Halfway through the college football season, a surprising number of head coaches have already been fired. While coaching changes are common every year, the volume of firings by mid-October is particularly striking.
James Franklin of Penn State headlines the recent wave of firings after being let go last Sunday, just one day following a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. This defeat marked their second consecutive loss and third overall, coming off a game where Penn State was favored by more than 20 points.
As the season progresses, more coaching changes are expected, creating a frenzy in the coaching carousel. Rumors are swirling around Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, with speculation mounting that he could be the next to lose his job as soon as this weekend.
If Florida does decide to part ways with Napier, former Gators coach Steve Spurrier has already indicated who he believes would make a successful replacement. Spurrier recently told ESPN, “Lane Kiffin would win a national championship at the University of Florida or, at a minimum, consistently be a contender every year.”
Although Napier has not yet been officially fired, it seems only a matter of time. There are reports suggesting the decision could be made following Florida’s game against Mississippi State this weekend, regardless of the result.
Lane Kiffin is a coach who would likely listen if Florida came calling. Known for moving around the college coaching ranks, Kiffin’s career includes stops at Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, and currently Ole Miss. Over 14 years, he has compiled a 112-52 record, boasting a perfect 6-0 start this season.
Florida, with its resources and support system, arguably offers a better platform for success than Ole Miss. Consequently, the chances of Kiffin winning a national championship might be greater in Gainesville than in Oxford.
The upcoming two games for fifth-ranked Ole Miss will play a critical role in determining their College Football Playoff prospects. They face ninth-ranked Georgia on Saturday as 7.5-point underdogs, followed by a visit to 14th-ranked Oklahoma next Saturday. These matchups could significantly impact Kiffin’s future, especially considering his $9 million salary this year.
### Billy Napier Still Has a Game to Coach — For Now
USA Today’s Matt Hayes recently reported that Napier’s position is growing increasingly tenuous. Boosters, who have so far shown patience, reportedly want Napier to relinquish control of the offense and bring in an experienced coordinator and play caller — a move Napier has yet to make. This reluctance could ultimately cost him his job.
Napier, currently 21-23 at Florida and 0-14 on the road against ranked teams following a 34-17 loss at Texas A&M last Saturday, spoke candidly about the coaching turnover this week.
“I don’t think anything’s changed,” he said. “I think it happens every year. It’s what we sign up for. They pay us. They compensate us well. So these are challenging jobs in today’s climate in particular. We’re all men. We’re all competitors. We understand we live in a production world and you got to produce. There’s no running from that.”
As the college football coaching carousel heats up, all eyes will be on Florida and Ole Miss in the coming weeks to see how these situations unfold.
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