Several SEC coaches might find themselves in trouble this upcoming season if they don’t turn their programs around.
The coaches on this list are on a short leash, and this 2025 might be make or break for them.
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Hugh Freeze, Auburn
Next to Lane Kiffin, Hugh Freeze was one of the hottest names in college football a few years ago. He was considered an offensive guru, and he was one of the few coaches in the league who had defeated Nick Saban while he was at Ole Miss.
But an 11-14 record, zero SEC titles, and no appearances in the College Football Playoff has put Freeze squarely on the hot seat. If Freeze doesn’t at least get his Tigers to a bowl and win eight games, he’s gone.
Billy Napier, Florida
Billy Napier got a reprieve last season after the Gators rallied at the end of the year, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t on the hot seat. The expectations are high for these Gators to compete for an SEC Championship and to make the College Football Playoff. If Napier doesn’t at least get to nine or 10 wins this season, the Gator faithful are going to be restless
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Brian Kelly, LSU
Some people might be surprised to see Brian Kelly on this list, but the Tigers’ head coach hasn’t been living up to expectations since their 2022 season, when they defeated Alabama to punch their ticket to the SEC Championship game. The last two seasons, the Tigers haven’t lived up to expectations, and players transferring don’t help either. This is a critical season for Kelly, and the Tigers don’t improve, he might be given a ticket out of Baton Rouge.
Mark Stoops, Kentucky
For years, Mark Stoops has been the darling of the SEC and received lots of praise for reviving Kentucky football, but likely, the Wildcats have been in a downward spiral and haven’t improved. While schools like Vanderbilt and South Carolina have shown much improvement recently, Kentucky hasn’t.
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Kentucky was expected to make the jump from pretenders to contenders, but it still hasn’t done so, despite defeating several teams throughout Stoops’ tenure, including the Florida Gators. The time is now, or Stoops might find himself in the unemployment line.
Brent Venables, Oklahoma
Brent Venables is definitely on the hot seat. If Texas wins the national championship, Venables’ seat might be the hottest on the list outside of Hugh Freeze. The win over Alabama last year gave Sooner fans hope that maybe Venables can turn it around this season, we will
