College Football Hot Seat Meter: Four head coaches are feeling the heat as the calendar turns toward October

Florida State moving on from head coach Mike Norvell is a foregone conclusion, but three other Power 4 head coaches are right there with him on the hot seat as October arrives.

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Sep 19, 2026; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell warms up his team before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell warms up his team before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. David Leong-Imagn Images

With the calendar about to flip to October later this week, we are essentially one month into the college football season and we have learned a lot about certain teams after the first four-five games of the season.

We’ll break down the top players on the Heisman watchlist later today along with the top contenders for the National Championship. But first, let’s talk about some of the programs that failed to live up to expectations over the first month of the season.

We’re way past talking hot seat with these four head coaches. As we enter October, we can officially have a moment of silence for these coaches, and one of them is basically already a foregone conclusion.

Mike Norvell and Florida State

We know Mike Norvell is gone. The Seminoles enter into October with a 2-2 record, and are 0-1 in conference play after losing 50-36 against Alabama. FSU’s only two wins came against unranked opponents while their two losses came against the #7 ranked Crimson Tide and #21 ranked SMU.

The Florida State era with Norvell at the helm is basically over, and they’re going to be finding a new head coach. It’s just a matter of time. But let’s talk about the other three coaches who are right there with him.

Mike Locksley and Maryland

Michael Locksley with Maryland. It’s over. Everyone was trying to say, well, they have an easy schedule, Malik Washington is pretty good. But, UCLA walked across the country and beat them down. It wasn’t close. Maryland never had a chance.

And as someone who made a little bit of money from that game, it was a good feeling, but it was also sad knowing that this Maryland job is a really good football job and it will be sought after once it opens up. It’s just time to move on. I did want Locksley to work out. It’s just not going to happen with Maryland now on a two-game losing streak.

Shane Beamer and South Carolina

South Carolina, it should be over with Shane Beamer too. I have to call a spade a spade here. You can say what you want about the past couple years and what has been baked into their disappointment since that run in 2024, which frankly I’ve been telling you for about two years wasn’t that impressive.

The way they were winning football games was not going to be sustainable. You were just hoping for some sort of development from LaNorris Sellers, and that never happened. And the cracks are really starting to show with how Dylan Stewart basically flat out crashed out and crashed his draft stock all in one game. Beamer did the right thing holding Stewart accountable for that incident, but it’s still sliding for him.

Dave Doeren and NC State

And lastly, NC State. What do I need to say here? Dave Doeren, ever since their loss to Virginia where they were surprised that Beau Pribula was going to run the football, the way they lost to Vanderbilt, this has been a dumpster fire. It was time to move on after how that Vanderbilt game ended.


These four coaches have been feeling the heat rising all season, and all four programs need a fresh start. The only question left is which job opens first — and who has the hottest seat in all of college football right now?

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