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Ohio State’s Championship Quest – Inside the Buckeye’s 2024 Campaign

College Football Playoffs

Ohio State’s Championship Quest – Inside the Buckeye’s 2024 Campaign

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on January 18, 2025

The Buckeyes’ 13-2 season demonstrates how, when properly deployed, elite talent can overcome almost any obstacle. An Aerial Assault That Commands Respect Will Howard transformed Ohio State’s passing game into one of college football’s most lethal weapons. The numbers tell the story of aerial dominance: This passing attack kept defensive coordinators awake at night. Ground

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Notre Dame’s Path to the National Championship Game

College Football Playoffs

Notre Dame’s Path to the National Championship Game

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on January 17, 2025

Notre Dame’s Path to the National Championship Game: A 2024 Season Analysis Notre Dame’s remarkable 14-1 season proves that championship-caliber teams are built on resilience, not perfection. The Numbers That Define Greatness One shocking early-season loss to Northern Illinois sparked a historic 13-game winning streak that would carry the Fighting Irish to the national championship

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Why Texas will beat Ohio State Tonight

College Football Playoffs

Why Texas will beat Ohio State Tonight

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on January 10, 2025

Will tonight’s championship matchup between Texas and Ohio State live up to the hype? All signs point to an instant classic in the making. The Numbers Tell a Story of Perfect Balance These two football powerhouses couldn’t be more evenly matched on paper. Texas brings its explosive offense (34.3 points per game) against Ohio State’s

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Notre Dame vs Penn State: A Clash of Titans in the Orange Bowl Semi Final

College Football Playoffs

Notre Dame vs Penn State: A Clash of Titans in the Orange Bowl Semi Final

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on January 8, 2025

Thursday, January 9, 2025 | 7:30 p.m. ET No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Penn State Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, Florida In a season where both teams have proven their mettle with identical 13-1 records, Thursday’s College Football Playoff semifinal between Notre Dame and Penn State promises to be a defensive masterclass

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The Chess Match: Two Coaches, Two Programs, One Bowl Game Collision – SMU at Penn State

College Football Playoffs

The Chess Match: Two Coaches, Two Programs, One Bowl Game Collision – SMU at Penn State

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 20, 2024

Nobody expected SMU’s Rhett Lashlee to pull off what might be college football’s most remarkable transformation story of 2023. In just three years, Lashlee has engineered what old-guard football minds considered impossible: The Established Empire Watches Meanwhile, in Happy Valley, James Franklin continues orchestrating Penn State’s methodical march toward college football supremacy. His Nittany Lions

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The Unlikely Revolution: When Indiana Crashed Notre Dame’s Party

American Athletic Conference

The Unlikely Revolution: When Indiana Crashed Notre Dame’s Party

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 19, 2024

Marcus Freeman never saw them coming. Nobody did. In the strange mathematics of college football, where tradition equals power and history writes the future, Notre Dame’s head coach should be preparing his Fighting Irish for another predictable playoff matchup against Alabama, Georgia, or Michigan. Instead, he finds himself staring across the field at college football’s

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The New Economics of College Football: Understanding the Transfer Portal Panic

Transfer Portal

The New Economics of College Football: Understanding the Transfer Portal Panic

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 13, 2024

In two years, college football’s talent market transformed from an orderly command economy into a chaotic free market that would make cryptocurrency traders blush. The New Economics of College Football: Understanding the Transfer Portal Panic examines how over 750 players entering the transfer portal this month isn’t evidence of a broken system – it’s proof

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Coaching Changes Updated

Coaches Hot Seat

Coaching Changes Updated

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 9, 2024

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Offense vs. Defense: Georgia and Texas Face Off in the SEC Conference Championship Game

Featured Games

Offense vs. Defense: Georgia and Texas Face Off in the SEC Conference Championship Game

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 6, 2024

Tomorrow night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, two college football titans collide in the SEC Conference Championship game. It’s a showdown that transcends the scoreboard; Georgia, the reigning powerhouse with its electrifying offense led by Carson Beck, takes on a Texas team rewriting the rules of modern football with a defense that has defied all expectations. In

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Big Ten Conference Championship Preview: Oregon vs Penn State

Featured Games

Big Ten Conference Championship Preview: Oregon vs Penn State

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 5, 2024

We’ve broken down both teams – Oregon vs Penn State for the Big Ten Conference Championship Game. We’re calling this game: The Perfect Season Meets the Perfect Defense: A Tale of Two Programs In the high-stakes world of college football, where billions of dollars flow through palatial training facilities and coaches’ contracts read like small-nation

