As of mid-October, there have already been nine head coaching changes in college football. Major boosters and donors are opening their wallets, gearing up for what looks like a chaotic coaching carousel.
One of the most surprising moves this season was Penn State’s decision to fire James Franklin after the Nittany Lions suffered three consecutive losses. The first was a gut-wrenching defeat against the University of Oregon, followed by two more disappointing ones against UCLA and Northwestern. Just last January, Penn State was competing in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. While Franklin had his ups and downs, the program has the resources needed to achieve big wins, making it a highly coveted position that attracts top talent.
In other changes, Oklahoma State has parted ways with long-standing coach Mike Gundy, Arkansas has dismissed Sam Pittman, and Virginia Tech has let go of Brent Pry.
Here’s a summary of the head coaching changes so far for 2025:
James Franklin was fired on October 12th.
During his tenure, Franklin boasted a 69% winning percentage at Penn State, which included a Big Ten championship, a Rose Bowl victory, and a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season. However, following a season where they began ranked No. 2, the three losses proved too much for the powers in Happy Valley. Franklin also faced tough defeats against other top-tier teams like Michigan State and Ohio State, occasionally falling short of the high expectations set by fans. Even so, he leaves behind a solid 128-60 record with seven bowl victories. If he looks to coach elsewhere, he’ll have plenty of opportunities.
Trent Dilfer was fired on October 12th.
Having previously been an NFL quarterback, Dilfer joined UAB in 2023, but his stint didn’t go as hoped. His record was 9 wins to 21 losses over three seasons, and there were instances where he made controversial remarks. UAB might regret not retaining interim coach Bryant Vincent from 2022, who had a more successful record.
Trent Bray was fired on October 12th.
Bray, who had played at Oregon State and served as defensive coordinator under former coach Jonathan Smith, ended his time after a disappointing season, finishing 5-7 in 2024 and starting 0-7 this year. The past couple of years have certainly posed challenges for Oregon State football since the old Pac-12 dissolved.
Sam Pittman was fired on September 28th.
After an 0-3 start, the Razorbacks decided to let Pittman go, and they concluded the season with a heavy home loss to Notre Dame. Bobby Petrino, who has a history with the program from 2008 to 2011, is stepping in as interim coach. His previous firing was prompted by a motorcycle accident involving a member of the volleyball staff. It’s uncertain whether Arkansas will decide to stick with him long-term.
Mike Gundy was fired on September 23rd.
Ending a 21-year coaching career with the Cowboys, Gundy, a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, exited after a 19-12 loss to Tulsa. His record of 3-9 from the previous season drew attention, and things haven’t improved much for Stillwater since his dismissal.
Brent Pry was fired on September 17th.
Pry’s record of 16-24 over three-plus seasons included two losses to Old Dominion. Virginia Tech has struggled to find consistent success since the era of former coach Frank Beamer, with two coaches already fired. However, a recent announcement about a potential $229 million investment into the athletic department might help attract new candidates.
Deshaun Foster was fired on September 17th.
Foster was let go three games into the season after the Bruins started 0-3-2 against Mountain West teams. Following his departure, interim coach Tim Skipper and offensive line coach Jerry Neuheisel have led the Bruins to impressive victories against top teams like Penn State and Michigan State. If Skipper continues this success, he could very well become the permanent head coach.
Kenny Barnes was fired on April 15th.
Kent State dismissed its former head coach for a number of contract violations, including mishandling expenses. The program has struggled remarkably, achieving a record above .500 only four times since the early 2000s.
Troy Taylor was fired on March 25th.
After reports of mistreating staff surfaced, Taylor was terminated, leaving former quarterback Andrew Luck to manage the program. Frank Reich has stepped in as interim coach. With college sports constantly evolving, Stanford’s job has become increasingly challenging compared to when the program was thriving with players like Luck and Christian McCaffrey.
