Which CFB Head Coach Will Be Next on the Chopping Block?

Five college football coaches didn’t make it to November. That’s the most in quite a few years, but sadly it is becoming the norm. Long-time TCU head coach Gary Patterson went 3-5 through the Horned Frogs first eight games. That led to a “mutual parting of ways.” In English, TCU fired the best coach in the school’s history.

Ed Orgeron is out at LSU when the season ends and Walt Bell, the head coach at UMass is out roughly 24 hours after losing to FCS Rhode Island. Who’s next on the chopping block? There are plenty of candidates.

DAN MULLEN – FLORIDA

Remember when Mullen won 21 of his first 26 games at Florida? Yeah, now the Gators have beaten just two of their last ten Power Five opponents. Last week, it was a dismal 40-17 loss to South Carolina. It was also Florida’s third straight defeat. The Gators are now just 2-5 in SEC play and 4-5 overall. 

ROD CAREY – TEMPLE 

Temple has been a stepping stone for guys like Matt Rhule, Geoff Collins, and a handful of others. Carey took over in 2019 and went 8-5. Since then, Temple is 4-12, including 3-6 overall this season. Carey might deserve another season, but the loss to 2-7 South Florida might have the Owls looking in a new direction.

SETH LITTRELL – NORTH TEXAS

Just a few years ago, Littrell was the new toy that all the kids wanted. After going 9-4 and 9-5 in consecutive seasons, Littrell’s Mean Green haven’t won more than four games in each of the past three seasons. They are 3-6 right now and the defense is atrocious. NT gives up 31.4 points a game, yet Littrell is doing his best to save his job. North Texas has won its last two games beating Rice 30-24 and Southern Miss 38-14.

JUSTIN FUENTE – VIRGINIA TECH

Fuente did an outstanding job at Memphis and then had the Hokies faithful bought in after 10-4 and 9-4 seasons to start his tenure in Blacksburg. The only problem is that Fuente’s Hokies teams have gotten worse. Virginia Tech finished 5-6 in 2020 and the Hokies are 4-5 this season after getting manhandled by Boston College 17-3 in primetime last Friday. Three games remain and if they aren’t all wins, Fuente is likely getting the axe.

DOUG MARTIN – NEW MEXICO STATE

Martin is a veteran who is revered in the coaching community. The problem is that he is guiding an FCS team that masquerades as an FBS program. Martin actually took New Mexico State to a bowl game in 2017. Since then, the program has seven wins. Only three of those came against FBS programs. At 1-8 this season, it’s time to cut the cord.

SCOTT FROST – NEBRASKA

We include Frost even though the university has said they are sticking with him. Nebraska and their head coach even worked on restructuring Frost’s contract. Still, the early loss to Illinois hurts. The Cornhuskers have just one Big Ten win this season and they are 3-7 overall. Frost has yet to produce a winning season and he won’t this year. If Nebraska loses out to No. 21 Wisconsin and No. 22 Iowa, the Huskers brass might rethink their decision. There was some chatter out of Lincoln today about how the Nebraska AD hinted that he and the school are staying with Frost for at least one more season. Frost better search for a seasoned QB transfer in the off-season if the Huskers are going to be competitive in 2022. Also, breaking news at the time of posting this article is that Frost fired his four offense coaches. This will either be a new start for the team or something more akin to a death rattle. 

BUTCH DAVIS – FIU

Davis was out of coaching for six years when he returned at FIU in 2017. In his first two seasons, the Panthers went a respectable 17-9  and have been to three bowl games. Since the end of 2018, the program is 7-20. That includes a 0-5 mark in last year’s COVID-shortened season and 1-8 so far this season. The Panthers haven’t won a conference game since 2019. Davis does get a chance to save himself though as FIU closes the season with three straight games against teams with losing records.

JEFF SCOTT – SOUTH FLORIDA

It’s amazing how many coaches in the state of Florida could be looking for new jobs in 2022. Scott is one of them. His Bulls are 2-7 this season fresh off a 1-8 campaign in his first season in 2020. The offense is bad. The defense is worse and there is plenty of talent in the state of Florida. Even though he’s been there just two seasons, Scott might be on his way out.

DAVID SHAW – STANFORD 

After a strong career, David Shaw and his football team are floundering in recent years.

Shaw is a great football coach who has done some great things at Stanford. The problem is that the Cardinal haven’t really done anything since 2018. Over the last two-plus seasons, Shaw and Stanford are just 11-16. This season has been a disaster. Stanford pounded USC and beat No. 3 Oregon. Since then, the Cardinal haven’t been able to run the ball or play defense. Stanford has lost four straight. The remainder of the season won’t be easy either. Oregon State (5-4) is up next then rival Cal (3-6) followed by the season finale against tenth-ranked Notre Dame.