The College Football Playoffs don’t kick off for another week, but for fans of many teams that struggled this season, the most exciting time of the year has begun: the coaching carousel. The 2025 season was chock-full of underachieving powerhouses, leaving a raft of desirable job openings on the market. As the close of the season approaches, more and more programs have announced who will be leading them forward.
One of the highest-profile candidates on the market this cycle was former Pennsylvania State University head coach James Franklin. Despite leading the Nittany Lions to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff last season, Franklin was fired after starting the 2025 season 3-3 despite national championship expectations.
Franklin has been criticized for underachieving at Penn State, but his 104-45 record over 11 years at the school made him a sought-after candidate. In the first big move of the season, Franklin was officially announced as the new head coach at Virginia Tech on Nov. 17.
“[Franklin’s] experience, passion, and record of success embody our commitment to compete at the highest level,” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in an official statement. “James will provide the leadership and inspiration our student-athletes need, and the performance on the field that our University community, alumni, and fans expect and deserve.”
Virginia Tech football, who went 16-24 under previous head coach Brent Pry, will look to turn things around under Franklin, though the former Penn State boss is far from the only big-name hire in this coaching cycle.
Three major coaching changes took place in the SEC on Nov. 30. The University of Florida, who limped to a 4-8 record in the 2025 season, fired head coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19 after a 3-4 start. On Sunday, he was officially replaced by Jon Sumrall, the current Tulane University coach who has led the Green Wave to College Football Playoff contention this season and will take over at Florida after Tulane’s season concludes.
Elsewhere in the SEC, the University of Arkansas hired Ryan Silverfield, the former University of Memphis head coach who led the Tigers to a 50-25 record in his seven seasons at the helm of the program.
Auburn University also fired the embattled Hugh Freeze, who went 15-19 during his three seasons with the Tigers. He was officially replaced on Nov. 30 by former University of South Florida coach Alex Golesh, who led the school to a 9-3 record in 2025, their best mark in eight years.
Finally, on Dec. 1, the University of Kentucky parted ways with Mark Stoops, who, with 72 wins, was the school’s all-time winningest coach. On the same day, the Wildcats hired former University of Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein to replace Stoops, though Stein is set to remain with the Ducks until the conclusion of their season.
Still, by far the most news-worthy coaching move — and one that will massively impact this season’s College Football Playoff — is Louisiana State University hiring of Lane Kiffin. Kiffin, who led the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels to a 10-1 record and an almost-certain berth in the Playoff, left the school following their win against Mississippi State University on Nov. 30.
It was the latest development in a season-long saga for Kiffin, who had spent six seasons with Ole Miss.
“It was really difficult. This has been a really special place. Six years here,” Kiffin said to ESPN. “I think we gave a lot to this program and to this city… so I feel proud of that part. But it just became time, you know, talked to God and he told me it’s time to take a new step. It’s a new chapter.”
Kiffin’s move was a controversial one, as he won’t be finishing out the season with an Ole Miss team that is gearing up for a first-round matchup in the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss will be coached by Pete Golding going forward. Fans are accusing Kiffin of abandoning the team with Kiffin claiming that some Ole Miss fans chased him down the highway on his way to LSU.
Kiffin will take over LSU after their 7-5 regular season. His seven-year, $91 million contract with the Tigers, along with his $3 million buyout for leaving the Rebels covered by LSU, places massive expectations on his shoulders going forward. Yet, the biggest shockwaves caused by Kiffin’s hiring are likely yet to come. As college football becomes centered around money, he may not be the last coach to leave a Playoff team midseason, potentially making his decision a turning point in the history of the sport.
