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A record-breaking spin on the coaching carousel is underway across college football.

Nine Power Four jobs opened before November, and now eight are availabe after Virginia Tech hired former Penn State coach James Franklin on Nov. 17. A record-setting year is already underway. Only five power jobs came open all of last season, when 30 total jobs (25 in the Group of Six) were filled.

Overall, the two years leading up to this cycle (2025-26) were the most hectic we've seen this century, with a total of 61 programs changing head coaches. That means an incredible 44.9% of FBS teams changed leadership during a two-year span. That number will skyrocket this fall and winter.

CBS Sports is tracking every move in the 2025-26 cycle and grading each hire below.

College football coaching carousel

TeamInOutAnalysis
Mark CarneyKenni BurnsKent State fired Kenni Burns in April for violations of his contract that included use of his personal card for expenses. Burns was a dismal 1-23 in two seasons leading the Flashes, including a 0-12 record in 2024. Amid a 3-5 start to the 2025 season, Kent State elevated interim coach Mark Carney to the full-time role. Grade: B+

Troy TaylorStanford fired Taylor amid allegations of mistreating female staffers. Taylor posted a 6-18 record in two seasons with the program after coming to Palo Alto after a successful run at Sacramento State. He lost eight of last nine games. The Cardinal hired Frank Reich to serve as interim coach, which reunites him and Stanford general manager Andrew Luck; Reich coached Luck with the Indianapolis Colts for one season in 2018.

DeShaun FosterUCLA fired Foster only three games into his second season. The former All-American running back with the Bruins fished his tenure with a 5-10 record, including 3-6 in Big Ten matchups.
James FranklinBrent PryVirginia Tech was hot on James Franklin from the moment it fired Brent Pry, and the Hokies finally landed the former Penn State coach on Nov. 17. Franklin's recruiting connections in the DMV and northeast should pay off handsomely for the Hokies as they rebuild the roster in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail. But can Franklin win some big games? He's 4-21 against top 10 teams, including a 15-game losing streak against AP top six teams. Grade: A
Eric Morris (North Texas)Mike GundyEric Morris brings a high-flying offense and a keen eye for identifying and developing quarterbacks to Stillwater. The North Texas coach and former Mike Leach protege identified some of the most prolific quarterbacks over the last few years: Cam Ward, John Mateer and Drew Mestemaker. His high-flying style will meld well with a fan base accustomed to potent offenses. Grade: A-

Trent BrayOregon State  fired Bray seven games into his winless second season leading the program. The Beavers dropped to 0-7 with Week 7's 39-14 loss to Wake Forest , which marked their fourth double-digit defeat of the year. Bray's first year in his new post got off to a decent start. The Beavers went 4-1 through the first half of the 2024 regular season, with their only loss coming against Oregon, the eventual Big Ten champion. But Oregon State spiraled to 1-6 down the stretch, causing it to miss a bowl game.

Sam PittmanArkansas ' decision to fire Sam Pittman came following a 56-13 loss to Notre Dame and a week after the Razorbacks squandered an 18-point lead on the road at Memphis . Situated on one of college football's hottest seats entering his sixth season at the program, Pittman finishes 32-34 overall at Arkansas, including a 14-29 mark against SEC competition. Since finishing 9-4 overall and finding a spot inside the final AP Top 25 poll to conclude the 2021 season, the Razorbacks sputtered under Pittman's guidance despite a bevy of coaching staff changes and roster alterations annually in recruiting and through the transfer portal.


James FranklinPenn State fired Franklin six games into his 12th season with the Nittany Lions -- amid a disastrous three-game slide. The No. 2 team in the preseason AP Top 25 just two months ago, the Nittany Lions slipped to 0-3 in Big Ten play following a stunning 22-21 home loss to Northwestern in Week 7 -- a game in which they were a three-touchdown favorite. The massive upset was Penn State's second in a row after falling at previously winless UCLA on Oct. 4, making it the first FBS team since 1978 to lose back-to-back games as favorites of at least 20 points.

Trent DilferUAB moved on from Dilfer six games into his third season with the Blazers. UAB's decision came just one day after the team dropped to 2-4 on the year in a 53-33 loss to FAU. Dilfer was on track for a third straight losing season with the Blazers. All four of their losses this year came by at least 14 points and only one of their wins came against an FBS opponent.

Billy NapierFlorida fired Billy Napier on Oct. 19 following one of the worst tenures in school history. He was 22-23 in three-plus seasons and managed only a 5-17 record against ranked teams. He was also a combined 1-4 against rivals Florida State and Miami. His replacement will likely have Power Four experience.

Jay NorvellA 2-5 start to the season and a .500 career record in the Mountain West led to Colorado State firing Jay Norvell on Oct. 19. Colorado State enters the market a critical moment as it prepares to move from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 next season.

Brian KellyAfter a 5-3 start to a 2025 season that carried national title aspirations coming in, LSU fired Kelly on Oct. 26. A 49-25 loss to Texas A&M in Death Valley in Week 9 was embarrassing enough for the Tigers to make a change a create another lucrative opening on the market. 

Hugh FreezeAfter a 1-5 start to SEC play in his third year leading the program, Freeze was fired by Auburn on Nov. 2. The final nail was the Tigers' loss to Kentucky, which dropped Auburn to 15-19 overall and 6-16 in the SEC under Freeze.

Justin WilcoxWith his ninth season leading the program coming to a close, Cal fired Wilcox on Sunday, Nov. 23. The move came one day after the Bears fell to rival Stanford 31-10 in Week 13. Wilcox was 48-55 across his tenure with the Bears. 

Eric Morris (Oklahoma State)The Mean Green will lose head coach Eric Morris after the season, which could still include a playoff run, after leading the program back to American Conference contention with one of the nation's most explosive offenses.