Dakich: College Football Will Be Less Interesting Without Sanders and Hunter

I’m actually a bit disappointed about this. College football was, you know, more captivating when Colorado featured Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Deion Sanders was new to the scene. But then last year was a tough one for them—three wins and nine losses, and they’re still on a five-game losing streak. There are many factors at play, including, well, Deion’s health, maybe? It’s hard to say, but it feels like things are heading in a negative direction. It’s, I think, just not as intriguing anymore.

As for the college football coaching situation, it seems like it’s always in flux. This year’s changes aren’t as headline-grabbing as last year’s, but, you know, who knows what the end of 2026 might bring?

Last October, several big-name coaching positions became available, with schools like Penn State, Florida, and LSU letting their head coaches go due to underperformance. So far in 2026, there have been some firings in the Power 4 conferences, but many people still seem to be waiting for a really prestigious position to open up.

Originally, it looked like Florida State might be the big coaching change of the season, but the new administration seems pretty committed to their current head coach.

This raises the question: Which elite job might open up next this season?

In my view, there are three notable coaches in the Power 4 who could find themselves on the hot seat by the end of the year. Let’s rank these positions based on how likely they might become available.

Clemson Tigers

Things haven’t been looking great for the Clemson Tigers for a while now. Their offense has really struggled, and after a rough outing against Virginia Tech, their record stands at 4-3 for the season. There’s still time to turn things around, technically speaking, but even if they win their upcoming games, they would need favorable outcomes from teams they don’t even play against, which seems complicated.

Looking at the remaining schedule, they still face tough opponents like Florida State, Duke, and a strengthened South Carolina at the end of the season. Given the current state, I doubt head coach Dabo Swinney’s job is at immediate risk unless there’s a total collapse. If they don’t make it to a bowl game, though, that could change, maybe. But, honestly, Swinney has built enough goodwill during his time there that I don’t foresee him being in real danger yet.

Colorado Buffaloes

While Clemson is struggling, things in Boulder are, well, even worse. The Colorado Buffaloes haven’t had much to celebrate during Deion Sanders’ tenure, except for that surprising nine-win season in 2024, which now feels almost like a distant memory. After that, they went through a hard 3-9 season in 2025, and their current record is only 2-5. That’s rough.

Sanders has an overall record of 18-25 with the Buffaloes, but what I find more concerning is how recruiting hasn’t gone well. He was supposed to be a top recruiter, but that hasn’t translated into wins. Then there was that strange story about him supposedly offering money to quiet critics, which he dismissed as a joke. It just feels like something isn’t quite right at Colorado.

I can’t really say whether he’ll be around for the whole season; his position seems less secure compared to someone like Swinney. The Buffaloes are going to need to win out if they want any shot at a bowl game, and with tough games against Houston and Cincinnati on the horizon, I’m not so sure that’s likely. Honestly, I think even for a program like Colorado, it would be hard to justify keeping a coach on for $10 million a year without significant postseason success.

USC Trojans

Of all the big coaching positions that might open up this year, I’d say USC is definitely one to watch. As the season began, it felt like head coach Lincoln Riley was under increasing pressure, yet this was also seen as the best chance for the Trojans to make the College Football Playoff since Riley took over. But, as it turns out, those expectations may be what ultimately do him in, with two losses already down on the books.

A third loss could not only dash their CFP hopes but also give the administration a solid reason to let him go. They face Ohio State soon, and if they were to lose to them, especially given the situation with their quarterback, it could be a tipping point.

Essentially, while a loss to a formidable team like Ohio State isn’t a total shame, the cumulative performance matters, and Riley’s record has been disappointing. In four and a half seasons, the Trojans haven’t even made the Playoff or had a top-ten finish, which is, well, not ideal.

There was hope this past offseason with a strong recruiting class, but those dreams of postseason glory now seem far-fetched. If they drop the game against Ohio State, I’d keep an ear out for potential coaching changes soon after.