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The Numbers That Don’t Add Up – Mountain West Championship Preview

Featured Games

The Numbers That Don’t Add Up – Mountain West Championship Preview

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 4, 2024

Boise State and UNLV meet Friday night for the Mountain West Championship. In the pristine December air of Las Vegas, two college football programs are about to collide in a way that defies conventional wisdom. One is Boise State, the upstart powerhouse that has been terrorizing the Mountain West Conference for years by systematically destroying

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Week 15 Coaches Hot Seat Rankings – Breaking Down the Top 5

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Week 15 Coaches Hot Seat Rankings – Breaking Down the Top 5

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 3, 2024

Welcome to our breakdown of the Top 5 ranked coaches on the Week 15 Coaches Hot Seat Rankings. In the era of social media and team message boards, College football communities typically fall into three categories: Picture the modern college football landscape as a digital Roman Colosseum, where three distinct tribes gather daily to pass

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FBS Coaching Changes 2024

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

FBS Coaching Changes 2024

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on December 2, 2024

There are many FBS Coaching Changes this weekend as the 2024 season winds down. Check out our Week 15 Coaches Hot Seat Rankings released Tuesday morning.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
Targeting Winners: College Football’s Day of Reckoning

Featured Games

Targeting Winners: College Football’s Day of Reckoning

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 29, 2024

When History Comes Due: College Football’s Day of Reckoning On the final Saturday of November 2024, college football will remind us why it remains America’s most compelling social experiment. In four different stadiums, eight teams will engage in a ritual that’s equal parts sporting event and psychological warfare. These aren’t just games—they’re settling accounts, tests

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Coaches Hot Seat Rankings – Week 14

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Coaches Hot Seat Rankings – Week 14

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 26, 2024

Coaches Hot Seat Rankings—Week 14. Our full rankings are delayed due to technical difficulties. Our team is working on a solution, and we will release them as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Top 20 appears on our site. The coaching carousel has started spinning earlier than expected this year, with two notable moves

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Congratulations to Blake Harrell, the new head coach at ECU. 12 other FBS jobs are now open

Coaches Hot Seat

Congratulations to Blake Harrell, the new head coach at ECU. 12 other FBS jobs are now open

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 25, 2024

Congratulations to Blake Harrell, who was named the new head coach at East Carolina today. There are 12 other FBS openings shown below:

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Targeting Winners Gridiron Trifecta: UNLV Battles San Jose State, Ohio State Faces Indiana Upset Bid, USC-UCLA Clash in Crosstown Showdown

Featured Games

Targeting Winners Gridiron Trifecta: UNLV Battles San Jose State, Ohio State Faces Indiana Upset Bid, USC-UCLA Clash in Crosstown Showdown

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 22, 2024

In a college football weekend that promises to reshape conference landscapes and ignite rivalries, three pivotal matchups take center stage in this Targeting Winners gridiron trifecta. The 23rd-ranked UNLV Rebels, orchestrating a Cinderella season under Barry Odom, square off against the aerial assault of San Jose State in a Mountain West thriller that could redefine

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Gridiron Gambles: The 10 College Football Coaches Walking a Tightrope

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Gridiron Gambles: The 10 College Football Coaches Walking a Tightrope

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 21, 2024

In the high-stakes college football arena, where careers are made and broken on the whims of boosters and the bounce of an oblong ball, ten men are perched precariously on the edge of oblivion. “Gridiron Gambles: The 10 College Football Coaches Walking a Tightrope” isn’t just a headline—it’s a window into the soul-crushing, sweat-soaked world

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UPDATED: We’re up to 11 FBS coaching changes so far in 2024

Coaches Hot Seat

UPDATED: We’re up to 11 FBS coaching changes so far in 2024

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 18, 2024

Here are the 10 FBS coaching changes so far in 2024.

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This Week’s Targeting Winners Preview: Conference Championship Implications Abound

Featured Games

This Week’s Targeting Winners Preview: Conference Championship Implications Abound

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 14, 2024

As we gear up for another edition of the Targeting Winners Podcast, which will be released this Friday (available on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts), let’s dive into three games that have caught our attention—each with its own compelling narrative around coaching futures and championship aspirations. Boise State at San Jose State:

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Smart, Swinney, Riley: As NFL Evolves, College Football’s Elite Coaches Draw Pro Interest

American Athletic Conference

Smart, Swinney, Riley: As NFL Evolves, College Football’s Elite Coaches Draw Pro Interest

