ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 30: Head coach Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels gestures for a two-point conversion against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the third quarter in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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The biggest story of the 2025-26 edition of the college football coaching carousel came to an end on Sunday with Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin leaving to take over the LSU Tigers. After plenty of discussion, Kiffin will not be part of the Rebels’ expected upcoming College Football Playoff appearance and will get to work on the LSU roster immediately.
Since the last edition of the College Football Coaching Carousel Tracker, there are new updates on Arkansas, Auburn, Coastal Carolina, Colorado State, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Memphis, Michigan State, North Texas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon State, Stanford, Tulane, UConn and USF.
As of Monday morning, there have been 23 head coaching changes at the FBS level of college football in this cycle, and 12 of those programs have a permanent replacement heading into the 2026 season.
The College Football Coaching Carousel Tracker is your guide to the hirings, firings and retirings of head coaches at the FBS level. Here’s an updated look at the college football coaching carousel following the final weekend of the regular season.
College Football Coaching Carousel
LSU Tigers
In – Lane Kiffin (11/30/2025)
Plenty of attention was given to what Lane Kiffin’s 2026 plans looked like, and the LSU Tigers landed him after spending the last six seasons with the Ole Miss Rebels. Kiffin guided Ole Miss to an 11-1 regular season record including 7-1 in SEC play this past season but will join LSU immediately despite the Rebels likely headed to the College Football Playoff. He finished 55-19 overall and 32-17 in conference play in his tenure with the Rebels. LSU will be Kiffin’s sixth head coaching job with stints with the Oakland Raiders (2007-08), Tennessee Volunteers (2009), USC Trojans (2010-13), FAU Owls (2017-19) and Ole Miss (2020-25).
Out – Brian Kelly (10/26/2025)
The LSU Tigers announced a coaching change will be made after a 49-25 loss to the Texas A&M Aggies. The Tigers snagged Brian Kelly from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before the 2022 season and led them to a 34-14 overall record including 19-10 in SEC play. LSU promoted Frank Wilson to the interim role from his associate head coach/running backs coach role.
Florida Gators
In – Jon Sumrall (11/30/2025)
The Florida Gators landed one of the top names among the top non-power conference candidates by selecting Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall to lead their program heading into the 2026 season. Over two years at Tulane, Sumrall has a 19-7 record including 14-2 in the American. The Green Wave are 10-2 and 7-1 in conference play in 2025 with a spot in the College Football Playoff potentially on the line this weekend. Sumrall will stick with Tulane through Friday’s conference title game and a potential College Football Playoff run.
Out – Billy Napier (10/19/2025)
The Billy Napier hot seat started early in his tenure, and it came to an end after a victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs but before a bye week. The Florida Gators moved on after Napier left the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns after the 2021 season. Napier finished 22-23 and 12-16 in SEC play with the Gators. Billy Gonzales was the wide receivers coach before taking over the interim head coach role.
Michigan State Spartans
In – Pat Fitzgerald (11/30/2025)
The Michigan State Spartans is planning to hire former Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald, The Detroit Free Press reported. Fitzgerald has been out of college football coaching since getting fired in July 2023 amid a hazing scandal. He spent 17 seasons at Northwestern and finished with a 110-101 overall record including 65-76 in conference play. Fitzgerald’s final two years were a struggle, finishing 4-20 and 2-16 in the Big Ten.
Out – Jonathan Smith (11/30/2025)
The Michigan State Spartans pulled the plug on head coach Jonathan Smith after just two seasons in charge of the program. If you take away the vacated wins from recruiting violations during the Mel Tucker era, the Spartans finished 9-15 including 4-14 in the Big Ten since Smith took over before the 2024 season. Michigan State snapped an eight-game losing streak in the regular season finale against the Maryland Terrapins to finish the season 4-8 overall and 1-8 in conference play.
Auburn Tigers
In – Alex Golesh (11/30/2025)
The Auburn Tigers poached Alex Golesh from the USF Bulls where he spent the last three seasons. Golesh turned around a struggling USF program quickly and finished 23-15 overall and 14-10 in the American, including 9-3 and 6-2 in conference play in 2025. The Tigers’ season came to an end with a loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, finishing the year 5-7.
