Pick Six: College football coaches on the hot seat entering 2025

With rising expectations in competitive conferences, money flowing directly to players and unforgiving fan bases, the pressure has never been higher across college football. Six coaches who could very well be on the hot seat — from warm to scorching — entering the 2025 season:

Brent Venables, Oklahoma

The clock is ticking for Brent Venables, who heads into his fourth season in Norman yet to meet the expectations that come with this storied program. His sole winning season is sandwiched between 6-7 records in 2022 and 2024. He’s yet to lead the program to a bowl win, going 0-3, and the Cheez-It, Alamo and Armed Forces bowls aren’t where Sooners fans want to end the year.

Oklahoma finished with a 2-6 conference record in its inaugural season in the SEC a year ago while fellow newbie and rival Texas topped the conference. Entering year two in the SEC, Venables could use a standout year.

Hugh Freeze, Auburn

Hugh Freeze is feeling the heat after opening with two seven-loss seasons. Recruiting efforts have been admirable, but in-game decisions in high-pressure moments have raised concerns. Auburn hasn’t hesitated to part ways with coaches in recent years, and Freeze could be next on the chopping block if he doesn’t produce fast results. Getting Georgia and Alabama at home might help … right?

Sam Pittman, Arkansas

What to do with Sam Pittman? He is a folksy, charming guy and he has three winning seasons out of five for the Razorbacks that included bowl wins. But he is 30-31 overall and Arkansas has not emerged as any kind of a consistent threat in the SEC.

Expectations were high for Pittman after a 9-4 season in 2021 but the Hogs look like a mostly middling program. The schedule this year includes visits to Ole Miss, Tennessee and, on back-to-back weekends, LSU…

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Publish date : 2025-08-11 14:17:00

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