Ranking every open Power 4 job in college football
Original story by: ESPN
Last updated: Oct 22, 2025
Ad
- Context: The 2025-26 college football coaching cycle has seen an unprecedented number of high-profile firings and vacancies across power conferences. This surge in coaching changes suggests a heightened pressure on coaches to achieve immediate success and a shifting landscape in program management and investment. The article analyzes these openings by ranking them based on key factors that coaches consider when seeking a new position.
Ad
Ad
- Detailed Summary:
- Coaching Carousel: The current season has witnessed a significant number of coaching changes, with all four power conferences experiencing at least one firing. Notable departures include James Franklin from Penn State and Mike Gundy from Oklahoma State, highlighting the precarious nature of coaching positions even for established figures.
- Open Positions: Seven Power 4 schools (Stanford, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Penn State, and Florida) are actively seeking new head coaches. Additionally, Oregon State and UAB, non-Power 4 institutions, also have openings. The potential for more vacancies exists in prominent conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC.
- Ranking Criteria: The evaluation of open coaching jobs is based on a combination of objective data and subjective assessments, including: Recent and historical on-field performance.
- Access to the College Football Playoff (CFP).
- Roster-building capabilities and access to talent (recruiting and transfers).
- University leadership stability and support.
- Financial commitment and resources.
Ad
Ad