Ranking the SEC Coaches by Hot Seat Temperature

Ice Ice Baby

1. Kirby Smart (Georgia)

2024 was a “down” year for the Bulldogs and resulted in an SEC Championship and a #2 ranking a first-round bye in the Playoff. There isn’t a more secure coach in American than Smart at Georgia. Seat Warmth: 0/10

2. Steve Sarkisian (Texas)

The Longhorns won 11 games in the regular season and made it to the semifinals of the Playoff. There is zero chance that Sark isn’t at Texas after the season unless he leaves for an NFL job. Seat Warmth: 0/10

3. Clark Lea (Vanderbilt)

Most preseason projections had the Commodores winning 2-3 games at most, instead they qualified for and won the Birmingham Bowl over Georgia Tech and upset then #1 Alabama at home. Seat Warmth: 1/10

4. Jeff Lebby (Mississippi State)

Anytime a program undergoes a complete overhaul like Mississippi State, there will be growing pains. The Bulldogs record in 2024 didn’t reflect the improvement across the board on offense and defense throughout the season. Losing QB Michael Van Buren to LSU in the portal was a blow and more wins will be expected in 2025 for Lebby to remain in this category. Seat Warmth: 1/10

5. Mike Elko (Texas A&M)

The Aggies started off the year with a close loss to eventual national championship game participant Notre Dame at home and then went on a seven-game winning streak that included upset wins over then #9 ranked Missouri and #8 LSU. Losing three out of the final four games of the season kept the Aggies out of the SEC Championship Game and Playoff. Things look even better for Elko in 2025. Seat Warmth: 2/10

Seat Warmers are on Low

6. Josh Heupel (Tennessee)

The Vols arguably had their best season since 2022 and qualified for the Playoff for the first time since its inception. That all being said, the Tennessee faithful are hungry to return to the elite tier of College Football. The Big Orange haven’t played for an SEC Championship since 2007 and haven’t won one since 1998. Seat Warmth: 3/10

7. Shane Beamer (South Carolina)

After several mediocre years under Beamer, the Gamecocks had a strong 2024 finishing as one of the hottest teams in the country. A nasty defensive line and a legit Heisman candidate in LeNorris Sellers at QB have the South Carolina faithful excited for 2025. Seat Warmth: 3/10

8. Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss)

Ole Miss went all in for 2024 to beat Georgia and to make the College Football Playoff. They were successful in defeating the Bulldogs in Oxford but also gave Kentucky their only conference win and got shocked by Florida in the process. The Rebels were less active in the Transfer Portal than in years past and there has been an air of discontent among the fanbase. Seat Warmth: 4/10

9. Kalen Deboer (Alabama)

A nine-win season and a New Year’s Day bowl berth would be a successful year at most programs; however, Alabama isn’t most programs. The Crimson Tide fanbase is used to winning championships and not making the expanded Playoff field has led to a winter of discontent in Tuscaloosa. Seat Warmth: 4/10

10. Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri)

The 2024 version of Missouri might be one of the weakest 10-win teams in recent years. The Tigers beat only one team that was ranked at the time of the game (#24 Boston College, finished 7-6). 2025 is THE opportunity that Mizzou has been waiting on with the toughest games on the schedule (Alabama, Texas A&M) at home and no Georgia, Texas, or Tennessee on the schedule. Seat Warmth: 5/10

No Margin for Error

11. Brian Kelly (LSU)

Kelly left Notre Dame stating that the recruiting restrictions prevented the Irish from competing for National Championships and that at LSU the athletes were there to win it all. A win over Alabama and an appearance in the SEC Championship game in 2022 seemed to indicate that the program was headed in the right direction. Since then, LSU has only defeated one ranked team (#9 Ole Miss in overtime) and has largely underperformed while Notre Dame played for a National Championship. Maybe Brian Kelly was the problem all along? Seat Warmth: 7/10

12. Mark Stoops (Kentucky)

The Cats are two seasons removed from being ranked in the Top 10 and winning 10 games so the precedent is there for Stoops to be successful in Lexington. However, 2024 was a disappointing season across the board for Kentucky and there is a large chorus of fans who are ready for a change. Another disappointing year in 2025 will only serve to stoke the flames. Seat Warmth: 7.5/10

13. Billy Napier (Florida)

If you polled the College Football media at the beginning of last season and asked if they thought Napier would still be the coach at Florida in 2025 the answer would have been a resounding “no”. The Gators had what many considered the hardest schedule in College Football and Naper had shown very little progress over the previous two seasons. A close loss in Knoxville to Tennessee and a hard-fought game against then #2 Georgia in Jacksonville likely spared Naper from getting the axe mid-season which paved the way for a four-game winning streak to end the season including upset wins against #22 LSU and #9 Ole Miss. The leash is still short in Gainesville, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Seat Warmth: 7.5/10

These Guys Need Asbestos Underwear

14. Sam Pittman (Arkansas)

The Pitt Boss was on the hot seat prior to 2024 and earned a reprieve with a 4-2 start including an upset win over then #4 Tennessee. Dropping 4 of the last six regular season games to finish 6-6 reignited the hot seat talk entering 2025. Seat Warmth: 8/10

15. Brent Venables (Oklahoma)

The Sooners had a rude welcome to the SEC winning only 2 conference games and being offensively challenged for most of the season. A late-season win against Alabama likely kept Venables from the full fury of the Sooner Nation this offseason. A repeat performance in 2025 will likely result in Venables being fired before the 2026 season. Seat Warmth: 9/10

16. Hugh Freeze (Auburn)

The Tigers finished 2024 at 5-7 marking the fourth straight losing season on the Plains. Adding in the 2020 season where the conference only played 10 games and Auburn finished 6-5 and it has been five years since the Tigers have won more than six games. Freeze was hired in 2023 to clean up the Harsin mess and bring Auburn back to the top of the SEC. Issues at the QB position and on the offensive line have prevented the Tigers from getting back to being competitive. Freeze is on a very short leash for 2025. Seat Warmth: 9.99/10