not double-digit underdogs the rest of the way.
3. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
He’s got the contract that’s going to keep him around several more years, but it’s time to take the program up a few notches and into the level of true SEC and College Football Playoff contenders.
With at Alabama and Florida coming up next, there can’t be even the slightest slip against Vanderbilt this week. No, he won’t be remotely close to fired even with an 0-3 start, but there will be a whole lot of grouchiness with a 1-2 start.
Duke has now lost seven of its last eight games, failed to score more than 27 in any of them, and haven’t scored more than 17 in six of those seven losses.
2. David Cutcliffe, Duke
He’s a made man and one of the true coach’s coaches in the business, but it’s been a rough, rough run since the middle of last year.
Losing at Notre Dame to start the season wasn’t any big deal, but getting rocked at home by Boston College 26-6 wasn’t okay, especially with three of the next four games on the road.
1. Dana Holgorsen, Houston
To be extremely fair, Holgorsen hasn’t had the slightest bit of luck getting this season up and going. Triple that considering 2019 turned into one big practice for 2020.
In so many ways it was the smart move after the gut-punch 38-31 loss to Tulane for a 1-3 start. A few key players – most notably now-Miami quarterback D’Eriq King – decided to sit out the last eight games to preserve their eligibility, the team played a whole lot of young options, and the 3-5 record the rest of the way wasn’t that awful considering the circumstances.
Now beat North Texas to finally start the season.
Who’s up next? The team that helped set the wheels in motion – Tulane.
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