Out – Hugh Freeze (11/2/2025)
The Auburn Tigers made the college football coaching carousel even more interesting when they fired head coach Hugh Freeze, who entered the 2025 season squarely on the hot seat. He was let go the day after a 10-3 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, which was their fifth defeat in the previous six games. Freeze left the Liberty Flames after the 2022 season for Auburn where he finished with a 15-19 overall record including 6-16 in SEC play. The Tigers promoted defensive coordinator/linebackers coach DJ Durkin to the interim head coach spot.
Ole Miss Rebels
In – Pete Golding (11/30/2025)
The Ole Miss Rebels acted quickly after Lane Kiffin officially left for the LSU Tigers, and they elevated defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Pete Golding to the permanent head coach moving forward. Golding will take over a program that is playing in the College Football Playoff in all likelihood following a strong regular season. He joined the program prior to the 2023 season, and this will be his first head coaching role.
Out – Lane Kiffin (11/30/2025)
The Ole Miss Rebels lost the biggest name of the college football coaching carousel when Lane Kiffin exited for the LSU Tigers. He took over Ole Miss from the FAU Owls prior to the 2020 college football season and finished with a 55-19 overall record including 32-17 in SEC play over six seasons. This includes an 11-1 overall mark and 7-1 conference record in 2025, but Kiffin will not coach the remainder of the season.
Kentucky Wildcats
Out – Mike Stoops (11/30/2025)
The Kentucky Wildcats are looking for a new head coach for the first time in more than a decade after it fired Mike Stoops, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. He spent the last 13 seasons with the Wildcats, which failed to reach a bowl game for the second consecutive year after finishing 5-7 this fall. In his tenure, Stoops finished with a 82-80 record including 38-68 in SEC play.
Tulane Green Wave
Out – Jon Sumrall (11/30/2025)
The Tulane Green Wave lost their head coach to the SEC when Jon Sumrall agreed to take over for the Florida Gators. He has Tulane in position to compete in the AAC title game on Friday night and will stay with the team if the Green Wave continue on during the College Football Playoff. Sumrall was hired before the 2024 season and holds a 19-7 overall record at Tulane including 14-2 in conference play.
Arkansas Razorbacks
In – Ryan Silverfield (11/30/2025)
The Arkansas Razorbacks began a new era the day after the 2025 season ended when they snagged Memphis Tigers head coach Ryan Silverfield, who held that role for the last six seasons. He guided the Tigers to an 8-4 overall record including 4-4 in American play during the 2025 season and finished 50-25 and 27-21 in the conference during his tenure at Memphis. Arkansas went 2-10 overall and 0-8 in SEC play this season.
Out – Sam Pittman (9/28/2025)
The Arkansas Razorbacks lost three games in a row including a blowout loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, leading to the removal of head coach Sam Pittman. He was hired prior to the 2020 season and held a 32-34 overall record including 14-29 in SEC play. Bobby Petrino was promoted to interim head coach from offensive coordinator.
USF Bulls
In – Kevin Patrick (Interim)
Out – Alex Golesh (11/30/2025)
The USF Bulls lost one of the top names on the college football head coaching market when Alex Golesh exited for the Auburn Tigers. He played a significant role in turning around a program that finished 4-29 in the three seasons before he joined USF. Through three years, Golesh guided the Bulls to a 23-15 overall record including 14-10 in American play. USF will head into the bowl game with a 9-3 record and 6-2 in the conference. Defensive line coach Kevin Patrick was promoted to interim head coach.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
In – Jeremiah Johnson (Interim)
Out – Tim Beck (11/30/2025)
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers will have a new head coach heading into their bowl game after firing Tim Beck after three years with the program. He was hired before the 2023 season and led Coastal Carolina to a bowl game in all three years, finishing with a 20-18 overall record including 13-11 in Sun Belt play. The Chanticleers finished the regular season 6-6 and 5-3 in the conference. Defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson was promoted to interim head coach.
