SEC Preseason Hot Seat Coach Rankings 2021
14. Nick Saban, Alabama
Yeah, in a pure pressure hot seat sort of way you could argue that no one has more ridiculous expectations to deal with – win the national title or the season is a disaster – but the greatest college football coach of all-time could go winless and get a pay raise.
Record With Team: 164-23
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 14, 2019: 14, 2018: 14
Alabama Preview | Schedule
13. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
No one is expecting anything in Lea’s first year – it’ll be a massive success if he comes up with two SEC wins. All new head coaches have to show a different direction and a little bit of hope. More than at just about any other Power Five gig outside of Kansas, a bad record won’t mean much.
Record With Team: 0-0
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: NA, 2019: NA, 2018: NA
Vanderbilt Preview | Schedule
12. Dan Mullen, Florida
The Gators were wildly fun throughout last year and pushed Alabama hard in a fantastic SEC Championship. After a great first three seasons with the offense rocking and the team taking the next step up, he could afford a bit of a slip and be more than fine.
Record With Team: 29-9
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 10, 2019: 7, 2018: 5
Florida Preview | Schedule
11. Shane Beamer, South Carolina
There’s almost no pressure whatsoever in Year One. Will Muschamp was able to survive for a while on a flaming hot seat, and then it was all over before last year was done. There’s just enough talent to hope for a few big moments, but it’s a redshirt season.
Record With Team: 0-0
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: NA, 2019: NA, 2018: NA
South Carolina Preview | Schedule
– 2021 CFN Preseason SEC Rankings
10. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Don’t assume a hot seat just means a coach has to win or get fired. Smart isn’t getting canned – and if he does, he’d be snapped up in a heartbeat – but the pressure is crushing to get back over the hump and into the College Football Playoff National Championship after a few years off. Not winning the East would be a disaster.
Record With Team: 52-13
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 12, 2019: 13, 2018: 13
Georgia Preview | Schedule
9. Ed Orgeron, LSU
2020 was supposed to be an all-timer of a rebuilding year, and it was every bit of that and more. After what Orgeron did in 2019 he can have a total dud of a year and still be fine, but LSU has to show it has reloading power like Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State.
Record With Team: 45-14
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 13, 2019: 5, 2018: 2
LSU Preview | Schedule
8. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
There’s obviously no shot of getting fired, but the pressure is on. Now that he showed just how close Texas A&M could come to being College Football Playoff good, it’s time to get into the tournament. This is why Fisher got the massive contract that gave him time to get everything in place. He appears to have pushed past the early struggles, and now the program is on the verge of taking off.
Record With Team: 26-10
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 2, 2019: 12, 2018: 1
Texas A&M Preview | Schedule
7. Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Pittman is in a nice spot. The 3-7 first season was actually a success – the program looked and played like it was moving forward – and he’ll get another year or two to keep building it back up.
Record With Team: 3-7
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 8, 2019: NA, 2018: NA
Arkansas Preview | Schedule
– 2021 CFN Preseason All-SEC Team
6. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
The pressure is there because 1) he’s Lane Kiffin, 2) the 2020 team showed a whole lot of promise, and 3) just about everyone is coming back. No one’s expecting an SEC championship, but if Kiffin really is that good, this has to be a huge season considering what he has in place.
Record With Team: 5-5
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 9, 2019: NA, 2018: NA
Ole Miss Preview | Schedule
5. Mark Stoops, Kentucky
His name was thrown into the mix for bigger gigs over the last few years – Florida State was on the table after 2019 – but an underwhelming 5-6 2020 soured things a bit. He could still survive another losing season, but it would make 2022 extremely tense.
Record With Team: 49-50
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 11, 2019: 13, 2018: 13
Kentucky Preview | Schedule
4. Josh Heupel, Tennessee
It’s Tennessee so there’s always intense pressure – especially from those who might have liked Hugh Freeze, or some other SEC name – but as long as Heupel can get the O going, all should be fine in his first year. Just go bowling and it’ll be a good season.
Record With Team: 0-0
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: NA, 2019: NA, 2018: NA
Tennessee Preview | Schedule
– 2021 CFN SEC Predictions For Every Game
3. Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri
Mizzou whacked favorite son Barry Odom after a 6-6 season hampered by NCAA sanctions, and then Drinkwitz came in and went 5-5. The relatively new guy will get a few more years to work, but the base will get a bit grouchy if there aren’t signs of major improvement.
Record With Team: 5-5
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 7, 2019: NA, 2018: NA
Missouri Preview | Schedule
2. Mike Leach, Mississippi State
There was every reasonable excuse in the book for the lousy 4-7 season – few offenses need the timing and practice like Leach’s attack does – but he’s only allowed the one bomb. He’s got a great defense, and he’s had a full year to get the O up to speed.
Record With Team: 4-7
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: 6, 2019: NA, 2018: NA
Miss State Preview | Schedule
1. Bryan Harsin, Auburn
No, of course he won’t get fired with a bad year, but no new head coach has more instant pressure. Gus Malzahn wasn’t bad, he almost won a national title, and he got the occasional win over Alabama. All Harsin has to do is that, and right away. Harsin is a better get than many are giving Auburn credit for, but that won’t matter much if he doesn’t win NOW.
Record With Team: 0-0
SEC Preseason Hot Seat Rankings
2020: NA, 2019: NA, 2018: NA
Auburn Preview | Schedule
2021 Preseason Hot Seat Coach Rankings
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12
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21 for 2021 Preview Topics (so far)
21. Thoughts, Wishes, Hopes for 2021
20. Best Teams To Not Make CFP
19: Teams That Will Rebound Big
18. Teams That Will Fall Back
17: Every Power 5 Team’s Letdown Game
16. Expectations For New Head Coaches
15. Expectations For 2nd Year Head Coaches