WRITTEN BY Cecil Choate
Published on November 13, 2024

With the NFL’s demand for innovative coaching and the league’s increasing interest in college coaches, there’s real buzz about top college football names like Kirby Smart, Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley, Brian Kelly, and even Lane Kiffin making the jump to the pros. But how realistic is it that we could see these coaches in the NFL

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Week 12 Hot Seat Rankings Reveal The New Math of Firing Coaches: When Balance Sheets Trump Box Scores

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Week 12 Hot Seat Rankings Reveal The New Math of Firing Coaches: When Balance Sheets Trump Box Scores

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 12, 2024

Graphic by Tony Altimore @TJAltimore on X When Money Changes Everything: College Football’s New Math If you want to understand what’s happening in college football right now, forget about the polls, the playoff rankings, and even the win-loss records. Instead, study Tony Altimore’s (@TJAltimore on X) financial visualization of athletic department debt. This document looks

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Voting is now open for Week 11 Hot Seat Rankings

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Voting is now open for Week 11 Hot Seat Rankings

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 9, 2024

In the high-stakes theater of college football, where careers rise and fall on autumn Saturdays, it’s time for the weekly ritual that makes athletic directors squirm and message boards light up: The Coaches Hot Seat Rankings. Like a real-time chronicle of coaching mortality, these rankings capture the brutal Darwinism of the profession, where yesterday’s genius

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The Great Coaching Correction of 2024

Coaches Hot Seat

The Great Coaching Correction of 2024

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 9, 2024

In the high-stakes college football casino, the usual season-end trading frenzy has given way to something more unusual: fiscal restraint. We’re calling it “The Great Coaching Correction of 2024.” You see, athletic departments across the country are staring down a triple-witching hour of financial obligations that would make even a seasoned hedge fund manager break

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Week 11’s Hidden Gems: Why the Computers Love Indiana (-14.5) and Doubt Georgia (-2.5)

Featured Games

Week 11’s Hidden Gems: Why the Computers Love Indiana (-14.5) and Doubt Georgia (-2.5)

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 7, 2024

College Football’s Week 11 Hidden Gems Every Thursday afternoon, I lay out the games that have caught my analytical eye – the matchups where the numbers whisper something different than the conventional wisdom shouts. This week, I’m focused on three contests that feel like finding mispriced assets in an efficient market: Indiana, that offensive juggernaut

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The Not-So-Sweet Survival Guide: College Football’s Week 11 Hot Seat Rankings

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

The Not-So-Sweet Survival Guide: College Football’s Week 11 Hot Seat Rankings

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 5, 2024

It’s college football’s week 11 – that special time of year when athletic directors start pricing golden parachutes. At Arkansas, Sam Pittman (#1) watches Jaxson Dart throw for 515 yards against his defense and wonders if those moving trucks outside his office are just passing through . In Birmingham, Trent Dilfer (#2) has mastered the

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College Football’s Hot Seat Rankings: Your Voice Matters

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

College Football’s Hot Seat Rankings: Your Voice Matters

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on November 3, 2024

The 2024 college football season has been a rollercoaster of expectations and disappointments, and no one knows this better than the fans. As we enter the final stretch, it’s time for you to weigh in on which coaches are feeling the heat and which ones might need to update their résumés. Your voice matters –

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Coaches Hot Seat is Targeting Winners for Week 10

Featured Games

Coaches Hot Seat is Targeting Winners for Week 10

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 31, 2024

Okay, folks, get ready. It’s that time of the week again when we dive headfirst into the chaotic, beautiful mess that is college football. Friday’s episode of the Targeting Winners podcast (available on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts) is coming at you hot, and trust me, you don’t want to miss this.

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The Coaching Carousel is Picking Up

Coaches Hot Seat

The Coaching Carousel is Picking Up

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 30, 2024

The college football coaching carousel is spinning. Four coaches have been shown the door this year, even before Mike Bloomgren got the boot at Rice over the weekend. Let’s recap: With Bloomgren out at Rice, there will be five coaching changes in October. We expect fewer coaching changes than we saw during the 2023 season, but

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Hot Seat Heat Wave: Stoops, Dilfer, and Drayton Feeling the Burn

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Hot Seat Heat Wave: Stoops, Dilfer, and Drayton Feeling the Burn

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 29, 2024

A Hot Seat Heatwave is heading our way, featuring seats under some of the biggest names in the game. Every week, we’re tracking the coaches feeling the pressure, those whose jobs are on the line with every win and loss. This week, we’ve got a new entry into our Top 10, plus updates on two

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Bloomgren Era Ends at Rice – Fifth Coaching Change This Season

Coaches Hot Seat

Bloomgren Era Ends at Rice – Fifth Coaching Change This Season

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 28, 2024

Well, folks, the Mike Bloomgren experiment in Houston has finally ended. Rice has decided to move on from their head coach after seven seasons, a 24-52 record, and a disappointing 2-6 start to this year. Bloomgren did manage to get the Owls to back-to-back bowl games, which is something, I guess. But let’s be honest,

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Week 9 is in the books. Cast your vote for the Coaches Hot Seat!