Memphis Tigers
In – Reggie Howard (Interim)
Out – Ryan Silverfield (11/30/2025)
The Memphis Tigers are in need of a head coach after Ryan Silverfield left for the Arkansas Razorbacks following six years in charge of the program. He spent a full decade as a member of the Memphis coaching staff, and the Tigers were his first head coaching job after being promoted from assistant head coach/run game coordinator/OL coach. Silverfield finished with a 50-25 overall record including 27-21 in the American. Memphis elevated cornerbacks coach Reggie Howard to the interim head coach role.
Oregon State Beavers
In – JaMarcus Shephard (11/28/2025)
The Oregon State Beavers went to the Alabama Crimson Tide coaching staff where it landed JaMarcus Shephard, who holds the titles of assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He joined the Crimson Tide alongside head coach Kalen DeBoer from the Washington Huskies. Shephard has never been a head coach and will take over a program that finished 2-10 during the 2025 season.
Out – Trent Bray (10/12/2025)
The Oregon State Beavers will have a new head coach leading them into the new-look Pac-12 in 2026. Trent Bray was fired after an 0-7 start this season. He was promoted from defensive coordinator/LBs coach before the 2024 season and finished with a 5-14 overall record. Robb Akey moved to the interim role after being a special assistant to the head coach.
Stanford Cardinal
In – Tavita Pritchard (11/28/2025)
The Stanford Cardinal became the first FBS program in this coaching cycle to go to the NFL level for a head coach. Pritchard is the Washington Commanders QBs coach and held that role since the start of the 2023 season. This is his first head coaching job, but Pritchard has a ton of experience around Stanford where he played quarterback from 2006-09. He immediately joined the Cardinal coaching staff the next season and held various roles through the 2022 season, elevating to offensive coordinator. Pritchard will leave the Commanders for Stanford after Sunday night’s game against the Denver Broncos.
Out – Troy Taylor (3/25/2025)
The Stanford Cardinal fired head coach Troy Taylor late in the coaching carousel cycle after allegations of mistreating members of the staff. He was hired before the 2023 season and finished 6-18 including 4-13 in conference play with one season in the Pac-12 and one in the ACC. General Manager Andrew Luck brought in Frank Reich, who was last the head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2023, and is in a one-year interim role.
Colorado State Rams
In – Jim Mora (11/26/2025)
The Colorado State Rams poached Jim Mora, who spent the last four seasons rebuilding the UConn Huskies with a 27-23 overall record. UConn qualified for a bowl game in three of the four seasons under Mora, who took over a Huskies program that finished 1-11 the year before he arrived. Colorado State is his fifth head coaching job with previous stops at the Atlanta Falcons (2004-06), Seattle Seahawks (2009), UCLA Bruins (2012-17) and UConn (2022-25).
Out – Jay Norvell (10/19/2025)
The Colorado State Rams fired Jay Norvell, who’s been in charge of the program since the 2022 season. The change was made after a 2-5 start, and the Rams finished 18-26 including 13-13 in Mountain West play after Norvell left the Nevada Wolf Pack for Nevada. Defensive coordinator Tyson Summers took over on an interim basis.
UConn Huskies
In – Gordon Sammis (Interim)
Out – Jim Mora (11/26/2025)
The UConn Huskies have big shoes to fill after head coach Jim Mora left for the Colorado State Rams. Mora took over a UConn program that finished 4-32 overall in the three years before he was hired by the Huskies. Over four seasons, he guided them to a 27-23 record and reached nine wins for the second straight season in 2025. UConn has a 9-3 record this season and is back in a bowl game with offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis being promoted to interim head coach.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
In – Eric Morris (11/25/2025)
The Oklahoma State Cowboys landed their next head coach with Eric Morris, who spent the last three seasons in charge of the North Texas Mean Green. He has a 22-15 overall record including 13-11 in American play and is enjoying a breakout season. The Mean Green are 11-1 overall in 2025 with a 7-1 conference record. Morris also spent four years at Incarnate Word (2018-21), which was his first head coaching job. Morris is expected to stay with North Texas through its postseason run, which includes the AAC Championship and potential a College Football Playoff spot.
