Overview
- In early August 2026, multiple outlets singled out Mike Norvell, Bill Belichick, Luke Fickell, Mike Locksley, Shane Beamer and Bill O’Brien as the highest‑risk head coaches entering the season.
- Media coverage repeatedly labels Mike Norvell at Florida State the 'hottest seat,' citing a poor recent record and a top CBS hot‑seat rating that signals little tolerance for another slow start.
- A Yahoo Sports columnist explicitly predicted Bill O’Brien at Boston College could be the first FBS coach fired, pointing to four of BC’s first five games as realistically losable.
- Ohio State is widely tabbed as the preseason national favorite, ranked No. 1 in the coaches’ poll and featured in several week‑by‑week and CFP bracket projections as a title contender.
- The backdrop is last year’s surge in firings and roughly $270 million in buyouts, and schools’ heavy roster and NIL spending means early losses could trigger costly, swift coaching changes that disrupt players and donor expectations.