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Week 9 is in the books. Cast your vote for the Coaches Hot Seat!

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 27, 2024

Week 9 is in the books, and you know what that means… the heat is turning up! We’ve been tracking the whispers, the rumblings, the outright explosions on the sidelines all season long. Now, it’s YOUR turn to weigh in. For the first time EVER, we’re opening up the Coaches Hot Seat rankings to a

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Week 9 Featured Games:The Underdogs, the Upsets, and the Unraveling

Featured Games

Week 9 Featured Games:The Underdogs, the Upsets, and the Unraveling

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 26, 2024

Step back from the spreadsheets, the power rankings and the expert predictions – Week 9 featured games are about to remind us why we watch this sport in the first place: for the moments that defy logic and rewrite the script. Early Game No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 24 Navy Noon Eastern/9:00 AM Pacific

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Coaches on Fire? Readers Respond to the Hot Seat Rankings

College Football

Coaches on Fire? Readers Respond to the Hot Seat Rankings

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 25, 2024

Welcome back to the Coaches Hot Seat, where we dissect the volatile world of college football coaching and track those whose seats are getting too toasty for comfort. Today, we’re tackling our readers’ fiery feedback and passionate perspectives. Because let’s face it, college football fandom is a crucible of emotions, and sometimes those emotions boil

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Coaches Hot Seat is Targeting Winners for Week 9

College Football

Coaches Hot Seat is Targeting Winners for Week 9

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 24, 2024

Think you know college football? Think again. Coaches Hot Seat spends a little time listening to the Targeting Winners Podcast every Friday afternoon during the season. We take our picks and look for the storylines, the upsets, the wins, and the losses to bring you the inside scoop on where the seats are getting hot. We’re not

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Why ‘Fire the Coach!’ Feels Like a Solution, But Multi-Million Dollar Buyouts Say Otherwise

Coaches Hot Seat

Why ‘Fire the Coach!’ Feels Like a Solution, But Multi-Million Dollar Buyouts Say Otherwise

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 23, 2024

We’ve all been there. Your team is on a losing streak, the season’s slipping away, and that “Fire the coach!” chant starts echoing in your head. It’s cathartic. It feels like someone is taking action, like something is being done to right the ship. Lately, however, athletic directors seem to be hitting the “snooze” button

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Dilfer Moves to the Top of the Hot Seat Rankings. Neal Brown moves to #9.

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Dilfer Moves to the Top of the Hot Seat Rankings. Neal Brown moves to #9.

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 22, 2024

The college football season is in full swing, and with it comes the inevitable scrutiny of coaches on the hot seat. This week, we’re closely monitoring two coaches: Trent Dilfer at UAB and Neal Brown at West Virginia. Dilfer’s Blazers are off to a dismal 1-6 start, and there’s growing discontent among fans and boosters

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Coaches Hot Seat

Another One Bites the Dust: Will Hall and the Southern Miss Saga

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 21, 2024

Man, the coaching hot seat is scorching right now. First Mike Houston at ECU, and now Will Hall at Southern Miss? It’s a brutal reminder that winning is the only thing that matters in college football. Hall came to Hattiesburg with a ton of promise. Deep ties to Mississippi and a successful stint at Tulane

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The Ship Has Sailed: Mike Houston and the Harsh Realities of College Football

Coaches Hot Seat

The Ship Has Sailed: Mike Houston and the Harsh Realities of College Football

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 20, 2024

Let’s be honest: college football is a ruthless business. It’s a world where expectations are sky-high, patience wears thin, and yesterday’s hero can quickly become today’s casualty.  Mike Houston just learned that lesson the hard way. He arrived at East Carolina with a vision, ready to rebuild a program yearning for success. And for a

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Hot Seat Saturday: Where Every Snap Could Be a Coach’s Last

Featured Games

Hot Seat Saturday: Where Every Snap Could Be a Coach’s Last

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 19, 2024

This is Hot Seat Saturday, and the gridiron isn’t just a battleground for players; it’s a high-stakes arena where coaches fight for their careers. Across the nation, embattled coaches face must-win situations, their every decision scrutinized under the intense pressure of the hot seat. From the SEC to the Big 12, programs are teetering on

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The $110 Million Question: Is Lincoln Riley’s USC Experiment Unraveling?

