Let's go ahead and immediately address things: no, Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel is not on the hot seat. However, the same can't be said for other coaches in the SEC with a little over three months to go until Week 1 arrives.
If things don't improve for these four coaches in particular, could they be out of a job before we all know it? Potentially. From our chair, Mark Stoops, Hugh Freeze, Kalen DeBoer and Billy Napier could be in trouble if things don't improve in a big way for their respective teams in 2025. Here's why.
4. Kalen DeBoer
It's wild to even think about this, but the fact of the matter here is that if you don't win at Alabama, people are going to turn on you pretty darn quickly. Year 1 of DeBoer in Tuscaloosa didn't go to plan, with the Tide failing to reach the College Football Playoff. There's buzz out the already that if Alabama doesn't make it to the CFP this winter, then DeBoer will be out of a job. The pressure is on.
3. Hugh Freeze
Staying in Alabama, we're now shifting our focus to Auburn and Freeze. To say Freeze hasn't lived up to expectations thus far would be a massive understatement. In 2023, his first season with the team after being hired away from Liberty, Freeze went 6-7. Then this past campaign, he went 5-7. That's not ideal. Auburn needs to show a major improvement in '25. What's concerning, though, is that Freeze seems to think reaching a bowl game will be enough to keep folks happy. Sorry dude, but you've got to raise your expectations a bit, especially in a crucial Year 3:
2. Billy Napier
What can we expect in Year 4 of the Napier era with the Gators? The Florida faithful are hoping this team will finally be able to take the next step, especially with DJ Lagway showing so much promise last campaign. Napier and Florida went 8-5 in '24, but no one has forgotten about the rough first two years of him leading the way. Napier was brought back for this season, but just like the others on this list, he can't afford for his squad to take a step back. If Florida does, Napier will be in trouble.
1. Mark Stoops
Saving the guy under the most scrutinty for last? That's what we've got here with Stoops, who is coming off a brutal year with Kentucky. The Wildcats were one of the worst teams in the conference last year, going 4-8 overall and 1-7 in SEC play. In 2022, Stoops had his contract extended to 2031, but that decision is already looking terrible. Fans want him gone and the screams for that will only get louder if the Wildcats look rough again later this year.