2025 Hot Seat Rankings Spotlight Sam Pittman, Trent Dilfer and Other Coaches Facing Pivotal Seasons That Could Define Their Careers
As the 2025 college football season approaches, the pressure is mounting—not just on players, but on the head coaches responsible for delivering results, managing locker rooms, and meeting the expectations of rabid fan bases and ambitious athletic departments. For some, this season represents an opportunity to solidify legacies or elevate programs. For others, however, it may be their last chance to prove they deserve to stay. The term “hot seat” gets thrown around frequently this time of year, but in 2025, it’s not hyperbole—it’s a stark reality for several coaches whose futures hang in the balance. Among them are Arkansas’ Sam Pittman and UAB’s Trent Dilfer, both of whom headline a group of nine coaches who enter the season with more questions than answers and everything to lose.
The landscape of college football is evolving faster than ever, with conference realignment, NIL, and the transfer portal reshaping the balance of power annually. Patience is wearing thin at schools that have invested millions into facilities, staff, and recruiting. Boosters want wins, fans want progress, and athletic directors want proof that they made the right hire. Against this backdrop, several coaches are staring down what could be defining, or final, seasons.
Few coaches have ridden the rollercoaster quite like Sam Pittman. When he was hired in 2020, he was seen as a stabilizing presence after the chaos of the Chad Morris era. Pittman quickly won over fans with his humility, toughness, and ability to exceed expectations. A surprising 9-4 finish in 2021 earned him national respect. But since then, the Razorbacks have trended downward. Arkansas posted back-to-back disappointing seasons in 2023 and 2024, marked by inconsistent quarterback play, close losses, and questions about offensive identity.
As he enters 2025, Pittman must not only win games, but also reestablish momentum for a program that seems to have stalled. The SEC West remains brutally competitive, and with new teams entering the conference in 2024, there’s even less margin for error. Pittman’s goodwill with the fanbase remains intact—but for how long? A bowl berth may not be enough. He needs to show Arkansas is trending up, or he could be replaced in favor of a younger, flashier hire.
Trent Dilfer’s arrival at UAB in 2023 was met with skepticism and curiosity. A Super Bowl-winning quarterback with no college coaching experience, Dilfer’s transition from high school coach and analyst to head coach of a Group of Five program was bold. After two rocky seasons filled with growing pains, questionable in-game decisions, and inconsistent recruiting, 2025 is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for Dilfer.
UAB moved to the American Athletic Conference with the hope of increasing its national profile, but the results haven’t matched the vision. Dilfer’s emotional sideline demeanor and high standards haven’t translated to wins, and fan frustration is growing. The administration has been supportive, recognizing the steep learning curve, but with other AAC programs thriving, patience may be running out. If Dilfer can’t produce a winning season in Year 3, his experimental tenure could come to an abrupt end.
Neal Brown has seemingly been on the hot seat for several seasons, yet he’s managed to hang on thanks to timely wins and institutional support. That cushion may finally be gone in 2025. After a middling 2024 campaign that saw the Mountaineers hover around .500 and fail to compete consistently in the new-look Big 12, fans are wondering if Brown is the right man to lead the program into its next era.
Recruiting hasn’t been disastrous, but development and on-field execution have lagged. The Big 12’s recent expansion has reshaped the competition, and West Virginia risks falling behind. Brown’s contract buyout is no longer a major obstacle, and barring a strong start to the season, the calls for change could reach a volume the administration can’t ignore.
Tom Allen became a fan favorite at Indiana for bringing unprecedented energy and emotional connection to a program long mired in mediocrity. His 2020 team was one of the best in school history. But that magical season now feels like a distant memory. Since then, the Hoosiers have stumbled through disappointing campaigns marked by offensive struggles, defensive regression, and recruiting setbacks.
Allen has shown loyalty to his staff and players, but the results simply haven’t been there. Indiana isn’t a program with sky-high expectations, but it does expect competitiveness—and that’s been lacking. The Big Ten is only getting tougher with additions like USC and Oregon. If Allen can’t produce at least six wins in 2025, Indiana may opt for a reset.
Returning to his alma mater was supposed to be a dream for Danny Gonzales. Instead, it’s turned into a slog. Gonzales has struggled to make New Mexico competitive in the Mountain West, and while there have been glimpses of improvement, consistency has been elusive. Recruiting has not taken off, attendance has lagged, and the program feels stagnant.
Gonzales has had time to implement his vision, but the Lobos remain at or near the bottom of the league standings. Local support is waning, and the administration may be forced to act if 2025 doesn’t deliver a noticeable turnaround. With several Mountain West schools on the rise, New Mexico can’t afford to be left behind.
Jeff Hafley arrived at Boston College with a defensive pedigree and NFL connections, but after several seasons, results remain inconsistent. The Eagles have hovered around mediocrity since his hiring, and while injuries and roster turnover have played a role, fans are craving a breakthrough that hasn’t arrived.
Hafley’s recruiting has been solid, and his players generally compete hard, but BC’s inability to win key games has kept them out of serious ACC contention. In an era where conference realignment and national exposure are reshaping the sport, Boston College needs a compelling on-field product. Hafley’s seat is warm, and another mediocre season could turn up the heat significantly.After leaving Louisville for Cincinnati in a surprise move, Scott Satterfield’s first season was rocky. The transition to the Big 12 proved challenging, and Satterfield struggled to adapt. The Bearcats, once the toast of the Group of Five, looked overmatched in their new league, raising questions about whether Satterfield is the right fit.
2025 is a critical year. Satterfield must not only win more games but also reestablish Cincinnati’s brand of tough, disciplined football. Fan support is lukewarm, and donor pressure is mounting. If the Bearcats don’t show marked improvement, the administration may begin looking for a coach who better fits the program’s vision and history.
Ken Wilson’s tenure at Nevada has been disappointing, to say the least. Since taking over, the Wolf Pack have seen a significant drop in production and competitiveness. Fan engagement has plummeted, and recruiting pipelines have dried up. Wilson has struggled to instill a clear identity, and patience is running thin.
Nevada doesn’t have the same expectations as Power Five schools, but it does expect to be competitive in the Mountain West. Wilson needs a big year to prove he’s the guy to turn things around. If 2025 mirrors the last two seasons, a change is inevitable.
Brent Brennan left San Jose State with momentum and respect, taking the Arizona job with hopes of guiding the Wildcats back to relevance. However, he inherited a program in transition and is facing enormous pressure to win quickly. Arizona’s shift to the Big 12 complicates things, and the demands of competing with new conference rivals are high.
While Brennan hasn’t had much time, the expectations at Arizona are rising. His recruiting has shown promise, but the product on the field needs to match. With other programs improving rapidly, Arizona can’t afford to fall behind again. 2025 isn’t necessarily win-or-be-fired—but it’s close.
In the ever-evolving world of college football, job security is fleeting. The margin between stability and the unemployment line is thinner than ever, and for the nine coaches above, 2025 may be the season that determines their future. Whether they rise to the occasion or fall under the weight of expectations, one thing is certain: the heat is on, and there’s no place to hide.