Coaches Hot Seat

The $110 Million Question: Is Lincoln Riley’s USC Experiment Unraveling?

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 18, 2024

Picture this: It’s 2021, and USC just dropped a cool $110 million on Lincoln Riley, college football’s offensive wunderkind. The champagne’s flowing, the Spirit of Troy – the greatest marching band in the history of the universe – is playing “Conquest,” and Trojan fans are waving the “victory” sign while simultaneously dreaming of national titles.

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Trent Dilfer’s UAB Tenure: A Program-Killer in the Making?

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Trent Dilfer’s UAB Tenure: A Program-Killer in the Making?

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 15, 2024

Is this a program-killer in the making? Picture this: It’s a crisp autumn Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama. The stands at Protective Stadium are sparse, and the energy is subdued. On the sideline, a man with a Super Bowl ring on his finger and a deer-in-headlights look in his eyes watches as his team gets steamrolled. This

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GRIDIRON ARMAGEDDON: SEC Titans Clash, Big Ten Behemoths Collide, and Big 12 Underdogs Rise in a Weekend That’ll Shatter College Football’s Status Quo

Featured Games

GRIDIRON ARMAGEDDON: SEC Titans Clash, Big Ten Behemoths Collide, and Big 12 Underdogs Rise in a Weekend That’ll Shatter College Football’s Status Quo

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 12, 2024

Here we go, football fanatics. We’re about to witness GRIDIRON ARMAGEDDON: SEC Titans Clash, Big Ten Behemoths Collide, and Big 12 Underdogs Rise in a Weekend That’ll Shatter College Football’s Status Quo. This isn’t just another Saturday of college football. It’s a seismic event that’s about to rock the very foundations of the sport. From

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Finally-A-Friday, Week 7, Tonight’s Showdown in the Desert, Utah at Arizona State

Friday Night Preview & Schedule

Finally-A-Friday, Week 7, Tonight’s Showdown in the Desert, Utah at Arizona State

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 11, 2024

Game: 16 Utah at Arizona State Game Time: 10:30 PM Eastern, 7:30 PM Pacific TV: ESPN The stage is set for a classic Big 12 showdown under the Friday night lights. Still licking its wounds from a humbling loss to Arizona, Utah heads to Tempe to face an unexpectedly potent Arizona State squad. It’s a clash

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What’s up with Purdue?

Big Ten

What’s up with Purdue?

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 10, 2024

In the crisp autumn air of West Lafayette, Indiana, a story of ambition, miscalculation, and the unforgiving nature of college football is unfolding. At its center stands Ryan Walters, a 37-year-old wunderkind of defensive coaching. Now facing the greatest challenge of his young career, fans are asking, “Is Ryan Walters heading to the top of

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The $87 Million Question: Hugh Freeze and Auburn’s Football Gamble

Coaches Hot Seat

The $87 Million Question: Hugh Freeze and Auburn’s Football Gamble

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 9, 2024

Auburn University finds itself at a crossroads in the gladiatorial college football arena, where millionaire coaches pace sidelines and billion-dollar TV deals fuel an insatiable machine. The whispers have already started. The faithful readers of CoachesHotSeat.com, those amateur Nostradamuses of the gridiron, are asking the question that sends shivers down the spine of every Auburn

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Week 7 – Hot Seat Rankings Overview

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Week 7 – Hot Seat Rankings Overview

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 8, 2024

In college football’s high-stakes arena, where multimillion-dollar decisions hinge on the outcome of a single play, a silent countdown ticks away. We’re approaching the season’s midpoint, that critical juncture where athletic directors start crunching numbers that have nothing to do with touchdowns or field goals. Welcome to this week’s Coaches Hot Seat Rankings, where we

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Vote for Your Hot Seat Takes

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Vote for Your Hot Seat Takes

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 6, 2024

Every win matters. Every loss stings. But some coaches are feeling the heat more than others. Who deserves to be on the hot seat? Your vote counts. Win/Loss results for last week’s rankings appear below. Cast your vote here.

