Pac-12 Coach Hot Seat Ranking: CBS Sports ranks hottest seat to coldest
College football is a brutal business, and the Pac-12 is no exception. On Tuesday, CBS Sports released its hot-seat rankings for all 133 FBS coaches.
The list is based on a 5-point system. The higher the number, the more pressure a coach is under. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd described the system.
| RATING | WHAT IT MEANS |
|---|---|
| 5 | Win or be fired |
| 4 | Start improving now |
| 3 | Pressure is mounting |
| 2 | All good … for now |
| 1 | Safe and secure |
| 0 | Untouchable |
The rankings are a proven system. According to Dodd, “Over the last five years, 30 of the 43 coaches rated 4 or worse in the preseason eventually lost their jobs (70%).” An ugly sign for several Pac-12 coaches. For some program leaders, this season will decide their fate. Let’s dive in.
Deion Sanders — Colorado (0)
This is no surprise. Deion Sanders is a new face in town and a welcome one at that. The NFL Hall-of-Famer brings more than playing experience. “Coach Prime” joins the Buffaloes with three years of coaching experience at Jackson State.
While there, Sanders led the program to a 27-5 record and won back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference championships. Jackson State is an FCS school, but fans are hopeful Sanders can replicate his success in the Pac-12. The 55-year-old head coach certainly isn’t lacking confidence.
Lincoln Riley — USC (0)
There’s not much else USC fans could ask for from Lincoln Riley. After the Trojans won four games in 2021, Riley joined the program and secured 11 victories in his first season. Not to mention, Riley produced USC’s first Heisman Trophy winner since Matt Leinart won in 2004.
Riley didn’t let Caleb Williams’ talent go to waste. Last season, the Trojans broke six USC records, including the most passing yards in a single season, most touchdown passes in a single season and the lowest percentage of passes intercepted. Riley is comfortably sitting behind the USC driver’s seat.
Kyle Whittingham — Utah (0)
While the previous two coaches are yet to do anything wrong enough to garner heat, Kyle Whittingham has done enough to gain fans’ endless respect. The 63-year-old coach is entering his 19th season as the Utes’ head coach, making him the longest-tenured head coach in the Pac-12.
Whittingham’s accolades could fill Rice-Eccles Stadium. Under him, Utah has finished with a winning record in 16 of the last 18 seasons. Moreover, the Utes won back-to-back conference titles in 2021 and 2022. Whittingham is to Utah, what Saban is to Alabama: an irreplaceable legend.
Kalen DeBoer — Washington (0)
The Pac-12 is full of young, talented coaches. Nonetheless, Kalen DeBoer might have the most potential. In his first season as the Huskies’ head coach, DeBoer led Washington to an 11-2 record, and a stunning 27-20 victory over Texas in the Alamo Bowl.
For his effort, DeBoer was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year. His 11 wins were the most ever by a first-year coach at Washington. Further, he is the only Huskies coach to win a bowl game in his first season. DeBoer should feel safe atop the Washington program.
Kenny Dillingham — Arizona State (1)
Not everybody can be so lucky. Although Kenny Dillingham is yet to coach a game for the Sun Devils, he already has some pressure to succeed. Folks are understandably restless in Tempe. Arizona State went 3-9 last season.
Yet, Dillingham seemingly seems to be a reliable solution. He joins ASU after a short stint as Oregon’s offensive coordinator. While there, Dillingham was a nominee for the 2022 Broyles Award, presented annually to the top assistant coach in college football. If Dillingham can provide ASU fans with anything more than mediocrity, he’ll be just fine.
Dan Lanning — Oregon (1)
Dan Lanning has nothing to worry about… Probably. In his first season leading the flock, Lanning led the Ducks to a 10-3 record. Admittedly, Lanning’s flight got off to a bumpy start, when Georgia obliterated Oregon 49-3 in the 2022 season-opener.
Nevertheless, Lanning bounced back. Following the soul-shattering loss, Oregon rattled off eight-straight wins, including triumphs over No. 12 BYU and No. 9 UCLA. With Portland State scheduled as Oregon’s first opponent this season, Lanning shouldn’t have to worry about getting off to another slow start.
Jedd Fisch — Arizona (2)
Speaking of slow starts. In Jedd Fisch’s first two seasons leading the Wildcats, the program is 6-16. In fairness, Arizona did post a four-win improvement last year. Then again, that’s not saying much when the comparison is a one-win season.
Evidently, the improvement was enough for the Arizona athletic department. Fisch and the University of Arizona agreed to a five-year contract extension through the 2027 season following the 2022 season. Fisch will aim to continue to build upon the program’s forward momentum this season.
Jonathan Smith — Oregon State (2)
Unlike Fisch, Jonathan Smith has had time to see his vision come to fruition. While it’s not groundbreaking, it’s constant progress. In 2021, Smith led the Beavers to their first bowl game since 2013, appearing in the Los Angeles Bowl.
Last season, Smith kept the ball rolling with a career-best 10-3 season and crushed Florida in the Los Angeles Bowl. The success is exciting but leaves a question: how much further can Smith push it? Fans will find out soon.
Troy Taylor — Stanford (2)
Troy Taylor is one of three Pac-12 coaches yet to debut for their team. Yet, he faces the most heat. Why? Simply put, Stanford is tired of losing, and Taylor has the accolades to convince fans he can change the program’s outlook.
In just a few years, Stanford went from being a consistent stronghold in the Pac-12 to a team who can’t go above .500. Unlike the recent Cardinal, Taylor knows how to win. In four seasons at Sacramento State, Taylor boasted a 30-8 mark and a berth in the FCS quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Taylor doesn’t have to reach the Pac-12 Championship, but he must show promise.
Chip Kelly — UCLA (2)
Similar to other coaches’ situations, nobody questions Kelly’s talent, but instead, whether he can get any better. Kelly seemingly answered that question in a promising way last season.
In 2022, the Bruins posted nine regular season wins and advanced to play in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Further, UCLA recorded the highest total offense average in school history (503.6), a mark that rated fourth in the nation. Kelly must push his Bruins even further to maintain his position in Los Angeles.
Jake Dickert — Washington State (2)
Jake Dickert is the last coach in the conference CBS listed as “all good… for now.” Not the most comforting thing, but it could be worse; a fitting phrase to represent Dickert’s time at Washington State. In 2022, the Cougars went 7-6 under Dickert’s leadership.
When Dickert took over for the final five games of the 2021 season, the team went 3-2. See a pattern starting to form? In college football, it’s difficult to complain about going over .500, but it’s equally difficult not to wish for more. Dickert must deliver that “more” to Washington State diehards this fall.
Justin Wilcox — California (3)
Do you feel that? It just got hot in here. Justin Wilcox and his Golden Bears have been on a downward slide lately. In the past two seasons, the program posted a combined 9-15 record. The subpar showings hurt worse after Wilcox led California to an 8-5 2019 season.
In fairness, the Bears will return five players honored on the 2022 All-Pac-12 teams for this season. But, they can’t afford a similar result. Neither can the program. California signed Wilcox to a contract extension through the 2027 campaign in January 2022. The 46-year-old coach can’t let the school regret its decision.
Looking forward
While not all fans will agree with the CBS rankings, they can agree there’s no shortage of pressure to go around in NCAA Football. Luckily for Pac-12 fans, most of their coaches face little to no heat. Nonetheless, all that can change, good or bad, in one season for any coach.