On3’s College Football Hot Seat Rankings Include Two Big 12 Coaches

On3 national college football analyst Ari Wasserman recently released his list of the top eight coaches on the hot seat heading into the 2025 season.

Two coaches from Big 12 programs made the list: Arizona’s Brent Brennan at No. 5 and Cincinnati’s Scott Satterfield at No. 8.

Brennan is entering his second season at the helm in Tucson. He took over after Arizona joined the Big 12 in 2024 and posted a 4–8 record in his debut year. That result placed him near the bottom of Power Five performance charts. The placement at No. 5 on the hot seat list reflects pressure to show measurable progress in Year 2.

Scott Satterfield, in his third season in Cincinnati, also appears under the spotlight at No. 8. His Bearcats have yet to secure a winning Big 12 record since joining the league, and the overall trajectory has stalled. The ranking signals that expectations are rising fast in a conference that now demands progress or faces accountability.

Wasserman’s list illustrates that coaching security in the Big 12 is increasingly fragile. The league has elevated standards for performance, even at programs in transition. Brennan and Satterfield face distinct challenges: Brennan must build his program in the post‑Pac‑12 era while meeting new Big 12 benchmarks, and Satterfield must prove Cincinnati can compete in a rapidly shifting league landscape.

Their inclusion in the top‑8 sends a clear message: this upcoming season is pivotal. Falling short again would likely raise serious questions about longevity and direction. With both Arizona and Cincinnati aiming to carve out relevance in the Big 12, results matter far more than process.