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Week 6 – Saturday Showdown – Game Preview and Schedule

Featured Games

Week 6 – Saturday Showdown – Game Preview and Schedule

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 5, 2024

Coaches Hot Seat Targets The Winners! Coaches Hot Seat took a thrilling ride yesterday on the Targeting Winners podcast, and let me tell you, these guys know their stuff. We’re talking about the intersection of coaching pressure, game matchups, and cold, hard cash—the kind of analysis that makes you see the game in a new,

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The Coaching Carousel: A Wild Ride of Buyouts, Bargains, and Burnt Biscuits

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

The Coaching Carousel: A Wild Ride of Buyouts, Bargains, and Burnt Biscuits

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on October 1, 2024

Hefty Buyouts Await 4 of Our Top 5 Let’s go on a whirlwind tour of the college football coaching carousel, where the stakes are high, the contracts are crazy, and the pressure is hotter than a two-dollar pistol. We’re talkin’ buyouts that could make your head spin, fan bases ready to revolt, and coaches clinging

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The Hot Seat Burns: Purdue Parts Ways with Graham Harrell Amidst Offensive Struggles

Coaches Hot Seat

The Hot Seat Burns: Purdue Parts Ways with Graham Harrell Amidst Offensive Struggles

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 30, 2024

In the high-stakes college football world, where every play counts and every game matters, the pressure cooker environment can sometimes boil over. And in West Lafayette, Indiana, the temperature had been rising steadily. The Fall From Grace Just four games into the 2024 season, Purdue’s offensive coordinator, Graham Harrell, found himself out of a job.

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What We’re Watchin’ Saturday – Week 5 Edition

Featured Games

What We’re Watchin’ Saturday – Week 5 Edition

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 28, 2024

Early Games Kentucky at 6 Ole Miss Game Time: Noon Eastern/9:00 AM Pacific TV: ABC, ESPN+ Ole Miss is on fire; the Rebels are hotter than a two-dollar pistol. They’re lighting it up, leading the FBS in passing yards, total offense, scoring offense, and scoring defense. Dart’s slinging it like a gunslinger, and the Rebels

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Finally a Friday! – Week 5 Friday Game Preview

Friday Night Preview & Schedule

Finally a Friday! – Week 5 Friday Game Preview

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 27, 2024

Virginia Tech at Miami: A Hurricane Brewing in the ACC

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LSU’s Tiger Stadium: A Century of Gridiron Glory

College Football

LSU’s Tiger Stadium: A Century of Gridiron Glory

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 26, 2024

Few venues can match the storied legacy of Louisiana State University’s Tiger Stadium in the annals of college football history. For nearly a century, this hallowed ground has been the stage for some of the sport’s most electrifying moments, a colosseum of the South that has witnessed the rise and fall of football dynasties. A

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Week 5 Flashpoints: Auburn’s Struggles, Mack Brown’s Moment, and Nebraska’s Setback

College Football

Week 5 Flashpoints: Auburn’s Struggles, Mack Brown’s Moment, and Nebraska’s Setback

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 23, 2024

Week 5 Coaches Hot Seat rankings will be posted on Tuesday morning – stay tuned! The Auburn Abyss: Hugh Freeze’s Nightmare Continues Auburn, a once-proud program, now resembles a sinking ship, rudderless and taking on water fast. Hugh Freeze, the captain brought in to right the vessel, seems to be steering it straight into an

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What We’re Watchin Saturday – Week 4 Edition

College Football

What We’re Watchin Saturday – Week 4 Edition

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 20, 2024

Preview of Six Marquee Matchups & Full Viewer Guide Week 4 in college football isn’t just another Saturday on the calendar. It’s a crucible, a proving ground where pretenders are unmasked, and contenders emerge bloodied but unbowed. Picture this: Twenty-two young men, their futures hanging in the balance, lined up on a field about to

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Finally-A-Friday – Week 4 Featured Friday Game Preview and Schedule

Friday Night Preview & Schedule

Finally-A-Friday – Week 4 Featured Friday Game Preview and Schedule

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 20, 2024

No. 24 Illinois (3-0) at No. 22 Nebraska (3-0): The Big Ten’s Unlikely Prizefight Television: Fox Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Announcers: Tim Brando, Devin Gardner Picture this: Once relegated to the footnotes of Big Ten history, two teams are now squaring off in a Top 25 slugfest that has the college football

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The Heat Is On: Decoding the Coaches Hot Seat

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

The Heat Is On: Decoding the Coaches Hot Seat

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 19, 2024

In the high-stakes college football world, where millions of dollars and countless dreams hang in the balance, a phrase sends shivers down the spine of even the most seasoned coaches: “the hot seat.” But what does it mean to be on the hot seat? Let’s dive in and dissect this phenomenon that keeps coaches up

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Coaches Hot Seat Week #4: Sizzling Sidelines and Cooling Cushions!

