Four CFB head coaches on the hot seat entering Week 5

The 2026 college football season is one-third complete, and several coaches and their teams have fallen short of expectations. With Week 5 looming, which coaches are sitting on the hottest of hot seats?

1. Mike Locksley, Maryland

Locksley doesn't have much time left as head coach in College Park after a 54-3 beatdown to UCLA last weekend. Locksley took the helm in 2019 and has a 39-51 record as the Terrapins head coach. 

The Terrapins are also 17-49 in Big Ten play under Locksley, and have been 4-8 the last two campaigns, respectively. 

The 56-year-old head coach is set to receive a $9.2 million dollar buyout if he is fired. However, that firing could come soon as the Terrapins are set to face Nebraska (4-0) and No. 5 Ohio State in their next two games. 

2. Deion Sanders, Colorado

There is no doubt that the Pro Football Hall of Famer Sanders was the main story of college football when he arrived at Colorado in 2023. 

Sanders, along with his son Shedeur (QB) and Travis Hunter (WR/CB), were the nation's most sought after program in America. Sanders did wonders for Jackson State (HBCU) and decided to try his coaching skills at the Power 4 level. The Buffaloes had just one win the season prior and upon Sanders arrival, Colorado suddenly had a bevy of nationally televised games and high-profile figures attending games in Boulder. 

Even though the Buffaloes finished 4-8 in 2023, there was still optimism towards the program due to the relentless recruiting in the transfer portal and having two premier talents in Sanders and Hunter. 

In 2024, the Buffaloes finished 9-4 and Hunter went on to win the coveted Heisman trophy. Sanders and Hunter declared for the NFL Draft in 2025 and since then, the Buffaloes have been on a downward trend. 

Since 2025, the Buffaloes are 5-11 and 1-9 in Big 12 play thus far. The hype has certainly dwindled and the spectacle that was once Colorado football is nonexistent. Colorado is fresh off a 41-7 loss to Northwestern which saw the benching of starting quarterback Julian Lewis. 

It won't get any easier for Sanders and the Buffaloes as they prepare to face No. 12 Texas Tech and No. 13 Utah in their next two matchups. 

3. Greg Schiano, Rutgers

The season couldn't have started worse for Schiano and the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers suffered a stunning home loss to UMass, who were nearly 30-point underdogs heading into the matchup. 

Overall, the Scarlet Knights have lost 10 of their past 13 games and have only had two winning seasons since 2020 when Schiano returned.

Yes, Rutgers was competitive against USC a few weeks ago, but can Schiano rally his team as they welcome the defending champion Indiana Hoosiers this weekend? 

4. Lincoln Riley, USC 

The offensive-minded guru has been with the Trojans since 2022 and doesn't have much to show for it. USC started the 2023 campaign 6-0, but since then the program has went 22-16. 

Riley has yet to lead the Trojans to the College Football Playoff, despite having ample NFL-caliber talent during his tenure, including 2024 No.1 overall pick Caleb Williams. 

After a rough loss to Oregon at home and player antics that have raised questions about the team's leadership and morale, Riley and the Trojans face a challenging stretch ahead, with premier matchups against Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA on the horizon.