Three names that stand out from list of 10 college coaches under pressure

With the 2025 College Football campaign rapidly approaching, it's now worth discussing which coaches are under the most pressure to produce for their respective schools this fall. 

On3 Sports College Football analyst Ari Wasserman ranked the top 10 coaches that will face the most pressure this upcoming season. While every name on the list has a case, three coaches in particular stand out due to the weight of expectations, past underperformance or the trajectory of their programs. 

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide

DeBoer is fresh off his first campaign with the Crimson Tide after former head coach Nick Saban retired after the 2023 campaign. DeBoer, who formerly coached at Washington, led the Tide to a 9-4 record, which is the worst record for the program since 2007. Alabama also suffered mind-boggling losses to unranked Vanderbilt and unranked Oklahoma. 

Since Jalen Milroe declared for the draft, Ty Simpson will likely be under center for the Tide in 2025. Simpson has been waiting in the wings since 2022, when Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was in Tuscaloosa. The former five-star quarterback finally has his chance to show what he can do in a pivotal campaign for the program. 

Yes, it was only DeBoer's first campaign in Tuscaloosa, but the 2023 Coach of the Year will be feeling some heat this fall. 

James Franklin, Penn State Nittany Lions

Franklin led Penn State to the Big Ten Championship Game (loss vs. Oregon) and made it to the semifinals of last season's College Football Playoff (loss vs. Notre Dame). 

Franklin's tenure in Happy Valley has mostly been touted as underachieving. The Nittany Lions continue to struggle against Big Ten brethren Ohio State and Michigan, losing eight consecutive matchups against the Buckeyes and three consecutive against the Wolverines. However, last season's postseason run conveyed a glimmer of optimism of how far Franklin can take the Nittany Lions. 

Franklin's squad is experienced and brings back ample talent from last season's 13-3 team, such as premier running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. Furthermore, stout defensive lineman and third-year starter Zane Durant is back, along with former five-star recruit quarterback Drew Allar. The Nittany Lions are certainly in the Big Ten title mix along with Ohio State and Oregon. 

It remains to be seen if Franklin can finally get over the hump in his 12th season, but expectations are sky-high and failing to meet them will only cause questions about Franklin's ability to take the program where it expects to be to grow louder.

Brent Venables, Oklahoma Sooners

Venables is ranked as the coach with the hottest seat in the nation.

He led the Sooners to a 6-7 campaign last season in their first year as a member of the Southeastern Conference. Oklahoma suffered a bevy of bad losses and even had issues at quarterback with the benching of Jackson Arnold early in the season. The Sooners have had two seven-loss campaigns in the past three seasons, which won't suffice for a prestigious program such as Oklahoma. 

As Venables enters year four in Norman, he is set to have Washington State transfer quarterback John Mateer under center along with new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who is also from Washington State. Mateer has been under Arbuckle's offense over the past two seasons. 

Mateer was proficient under Arbuckle in 2024 as he tossed for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 64.6 percent of his passes. The 21-year-old pass-thrower also added 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. 

It remains to be seen if Mateer can adapt to the talent that is in the SEC. Nonetheless, Venables' seat temperature in 2025 will heavily rest on that matter.