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Coaches Hot Seat Week #4: Sizzling Sidelines and Cooling Cushions!

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 17, 2024

1. Billy Napier – Florida The Gator Pit: Billy Napier’s Sinking Ship and Florida’s Rotting Hull In the swamps of Gainesville, a tragicomedy is unfolding. Billy Napier, once hailed as Florida’s football savior, is watching his career circle the drain faster than a punted football. But this isn’t just a story of a coach out

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What We’re Watching Saturday

Featured Games

What We’re Watching Saturday

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 14, 2024

Pre Game / Kickoff Shows ESPN College Football Gameday from Columbia, South Carolina (LSU at South Carolina) Fox Big Noon Kickoff from Madison Wisconsin (Alabama at Wisconsin Early Games LSU at South Carolina Time: Noon Eastern, 9:00 am Pacific Network – ABC Announcers: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe Our Pick: South Carolina Boston College

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“Finally-A-Friday!” Game Schedule and Featured Game Preview

Friday Night Preview & Schedule

“Finally-A-Friday!” Game Schedule and Featured Game Preview

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 13, 2024

Tonight’s Game Schedule (All Times Pacific) Tonight’s Featured Game: #20 Arizona at #14 Kansas State Television: Fox Time: 8:00 pm Easter / 5:00 pm Pacific Announcers: Tim Brando, Kevin Gardner. Sideline: Josh Sims The scoreboard might say “Game Preview,” but this ain’t no mere scrimmage. This is Arizona, swaggering into the lion’s den at Kansas

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Our Guide to NCAA Spin: It’s Not Confusion, It’s “Engagement”

Jason Lucero - Field Notes

Our Guide to NCAA Spin: It’s Not Confusion, It’s “Engagement”

WRITTEN BY Jason Lucero
Published on September 12, 2024

To:  All NCAA football Athletic Directors, Coaches, and Staff. From: Missy Helgenberger, NCAA Press Secretary (temp.) Re:  Talking Points! Dear NCAA College Football coaches, AD’s and staff. 

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Week 3 Coaches Hot Seat Rankings: Who’s Feeling the Burn and Who’s About to Get Torched?

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Week 3 Coaches Hot Seat Rankings: Who’s Feeling the Burn and Who’s About to Get Torched?

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 10, 2024

1. Billy Napier – Florida A High-Stakes Balancing Act Billy Napier’s time in Gainesville is fast becoming a cautionary tale of what happens when a promising coaching hire collides head-on with the unforgiving realities of SEC football. After two-plus seasons at the helm of the Florida Gators, Napier has not only failed to ignite the

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Navigating the Chaos: Week 2 of College Football’s Wild Ride

College Football

Navigating the Chaos: Week 2 of College Football’s Wild Ride

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 9, 2024

There’s a reason we all tune in, why we obsess over every play, every decision made from the sidelines. College football isn’t just a game; it’s a microcosm of American culture. It’s where the values of grit, glory, and, occasionally, utter chaos are laid bare on the gridiron. And Week 2 of this season? It

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What We’re Watching On Saturday

Featured Games

What We’re Watching On Saturday

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 7, 2024

Featured Game: Texas at Michigan Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Game Time: Noon Eastern; 9:00 a.m. Pacific Television: Fox Game Preview In a highly anticipated early-season matchup, the No. 10 Michigan Wolverines (1-0) host the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (1-0) at Michigan Stadium on Saturday. This clash between two of college football’s winningest programs marks only

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Week 2 FBS Saturday Schedule

College Football

Week 2 FBS Saturday Schedule

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 7, 2024

All Times Pacific

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Friday Night Lights, College Football Preview: Upsets Brewing, Showdowns Looming, and Swagger Overflowing

Friday Night Preview & Schedule

Friday Night Lights, College Football Preview: Upsets Brewing, Showdowns Looming, and Swagger Overflowing

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 6, 2024

BYU and SMU Collide in a Big 12-ACC Showdown That’ll Leave You Buzzing A Short Week, High Stakes, and a Whole Lotta Texas Swagger Dallas, baby. Where else would you want to kick off a Friday night college football fiesta? This ain’t your grandpa’s BYU-SMU matchup, folks. We’ve got Big 12 ambition clashing with ACC

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2024 ACC Pre-Season Meeting of the Mascots

