10 college football hiring superlatives: Worst and sneaky-best hires, fireworks at LSU

The 2025-26 college football hiring cycle is off to a dizzying start. Below are 10 superlatives from the initial wave of signings.

Most likely to produce fireworks: Lane Kiffin, LSU Tigers

We may already know how Kiffin's tenure with LSU ends, but the Tigers have the potential to become the most exciting team in FBS. Wherever Kiffin has gone, he's produced immediate results.

Below is a chart showing the splits between the season before Kiffin's arrival and his first year as head coach at his four previous stops (Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss).

In Year 1, Kiffin's teams have improved by over 10 points and nearly 100 yards per game on offense. LSU averaged 21.8 points per game during the 2025 regular season, and per Stathead, it was one of two programs to fail to score more than 25 points in at least one game against FBS competition, joining Massachusetts (0-12).

Biggest hurdle: Jon Sumrall, Florida Gators

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin's meddling reportedly deterred Kiffin from considering the Gators' opening more seriously. Per CBS Sports, Stricklin wanted to pair Kiffin with "a general manager with an NFL background who wouldn't report directly to" the head coach.  

Stricklin got his wish after hiring Sumrall by announcing former Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell, who led the franchise to a 37-91 record from 2013-2020, for the position. If Sumrall succeeds in Gainesville, it will likely be despite unimpressive leadership.

Safest choice: Jim Mora, Colorado State Rams

With Colorado State moving to the redesigned Pac-12 in 2026, it chose stability by hiring Mora, who did an excellent job at Connecticut, most recently leading the Huskies to a 9-3 record, including a win over ACC championship game participant Duke (7-5). At 64, Colorado State knows what to expect from Mora, who should smoothly guide the program through its conference transition.

Biggest gamble: Pete Golding, Ole Miss Rebels

Golding has never served as a head coach, and his first game in that role will likely be in the College Football Playoff (unless the committee penalizes the Rebels for losing Kiffin). No pressure. It's a big risk to hand a national title contender over to an unproven head coach, but it was a move the Rebels had no choice but to make. 

Most likely to make program respectable: James Franklin, Virginia Tech Hokies

Considering Franklin's past achievements, turning Virginia Tech into an ACC contender should be relatively easy. The veteran coach previously worked wonders at Vanderbilt while also helping Penn State regain prominence after longtime head coach Joe Paterno's tenure ended in scandal. In an ACC without a clear hierarchy, Franklin could soon lead the Hokies back to the top.

Sneaky-best hire: Bob Chesney, UCLA Bruins

The Bruins have seen what Curt Cignetti has done to Indiana and are hoping to replicate that success. Like Cignetti, who has guided Indiana to a 23-2 record over the past two seasons, Chesney comes to UCLA after coaching at James Madison, which remains in CFP contention should Duke win the ACC. Chesney has deftly kept James Madison atop the Sun Belt following Cignetti's departure, and like his predecessor, he could turn a former king of the hardwood into a gridiron juggernaut.

Promoted coordinator most likely to succeed: JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State Beavers

Oregon State lured Shepard back to the northeast, where he previously coached on Kalen DeBoer's Washington staff before both departed for Alabama.

Shepard, the Crimson Tide's co-offensive coordinator, has an extensive background in maximizing the production of talented wideouts, most recently Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. He also coached excellent Washington trio Ja'Lynn Polk, Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, as well as dynamic speedster Rondale Moore at Purdue, all future NFL pros.

Shepard has the benefit of beginning his head coaching career in the new-look Pac-12, and his track record of elite receiver production should attract talent to Corvallis.

Most likely to lead fastest last-place rebound: Eric Morris, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Arkansas and Oklahoma State finished last in the SEC and the Big 12, respectively, and each plucked coaches from The American Conference to prompt revivals. Of the two, Morris, who has North Texas one win away from a CFP berth, has the easiest pathway to future success, joining a Big 12 that's still up for grabs following Oklahoma and Texas' 2024 departures for the SEC.

Least inspired hire: Tavita Pritchard, Stanford Cardinal

The excitement of Andrew Luck's return to Stanford as general manager was short-lived, as the former No. 1 NFL Draft pick's first two head-coaching hires lacked imagination. After hiring Frank Reich, his former Indianapolis Colts coach, in an interim role for 2025, Luck chose Pritchard, another close contact who most recently was the Washington Commanders' quarterbacks coach, for the permanent post. Luck and Pritchard were college teammates at Stanford (2009), while Pritchard served as an assistant during Luck's sophomore and junior seasons (2010-11). In Luck's world, it's seemingly better who you know than what you know, not exactly a great sign for Stanford's ability to keep pace in the rapidly evolving sport.

Worst hire: Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State Spartans

Was Michigan State paying attention to Fitzgerald's Northwestern run? 

In 17 seasons, Fitzgerald, whose tenure ended with the revelations of a hazing culture within his program, had over twice as many losing seasons (seven) as 10-win seasons (three). Even at his most successful, he had dreadful offensive teams. During 2015's 10-3 campaign, for example, Northwestern ranked No. 114 in scoring offense (19.5 points per game). Coaching changes should illicit excitement from fan bases, not dread. But the Spartans may have set their program back years with this cycle's worst hire so far.