10 college football hiring superlatives

The 2025-26 faculty soccer hiring cycle is off to a dizzying begin. Beneath are 10 superlatives from the preliminary wave of signings.

Most certainly to provide fireworks: Lane Kiffin, LSU Tigers

We could already know the way Kiffin’s tenure with LSU ends, however the Tigers have the potential to grow to be essentially the most thrilling group in FBS. Wherever Kiffin has gone, he is produced quick outcomes.

Beneath is a chart displaying the splits between the season earlier than Kiffin’s arrival and his first yr as head coach at his 4 earlier stops (Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss).

In 12 months 1, Kiffin’s groups have improved by over 10 factors and almost 100 yards per recreation on offense. LSU averaged 21.8 factors per recreation through the 2025 common season, and per Stathead, it was one among two packages to fail to attain greater than 25 factors in no less than one recreation in opposition to FBS competitors, becoming a member of Massachusetts (0-12).

Greatest hurdle: Jon Sumrall, Florida Gators

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin’s meddling reportedly deterred Kiffin from contemplating the Gators’ opening extra critically. Per CBS Sports, Stricklin wished to pair Kiffin with “a basic supervisor with an NFL background who would not report on to” the top coach.  

Stricklin acquired his want after hiring Sumrall by saying former Jacksonville Jaguars basic supervisor David Caldwell, who led the franchise to a 37-91 report from 2013-2020, for the place. If Sumrall succeeds in Gainesville, it should seemingly be regardless of unimpressive management.

With Colorado State transferring to the redesigned Pac-12 in 2026, it selected stability by hiring Mora, who did a superb job at Connecticut, most just lately main the Huskies to a 9-3 report, together with a win over ACC championship recreation participant Duke (7-5). At 64, Colorado State is aware of what to anticipate from Mora, who ought to easily information this system by means of its convention transition.

Golding has by no means served as a head coach, and his first recreation in that function will seemingly be within the Faculty Soccer Playoff (until the committee penalizes the Rebels for shedding Kiffin). No stress. It is a massive danger at hand a nationwide title contender over to an unproven head coach, but it surely was a transfer the Rebels had no alternative however to make. 

Most certainly to make program respectable: James Franklin, Virginia Tech Hokies

Contemplating Franklin’s previous achievements, turning Virginia Tech into an ACC contender must be comparatively straightforward. The veteran coach beforehand labored wonders at Vanderbilt whereas additionally serving to Penn State regain prominence after longtime head coach Joe Paterno’s tenure resulted in scandal. In an ACC with no clear hierarchy, Franklin might quickly lead the Hokies again to the highest.

Sneaky-best rent: Bob Chesney, UCLA Bruins

The Bruins have seen what Curt Cignetti has performed to Indiana and are hoping to copy that success. Like Cignetti, who has guided Indiana to a 23-2 report over the previous two seasons, Chesney involves UCLA after teaching at James Madison, which stays in CFP competition ought to Duke win the ACC. Chesney has deftly stored James Madison atop the Solar Belt following Cignetti’s departure, and like his predecessor, he might flip a former king of the hardwood right into a gridiron juggernaut.

Promoted coordinator most certainly to succeed: JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State Beavers

Oregon State lured Shepard again to the northeast, the place he beforehand coached on Kalen DeBoer’s Washington workers earlier than each departed for Alabama.

Shepard, the Crimson Tide’s co-offensive coordinator, has an extensive background in maximizing the manufacturing of proficient wideouts, most just lately Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. He additionally coached wonderful Washington trio Ja’Lynn Polk, Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, in addition to dynamic speedster Rondale Moore at Purdue, all future NFL professionals.

Shepard has the good thing about starting his head teaching profession within the new-look Pac-12, and his observe report of elite receiver manufacturing ought to entice expertise to Corvallis.

Most certainly to guide quickest last-place rebound: Eric Morris, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Arkansas and Oklahoma State completed final within the SEC and the Massive 12, respectively, and every plucked coaches from The American Convention to immediate revivals. Of the 2, Morris, who has North Texas one win away from a CFP berth, has the best pathway to future success, becoming a member of a Massive 12 that is nonetheless up for grabs following Oklahoma and Texas’ 2024 departures for the SEC.

Least impressed rent: Tavita Pritchard, Stanford Cardinal

The joy of Andrew Luck’s return to Stanford as basic supervisor was short-lived, as the previous No. 1 NFL Draft choose’s first two head-coaching hires lacked creativeness. After hiring Frank Reich, his former Indianapolis Colts coach, in an interim function for 2025, Luck selected Pritchard, one other shut contact who most just lately was the Washington Commanders’ quarterbacks coach, for the everlasting put up. Luck and Pritchard have been faculty teammates at Stanford (2009), whereas Pritchard served as an assistant throughout Luck’s sophomore and junior seasons (2010-11). In Luck’s world, it is seemingly higher who you realize than what you realize, not precisely an incredible signal for Stanford’s skill to maintain tempo within the quickly evolving sport.

Was Michigan State being attentive to Fitzgerald’s Northwestern run? 

In 17 seasons, Fitzgerald, whose tenure ended with the revelations of a hazing tradition inside his program, had over twice as many shedding seasons (seven) as 10-win seasons (three). Even at his most profitable, he had dreadful offensive groups. Throughout 2015’s 10-3 marketing campaign, for instance, Northwestern ranked No. 114 in scoring offense (19.5 factors per recreation). Teaching modifications ought to illicit pleasure from fan bases, not dread. However the Spartans could have set their program again years with this cycle’s worst rent up to now.