Jason Lucero - Field Notes

2024 ACC Pre-Season Meeting of the Mascots

WRITTEN BY Jason Lucero
Published on September 5, 2024

Meeting Minutes: Duke Blue Devil: As this year’s chair, I call the meeting to order. The first order of business is to welcome the latest members to the conference, Cal, Stanford, and Southern Methodist University. Then we’ll get onto pending litigation. Put the shillelagh down, Leprechaun. You know our policy on weapons in the committee

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Big 12 Non-Conference Showdown: Aranda’s Baylor Faces A True Test Against Whittingham’s Utes

Hot Seat Test

Big 12 Non-Conference Showdown: Aranda’s Baylor Faces A True Test Against Whittingham’s Utes

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 4, 2024

Baylor Bears vs. Utah Utes: Big 12 Non-Conference Clash – Deep Dive Game Details The Unique Circumstance In a scheduling quirk that exemplifies the rapidly changing landscape of college football, the Baylor Bears and Utah Utes find themselves in an unusual situation. Despite being a member of the Big 12 conference in 2024, this game

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Swamp of Despair Puts Napier in the Top Hot Seat

Coaches Hot Seat Ranking

Swamp of Despair Puts Napier in the Top Hot Seat

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on September 3, 2024

1. Billy Napier, Florida Let’s dive into the swampy mess that is the Florida Gators football program under Billy Napier. I’m not one to sugarcoat things, so let’s call it like it is: Napier is knee-deep in the muck, and the hot seat is scorching his backside. The 41-17 beatdown by Miami? Embarrassing. Napier himself

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Week 1

Week 1 – Saturday Game Schedule

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on August 31, 2024

All Times Eastern Saturday, August 31No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (in Atlanta, Georgia) | 12 p.m. | ABCVirginia Tech vs. Vanderbilt (in Nashville, Tennessee) | 12 p.m. | ESPNIllinois State at No. 25 Iowa | 12 p.m. | Big Ten NetworkAustin Peay at Louisville | 12 p.m. | ACC NetworkIndiana State at Purdue

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Week 1

Week 1 – Friday Game Schedule

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on August 30, 2024

All Times Eastern Friday, Aug. 30Lehigh at Army | 6 p.m. | CBSSNTemple at No. 16 Oklahoma | 7 p.m. | ESPNFlorida Atlantic at Michigan State | 7 p.m. | Big Ten NetworkColgate at Maine | 7 p.m. | FloSportsElon at Duke | 7:30 p.m. | ACC NetworkWestern Michigan at Wisconsin | 9 p.m. |

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Week 1 Preview

Hot Seat Inferno: The Miami-Florida Showdown is a Must-Win for Both Coaches

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on August 29, 2024

Miami vs. Florida: The Hot Seat Bowl Week 1 of college football is already shaping up to be a scorcher, and nowhere is the heat more intense than in the Sunshine State. The Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators are set to collide in what can only be described as the “Hot Seat Bowl.” Both Mario

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Coaches Hot Seat

Why Riley & Day Are Poised to Shatter Expectations (Or Crash and Burn)

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on August 28, 2024

The Coaches on the (Supposed) Hot Seat: Lincoln Riley and Ryan DayThe college football season hasn’t started, and the “hot seat” talk is already in full swing. Pundits and fans are sharpening their pitchforks, ready to skew any coach who doesn’t deliver immediate, flawless results. Lincoln Riley at USC and Ryan Day at Ohio State

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Big Ten

Comcast’s Big Ten Blackout: A Major Fumble on the Goal Line

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on August 27, 2024

We’ve got a real head-scratcher on our hands, courtesy of Comcast Xfinity and their handling of the Big Ten Network’s new additions. John Canzano over at the Bald Faced Truth Newsletter has been digging into this, and it’s not pretty.The Bottom Line: Comcast is blacking out Big Ten Network games featuring Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and

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Fight On, Forever: Why Cowherd’s Anti-Notre Dame Rant is Pure Nonsense

Game review

Fight On, Forever: Why Cowherd’s Anti-Notre Dame Rant is Pure Nonsense

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on June 14, 2024

Colin Cowherd’s recent ramblings about USC ditching Notre Dame are so off base they are comical. The man claims to bleed Cardinal and Gold – that he’s a member of the “Trojan Family,” yet he’s completely out of touch with what matters to the Trojan faithful.

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Unlimited Coaches in College Football: Is This the Winning Play…?

College Football

Unlimited Coaches in College Football: Is This the Winning Play…?

WRITTEN BY Mark Haines
Published on June 11, 2024

Buckle up, folks. College football is teetering on the edge of a seismic shift, one that could change the game as much as NIL deals and the transfer portal. We’re talking about unlimited coaches. That’s right. The days of strictly capped…

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