College Football Hot Seat Report- 1st Review

After 4 weeks, this season is beginning to foreshadow what could be coming. There are teams that are contenders. There are those that are pretenders in which some of these paper tigers have yet to be exposed. You have the teams experiencing a down year and those that seem to be cupcakes each season. Then, there are those teams whose leaders are fighting for their jobs each game knowing that a colossal screw up especially on the road might result in the "Lane Kiffin Treatment" in which you are on your own getting home. We are now entering the end of September which is when Lane Kiffin was left at the airport after being dismissed following the game.

Here are the 11 coaches who currently have the best chance to be Lane Kiffin'd:

11. Butch Jones(Tennessee)
- 2017 Record: 3-1
- Overall Record at Tennessee: 33-22
The Butch Jones era has been relatively mediocre, but so has Tennessee football over the last decade or so. Butch Jones should make it through the season, but if things get bad like blowout losses or bad losses, he could been sent out the ticket out of town in the snap of finger.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: Getting blown out on the road to an inferior opponent at any point this season might do the trick.

10. Jim Mora (UCLA)
- 2017 Record: 2-2
- Overall Record at UCLA: 43-26
Mora won the Pac-12 South in 2012 during his first season. He followed it up with consecutive 10-3 seasons making UCLA a consistent threat to win the Pac-12. Going 8-5 in 2015 and 4-8 last season, Mora cannot afford to duplicate last season and miss a bowl.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: If a loss at USC happens and the Bruins have no chance to go bowling, Mora might need an Uber to get home.

9. Steve Addazio (Boston College)
- 2017 Record: 1-3
- Overall Record at Boston College: 25-30
Addazio is in his 5th season at BC where he has went bowling three times but has not won more than 7 games in a season. Since Spaziani was canned after two bad seasons, one can assume that Addazio needs to get his team bowling or at least win 5 games. Anything less as well as more pointless unsportsmanlike penalties, he could be sent packing.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: If BC loses their next 3 and then falls at Virginia, no bowl is happening and Addazio might have to pitch a tent in Charlottesville while he plans to get home.

8. Bret Bielema (Arkansas)
- 2017 Record: 1-2
- Overall Record at Arkansas: 26-28
Bielema has brought the Hogs bowling the last three seasons after going 3-9 his 1st season. However, he has not won more than 8 games in a season and is 10-23 in the SEC. Though Arkansas is not a normal SEC powerhouse, Bobby Petrino led them to four great seasons from 2008-11 in which fans believe should be duplicated. Petrino's success has hurt Bielema giving him expectations that might be too high for this program. With that being said, a bowl game is a must for job security.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: Assuming they win this weekend, the possible loss in Baton Rouge on 11/11 could keep the Hogs on the couch during bowl season, and Bielema might need alternative plans  back to Fayetteville. Of course, a stop at Bourbon Street could be an option.

7. Mike Riley (Nebraska)
- 2017 Record: 2-2
- Overall Record at Nebraska: 17-13
Riley has one of the hardest jobs in FBS in trying to make the Cornhuskers a revenant title contender. Something they have been far from over the last 20 years with only one conference title since the great Tom Osborne retired in 1997. Most years, it has been a struggle to even have a Top 25 team. Riley is coming off a good year going 9-4 where the Husker faithful are hoping to continue to move towards a conference title. After a early home loss to Northern Illinois, it is clear that it will not be happening this year and after a lackluster win at home over Rutgers, a bowl might not be a shoe in either. Therefore, Riley has a difficult task at hand. Winning less than 7 games might hurt his tenure there. Another bad loss will likely get him the boot.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: Assuming things do not get better, a loss in West Lafayette on 10/28 could be 3rd in a row and 5 overall. Getting to Indianapolis could be on Riley's mind shortly following this game.


6. Mark Whipple (UMass)
- 2017 Record: 0-5
- Overall Record at UMass: 8-33 (2nd Stint)
Molnar went 2-22 after 2 seasons at UMass, so they brought back Mark Whipple who led the Minutmen to the 1998 1-AA Championship. This time around he is in the FBS, and it has been far from successful. Starting out 0-5 in his 4th season where he has not won more than 3 games in a year yet in FBS. He has suffered several close losses including last weekend's to Tennessee, but a loss is a loss. With this putrid start and seeing how fast Molnar was shown the door, Whipple is almost as good as gone unless there is a complete turnaround. His success during his 1st stint might be the only thing that could keep him around.


