With Week 7 in the rearview mirror, some college football coaches are more secure than ever. Meanwhile, others are not. Some coaches might not see January. For some, a year-long pattern of struggle is too much to explain away. For others, a sudden decline in a must-win year could be enough.
Here’s a look at the top five college coaches most at risk of being cut loose in the coming weeks.
Steve Sarkisian Joins Top 5 Least Secure College Football Coaches
#5 – Steve Sarkisian, Texas Longhorns
Steve Sarkisian seemed to be trending up earlier this season, but brutal back-to-back losses to unranked foes have turned everything on its head, with Texas tumbling from No. 1 to No. 19 in two weeks. Despite having the most hyped quarterback in college football, the Longhorns (4-2) appear to be imploding after consecutive 27-24 losses to the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners, in which they had double-digit leads in the first half and crucial fourth-quarter turnovers.
At this point, if the free fall continues, the program could end up losing Arch Manning or moving on from Sarkisian. Someone has to go, and it could be that the only way to keep Manning is to let Sarkisian go.
#4 – Dan Lanning, Oregon Ducks
Dan Lanning has lost only three games in a season once in his run with the Oregon Ducks. It was his first year with the program. With still half the season to go, Lanning has two losses. Sometimes, a veteran player’s numbers in their final season will resemble their first year. If the same happens for Lanning, it could be his final run in Oregon.
Lanning has faced consistent criticism, as his Ducks (4-2) lost 17-15 to then-No. 21 UCLA and 39-31 at unranked Oklahoma State. The program also barely beat the unranked Nebraska Cornhuskers 17-14 in Week 7. With the Ducks, who were ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll, now outside the Top 25, it’s a scary place for Lanning to be with a program accustomed to being a perennial contender.
#3 – Brent Venables, Oklahoma Sooners
Brent Venables is at risk of turning in more losing seasons than winning seasons in his five years with the Oklahoma Sooners. If that happens, it will be hard for him to explain away the consistent downturns. The Sooners have a history of excellence with Bob Stoops, Barry Switzer and Bud Wilkinson and will have no reason to settle if Venables can’t get it done.
At 3-3 and 1-2 in SECplay, the program is closer to another losing season and has already been kicked out of the Top 25 AP Poll after starting the season at No. 10. If the Sooners don’t get back into the rankings by the end of the season, the writing might be on the wall.
#2 – Clark Lea, Vanderbilt Commodores
Remember when Diego Pavia and Clark Lea exploded in 2025? 2026 has been the opposite. Without Pavia, Lea’s Commodores (3-4) are 0-4 in SEC play this year, and four of their next five foes are ranked. At this point, it was clear that Pavia was the key to the team’s success. Once the players become more important to a college program than the coach, it is hard to rationalize keeping him.
Lea only has one season with double-digit wins and could finish with a losing record in four of his six seasons since taking over in 2021.
#1 – Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes
Deion Sanders stole headlines due to the unique situation of coaching Shedeur Sanders (and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter). However, without his son at quarterback, the Buffaloes have struggled mightily. Sanders needed a big surge after three wins in 2025. Instead, it has been more of the same. Once struggle becomes predictable, it is time to look elsewhere.
Sanders’ Buffaloes are 2-4 and have lost four straight games. It doesn’t appear to be a question of if, but when he will be released. Coach Prime, who is 18-25 at CU, still has the job for now, and as long as he is still present on the sideline, he will not give up. However, things are as dire as they have ever been for the former Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons legend.
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