The 2026 college football coaching carousel began spinning in late October after a slow start following the record‑breaking 2025 cycle. FBS programs hired 32 new head coaches, including 17 in the four power conferences, and hundreds of assistants moved jobs. Over the past three offseasons, 93 FBS programs have changed coaches, raising questions about whether a cooling period has arrived as schools navigate the economics of name‑image‑likeness (NIL) and revenue‑sharing.
Maryland
Maryland kicked off the firing season on Oct. 21, dismissing Mike Locksley halfway through his eighth season. Locksley finished 39‑54 overall, with back‑to‑back 4‑8 records leading to his departure. Potential candidates include Wake Forest's Jake Dickert and Memphis' Charles Huff, a Maryland native. The Terrapins have improved NIL resources but still face a difficult Big Ten landscape.
Florida State
Florida State parted ways with Mike Norvell on Nov. 1 after a loss to Clemson. Norvell's seven‑year tenure included an undefeated 2023 season that was excluded from the College Football Playoff. The program's financial outlook is now a key factor in attracting a new head coach.
Baylor
Baylor moved on from Dave Aranda after seven seasons. Aranda won a Big 12 title in 2021 but posted a 40‑40 overall record and a 26‑32 mark in conference play. The school is expected to target an offensive‑minded coach with Texas high school ties; names mentioned include UTSA's Jeff Traylor, Texas State's GJ Kinne, and USC's Lincoln Riley.
NC State
NC State fired Dave Doeren following a 31‑28 loss at Stanford that dropped the Wolfpack to 1‑3 in the ACC. Doeren's 14‑year tenure featured consistent seven‑to‑nine‑win seasons but recent downturns prompted the change. The leading candidate is former NC State quarterback Philip Rivers, who has coached high school football in Alabama for five years and interviewed for the Buffalo Bills' head coaching vacancy in January. Other potential hires include Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, UNLV's Dan Mullen, and Memphis' Charles Huff.
