This year’s college football coaching carousel? Wild. Major programs like LSU, Penn State, and Florida all made big moves. As things start to settle, it’s worth sizing up the hires and what they might mean. Virginia Tech landed James Franklin, Kentucky parted ways with Mark Stoops—there’s a mix of risky gambles and long-term plays all over. Honestly, it’s hard not to get caught up in the drama.
Virginia Tech Hokies: James Franklin
Virginia Tech grabbed headlines by bringing in James Franklin. He’s got a real track record from his time at Vanderbilt and Penn State. Over 15 seasons, Franklin’s teams have racked up nine-win seasons and kept a .600-plus winning percentage. For a program that limped to 3-9 in 2025, this feels like a much-needed jolt.
Immediate Impact
Franklin’s already shaking things up with a recruiting class Hokies fans haven’t seen in a while. The school is backing him in the transfer portal too. It’s early, but the buzz is real.
Oklahoma State Cowboys: Eric Morris
Oklahoma State rolled the dice on Eric Morris, a coach with Texas roots and a knack for developing quarterbacks. Morris moved up fast—offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, then head coach at Incarnate Word, and just led Texas State to an 11-1 record.
Recruiting and Development
Morris brings deep recruiting ties in Texas, which is huge for the Cowboys. His work with QBs like Patrick Mahomes and Cam Ward stands out. If he gets the support he needs, Oklahoma State could be looking at eight-win seasons by 2028.
Kentucky Wildcats: Will Stein
Kentucky went bold, hiring Will Stein, Oregon’s 36-year-old offensive coordinator. He’s helped develop quarterbacks like Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore. Fans are hoping his offensive mind can finally wake up Kentucky’s attack.
Long-Term Vision
Stein’s got local roots and real passion for the school, which should help with recruiting and fundraising. It might take a while, but the upside here is intriguing.
LSU Tigers: Lane Kiffin
LSU made headlines by landing Lane Kiffin after a high-stakes bidding war. Kiffin’s record isn’t quite as shiny as Brian Kelly’s, but his skill in the transfer portal and recruiting is tough to ignore.
Championship or Bust
There’s real pressure here. LSU expects more than just playoff appearances—they want titles. The school’s bet on Kiffin is massive, and the risk is obvious. Still, the ceiling is sky-high.
Auburn Tigers: Alex Golesh
Auburn pulled in Alex Golesh, fresh off a breakout run at South Florida. He turned that program around fast, which is impressive in itself.
Recruiting and Player Development
Golesh knows the SEC and has strong Florida connections. Auburn’s hoping his recruiting and player development can bring them back. With quarterback Ashton Daniels and wide receiver Cam Coleman, this season could get interesting.
Colorado State Rams: Jim Mora
Jim Mora’s move from UConn to Colorado State flew under the radar. He made UConn a winner—something most people thought was impossible these days.
Perfect Fit
Colorado State gives Mora a West Coast spot and a program with realistic goals. After some rough years, Mora could finally bring some stability. Might be worth keeping an eye on the Rams now.
Ole Miss Rebels: Pete Golding
After Lane Kiffin left, Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding. His time under Nick Saban at Alabama and his recruiting chops make him an interesting pick.
Resource Allocation
With Kiffin’s salary off the books, Ole Miss can spend more on recruiting and staff. Golding’s never been a head coach before, though, so there’s some uncertainty. Still, he’s got the tools to make it work.
Florida Gators: Jon Sumrall
Florida took a chance on Jon Sumrall. He doesn’t have Florida ties and his record against ranked teams is mixed. His runs at Tulane and Troy were solid, but it’s fair to wonder how he’ll handle SEC pressure.
Patience Required
Sumrall needs time to adjust, and Gators fans might have to be patient. It could be a few seasons before things really start to click.
Oregon State Beavers: JaMarcus Shephard
Oregon State hired JaMarcus Shephard, who’s never been a head coach but has helped develop wide receivers at Washington and Alabama. He’s bringing over some staff from Alabama, which helps the optimism.
High-Risk, High-Reward
Shephard’s inexperience is a risk, but his player development and West Coast ties give this hire some real intrigue. Sometimes you just have to roll the dice.
Michigan State Spartans: Pat Fitzgerald
Michigan State’s hire of Pat Fitzgerald got people talking. He had great years at Northwestern, but things went south at the end. The game’s changed a lot since his peak seasons from 2015 to 2018.
Mixed Reactions
Some fans are optimistic, others not so much. It’s a split crowd, and honestly, no one really knows how this will pan out.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Ryan Silverfield
Arkansas picked up Ryan Silverfield from Memphis, but the reaction has been pretty skeptical. He started strong at Memphis but struggled lately, so there’s some doubt about his fit in Fayetteville.
Uncertain Future
Silverfield’s inconsistency makes things murky for Arkansas. Fans aren’t convinced yet, and it’s hard to blame them.
Stanford Cardinal: Tavita Pritchard
Stanford’s hire of Tavita Pritchard raised some eyebrows. He’s a former offensive coordinator with deep program ties, but he’s been out of college football for three years. His stretch as OC wasn’t exactly a high point for the Cardinal, either.
Questionable Decision
Pritchard’s close relationship with Andrew Luck and his long run at Stanford don’t exactly inspire much confidence in this hire.
Honestly, Cardinal fans aren’t given much to get excited about here. It feels like a move that could easily backfire.
If you want to dig deeper into these coaching hires, check out the full article on Sportsnaut.
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