Lane Kiffin Possibility: Whipple will likely make it to the end of the season. However, if they go winless, he might earn extended time in South Florida following a loss at FIU.


5. Tyson Summers (GA Southern)
- 2017 Record: 0-3
- Overall Record at GA Southern: 5-10
Summers took over when Fritz left for Tulane. The Eagles were a power in FCS and began play in FBS making an instant impact in the Sun Belt. The program even had a few near misses against in state rivals UGA and Ga Tech. Summers began the 2016 season 3-0 and is 2-12 since. In their 3 games, this team has been horrible especially on offense and has hit rock bottom as Summers has turned this program into a cupcake for Indiana and bait for New Hampshire of the FCS. GA Southern is known for not giving coaches long if they are not successful. The Eagles are so bad that winning one game could be a challenge. If they are still winless entering their trip to UMass, a loss there and Summers could be stranded in Amherst.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: If they are still winless entering their trip to UMass, a loss there and Summers could be stranded in Amherst.

4. Brad Lambert (Charlotte)
- 2017 Record: 0-4
- Overall Record at Charlotte: 16-34
Lambert is the first and only coach for the 49ers program which began in 2013. He is in his third season in FBS competition where he has them off to a putrid start after losing back to back home games against NC A&T and Georgia State. In three games against FBS teams, Charlotte has scored a combined 14 points. Charlotte's program is still new, which makes it a very difficult job. Lambert has got them going, but it might be time for a change. Fans are unhappy after the last two defeats. Judging by those performances, winning a game could be a tall task this season. However, going 4-8 last season was great for a brand new program competing in C-USA.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: Lambert probably will not get fired before the end of the season unless fans become restless. A loss at Hattiesburg could likely put them at 0-11 in which it might be in their best interest to leave Lambert there.


3. Sean Kugler (UTEP)
- 2017 Record: 0-4
- Overall Record at UTEP: 18-35
Kugler is in his 5th season and has only brought the Miners to one bowl since his arrival. This season could be his worst yet as they are 0-4 and have been far from competitive in any of their losses including at home against Rice. UTEP's offense is bad, and defense would have a tough time stopping elite high school teams. Unfortunately, they do not play Charlotte and will be the underdog in all of their remaining games. If Bobby Boucher or Spike Hammersmith do not walk through their door, the Kugler era does not seem to have much left.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: Kugler could be left at any remaining road game. This weekend's game at Army would be nice for Kugler as he could visit his hometown shortly after. However, a loss in Hattiesburg on 10/14 would likely put them at 0-7. Although, the increased APR scores that have occurred during his era could allow him to coach the entire season.

2. Barry Odom (Missouri)
- 2017 Record: 1-3
- Overall Record at Missouri: 5-11
Missouri was one of our team's we mentioned that was looking to rebound as it had been awhile since the Tigers went 3 straight seasons without a bowl. Trying to build off last year's 4-8 record, this season has started poorly for Odom losing 3 straight games at home in which Mizzou was blown out in each. Judging by their performances against South Carolina and Auburn, it appears winning one game in conference play is unlikely. Even beating Idaho and UConn are no longer shoe ins. A loss at Connecticut should lead to the Lane Kiffin treatment.

Lane Kiffin Possibility: A loss at UConn on 10/28 could leave Odom in Hartford. Mizzou fans certainly would not want him back in Columbia.


1. David Beaty (Kansas)
- 2017 Record: 1-3
- Overall Record at Kansas: 3-25
Previous Kansas coaches Turner Gill (5-19) and Charlie Weis (6-22) both had better records than Beaty did after 2 seasons. Somehow Beaty has managed to stick around unlike his predecessors. If the past has any indication, Beaty could go after any game this season. The Jayhawks are underdogs in all remaining games, so it is wonder when Beaty will get the plug. 

Lane Kiffin Possibility: Knowing that wins are going to be sparse this season, Beaty could be left at any airport on their way back from a road game. Of course, beating Texas last season might be pulling more weight than we think.