The 2025 college football season has crossed the halfway point and the Big 12 Conference has already seen one head coach, Mike Gundy, get fired. While other coaches who entered the season on the hot seat are seeing a cooling, where do things stand in the conference as we begin the second half of the season? Here’s my rundown of the hot seat rankings in the Big 12 as we get set for Week 9 of the 2025 Big 12 football season. And Oklahoma State will be excluded, since they’re already in the market for a new head coach.
1. Dave Aranda, Baylor: Warming Up
Baylor was a trendy team to win the Big 12 Conference. Instead, the Bears are on the verge of being out of the Big 12 race before the end of October. And the biggest reason? The defense stinks. And that’s Aranda’s bread and butter. It’s not a good combination for a coach who saved his job with a strong second half last year, but now has fans questioning whether or not he’s really the best guy for the job.
2. Brent Brennan, Arizona: Cooling Down
Brennan hung onto his job after a terrible Year 1 in Tucson. And while the Wildcats are 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12, I actually think Arizona has played better than expected, and lost its last two games vs. BYU and Houston by a total of nine points. This team has made strides, which I think is what Arizona wanted to see. Brennan is No. 2 on the list, but his seat has cooled from where it was in August.
3. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati: Cooling Down
Scott Satterfield came into the season with the hottest seat in the Big 12 after two disappointing years in the league. However, this team is now 6-1, and at least will get to a bowl game. Now, if they collapse down the stretch, which I don’t anticipate, things might heat up. But with a bowl game coming, Satterfield likely at least bought himself one more season.
4. Sonny Dykes, TCU: Mild
The 2022 National Championship Game run feels like a long time ago, at this point. TCU has disappointed the last two seasons. And while this team is 5-2, the way their losses played out vs. Arizona State, and TCU, suggest the team continues to be too inconsistent at times. But if TCU is in the mix for a Big 12 title game appearance in November, there won’t be any issues in Fort Worth.
5. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech: Could Heat Up Fast
How is this possible? Well, the expectations are enormous in Lubbock. I predicted Texas Tech to win the Big 12, and I’m standing by it. But let’s be honest, with this collection of talent, and the money spent on the roster, if Tech does not make the Big 12 Championship Game, it would be a huge letdown. It wouldn’t be fair to McGuire, necessarily, but nothing is fair in college sports right now. I don’t believe his seat is hot, or should be hot, I’m just saying, that the unique situation in Lubbock this season with massive expectations means that coming up short could result in a seat warming up very quick. James Franklin is a prime example of this.
6. Deion Sanders, Colorado: Cool, But Worth Watching
Coach Prime has actually seen his team get better in recent weeks. And while this team isn’t going to be in a Big 12 race, I don’t think he’s going anywhere, unless he wants to. However, if the season were to unravel, it will be interesting to watch how it’s handled in Boulder. There’s talent, but one thing this staff needs to still prove is that it can develop that talent.
7. Lance Leipold, Kansas: Cool, But Worth Watching
Kansas was the laughing stock of college football for 15 years until Lance Leipold dragged them back to relevance. But now, expectations have increased. A new stadium with new facilities have created more expectations. KU was a trendy pick in 2024 and they came up well short of some, probably over-lofty, expectations in hindsight. This year, KU has Jalon Daniels back, and while they weren’t picked to win the Big 12, anything less than a bowl game will be a disappointment.
8. Chris Klieman: Cool, But Worth Watching
Chris Klieman‘s Cats started off 2-4, losing those four games by 13 points combined. With big expectations coming into the season, some of the Wildcat Faithful were starting to question Klieman. Of course, winning cures everything. And if K-State closes the season strong, then this conversation on Klieman’s future will fall by the wayside. But as Collin Klein continues to get a lot of attention at Texas A&M, it may get more conversations going in Manhattan, whether that’s fair or not.
9. Kyle Whittingham, Utah: Cool, But Worth Watching
Kyle Whittingham already has his successor picked. And while he seems to have plenty of energy, a bad loss to Texas Tech and a tough Holy War defeat is not helping the cause when it comes to the retirement decision. Utah can still do what I predicted them to do this off-season: Make the Big 12 Championship. But if this year unravels, the retirement calls may be louder.
10. Rich Rodriguez: Cool, But Worth Watching
RichRod has plenty of rope to work with in Year 1 on the job. But WVU has been awful this season. He’s not going anywhere, but if WVU is the worst Big 12 team this side of Oklahoma State, and it’s not even close, 2026 will set up to be an unusually important season for RichRod to at least show his team can be competitive in this league.
11. Scott Frost, UCF: Cool
UCF has exceeded my early season expectations in Year 1 under Scott Frost. Like RichRod, it’s a homecoming and he has plenty of rope to work with. And even at 1-3 in league play, they have a blowout over WVU and they’ve been in each of their Big 12 games, for the most part.
12. Willie Fritz, Houston: Cold
In Year 2, Willie Fritz has this team competing so far atop the Big 12 with a 6-1 record. No matter what happens, this season has been a huge improvement for the Cougars, and Willie Fritz is proving he can do what he has done everywhere he’s been: Turn things around and win.
13. Kalani Sitake: Cold
For a second-straight season, BYU is going to be in the thick of the Big 12 Title race after starting off 7-0, including another win over Utah. Given the natural constraints that BYU deals with that other Power 4 programs don’t, it makes Sitake’s success that much more impressive. He’s as safe as safe can be.
14. Matt Campbell, Iowa State: Cold
Speaking of 100% safe, that’s Matt Campbell. I know a 5-0 start has been followed by two losses, but it really doesn’t matter. Campbell is a lock in Ames for as long as he wants.
15. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State: Cold
And then, there’s Dillingham, fresh off a Big 12 title, a win over Texas Tech last week, and loving life at his alma mater. If Dillingham leaves ASU any time soon, it will be on his own accord.
