2025 College Football Coaching Carousel: Grading the Major New Hires
A Season of Shake-Ups: The Coaching Carousel Unfolds
The 2025–26 college football offseason turned into one of the most dramatic coaching rounds in recent years — with every major conference seeing shake-ups and marquee schools making bold moves. What began as routine transitions ended with high-stakes hires, ambitious gambles, and lofty expectations from storied programs. SB Nation+2Rocky Top Insider+2
Some of the biggest headlines:
- LSU Tigers lured Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss Rebels — a move that shook up the entire SEC landscape. Rocky Top Insider+2ESPN.com+2
- Virginia Tech Hokies stunned many by bringing in James Franklin, fired earlier in the season by Penn State Nittany Lions. Forbes+2Yahoo Sports+2
- Other programs like Auburn Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels (post-Kiffin), UCLA Bruins, and Oklahoma State Cowboys also made significant coaching decisions. Rocky Top Insider+2SI+2
Who Came Out on Top — And Who Faces the Heat?
Media and analysts have already begun grading the hires. One standout — and widely considered the best landing of the carousel — is James Franklin at Virginia Tech:
- James Franklin to Virginia Tech — A+: Known for consistent success over 15 seasons at previous stops, Franklin brings recruiting clout and experience. His hiring signals serious ambition for a Hokies program coming off a poor season. Yahoo Sports+2Sportsnaut+2
- Lane Kiffin to LSU — A- / B+: His proven track record at Ole Miss and ability to attract talent makes him a logical fit to revive LSU’s national championship aspirations. However, some caution remains since the expectation is championship-level success every year. ESPN.com+2Forbes+2
Other notable grades:
- Alex Golesh to Auburn — B+: A fresh offensive mind aimed at energizing Auburn’s recruiting and attack. Rocky Top Insider+1
- Pete Golding promoted at Ole Miss — B: While promoting from within maintains some continuity, questions linger about how smoothly the transition will go post-Kiffin. SI+1
- Other programs — Several schools made lower-profile hires, ranging from mid-level hopefuls to risky gambles (e.g. UCLA, Oklahoma State), reflecting varying confidence levels and program ambitions. Rocky Top Insider+2SI+2
What These Moves Mean for the Coming Seasons
- Recruiting Wars Heat Up: High-profile hires like Franklin and Kiffin likely create renewed energy for top recruits and transfers. For schools like Virginia Tech, this could mean a rapid turnaround. Yahoo Sports+1
- Championship Pressure Resurfaces: Programs like LSU have reset the bar — anything less than playoff contention may be viewed as underachieving. ESPN.com+1
- Shifting Power Dynamics: The ripple effects of coaching changes — especially in the SEC — mean traditional hierarchies may shift, giving certain “underdog” programs a chance to challenge. Rocky Top Insider+2Sportsnaut+2
Notably, observers expect the coaching carousel fallout will influence not just immediate seasons, but recruiting cycles and long-term program trajectories.