Out – Mike Gundy (9/23/2025)
The Oklahoma State Cowboys ended one of the longest tenures in college football when they fired head coach Mike Gundy a few days after losing to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the third game of the season. He was promoted to the head coaching role before the 2005 season and led the Cowboys to a 170-90 overall record including 102-72 in Big 12 play. Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham took over on an interim basis after being hired as the offensive coordinator before the 2025 season.
North Texas Mean Green
Out – Eric Morris (11/25/2025)
The North Texas Mean Green football program took a big hit when Eric Morris was hired away from the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Morris was hired before the 2023 season and will stay with the program through the remainder of the season, which includes the AAC Championship and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff. North Texas is 22-15 overall including 13-11 in the American over three years with Morris in charge, and the Mean Green are 11-1 and 7-1 in conference play during the 2025 season.
Cal Golden Bears
In – Nick Rolovich (Interim)
Out – Justin Wilcox (11/23/2025)
The Cal Golden Bears made a change at head coach the day after a 31-10 loss to the Stanford Cardinal to drop to 6-5 on the season including 3-4 in ACC play. Justin Wilcox left his role as a defensive coordinator for the Wisconsin Badgers to take his first head coaching job at Cal prior to the 2017 season and spent nine years with the Golden Bears. He finished his tenure with a 48-55 overall record including 26-47 in conference play, which included time in the ACC and Pac-12. Cal promoted senior offensive assistant Nick Rolovich to interim head coach heading into the final game of the regular season.
Virginia Tech Hokies
In – James Franklin (11/17/2025)
The Virginia Tech Hokies announced the hire of head coach James Franklin, who was fired by the Penn State Nittany Lions this fall. This is his third head coaching job including Vanderbilt (2011-13) and Penn State (2014-25). Franklin led the Commodores to a 24-15 (11-13 SEC) record and finished 104-45 (64-36 Big Ten) with the Nittany Lions for a combined record of 128-60 over 15 seasons.
Out – Brent Pry (9/17/2025)
The Virginia Tech Hokies opened the season 0-3, which led to head coach Brent Pry losing his head coaching job. He spent more than three seasons in charge of the Hokies and finished with a 16-24 overall record including 10-13 in ACC play. Offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery was promoted to the interim head coach role.
Kent State Golden Flashes
In – Mark Carney (10/30/2025)
The Kent State Golden Flashes lifted the interim tag on Mark Carney, who has been in charge of the program since April. Carney joined Kent State as the tight ends coach prior to the 2023 season and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2024. Before that, he was the OC with the Charlotte 49ers for three seasons. This is Carney’s first head coaching job.
Out – Kenni Burns (4/25/2025)
The Kent State Golden Flashes fired Kenni Burns for multiple violations of his contract. Carney was promoted to offensive coordinator prior to the 2024 season. Burns finished with a 1-23 overall record including 0-16 in the MAC in two seasons at Kent State.
UAB Blazers
In – Alex Mortensen (Interim)
Out – Trent Dilfer (10/12/2025)
The UAB Blazers announced a change will be made after three consecutive blowout losses. Trent Dilfer was hired before the 2023 season despite zero college football coaching experience. UAB finished 9-21 overall with a 5-14 American record under Dilfer. Alex Mortensen took over as the interim head coach after being the offensive coordinator.
Penn State Nittany Lions
In – Terry Smith (Interim)
Out – James Franklin (10/12/2025)
The Penn State Nittany Lions will have a new head coach in charge after three straight losses with the last one coming against the Northwestern Wildcats. James Franklin left the Vanderbilt Commodores for Penn State before the 2014 season and led the Nittany Lions to a 104-45 overall record including 64-36 in Big Ten play. Terry Smith moved to the interim head coach after being the associate head coach/CBs coach.
UCLA Bruins
In – Tim Skipper (Interim)
Out – DeShaun Foster (9/17/2025)
The UCLA Bruins opened Year 2 of the DeShaun Foster era with an 0-3 record in conference play before making a change. He was hired before the 2024 season and finished with a 5-10 overall record including 3-6 in Big Ten play. Tim Skipper was promoted to interim head coach from special assistant to the head coach.