Top College Football Coaching Jobs 2025: Penn State Leads Rankings
College football fans, brace yourselves. The 2026 coaching carousel is already spinning faster than ever, with nine Power 4 programs currently searching for new head coaches.
This surge in coaching vacancies marks a big shift from the historically slow 2024-25 hiring cycle. Let’s dig into the top open head-coaching jobs, taking a look at each program’s recent performance, financial standing, and overall job grade.
If you’re wondering which schools are prime opportunities for ambitious coaches, stick around.
Penn State: A Top-Tier Opportunity
Table of Contents
- 1 Penn State: A Top-Tier Opportunity
- 2 Arkansas: A Challenging Yet Rewarding Position
- 3 UCLA: The Sleeping Giant
- 4 Oklahoma State: A Program in Transition
- 5 Virginia Tech: Reviving a Once-Great Program
- 6 Stanford: A Program in Need of Identity
- 7 Oregon State: Picking Up the Pieces
- 8 UAB: A Program in Decline
- 9 Kent State: The Ultimate Underdog
Penn State stands out as one of the most attractive coaching gigs in college football. With a recent record of 44-17 and an estimated valuation of $1.2 billion, Penn State’s a true powerhouse.
The program boasts a rich tradition and state-of-the-art facilities, not to mention serious financial backing. James Franklin’s recent departure leaves the Nittany Lions in a spot where they could take off, especially if they get things right on the revenue share and NIL side.
What Makes Penn State Special?
The school’s commitment is obvious—they paid about $45 million to move on from Franklin. That’s a clear sign they’re serious about winning bigger.
The job grade of A shows just how much potential there is for a coach to make noise. Penn State’s mix of tradition, resources, and recent success easily puts it among college football’s top 15 jobs.
Arkansas: A Challenging Yet Rewarding Position
Arkansas brings a unique mix of challenges and opportunities. Their five-year record is 29-27, and the program’s valued at $646 million, but the Razorbacks face brutal competition in the SEC.
Still, the potential here is real. The job gets a B—not easy, but the ceiling is high if you can hit the right notes.
The Road Ahead for Arkansas
The Razorbacks’ lone Top 25 finish under Sam Pittman in 2021 hints at what’s possible. But the school’s struggled with underfunding and a thin pool of in-state high school talent.
To succeed, the next coach has to rally boosters for more investment and squeeze the most out of the roster. The SEC makes this a tough gig, but that’s also what makes it rewarding if you pull it off.
UCLA: The Sleeping Giant
UCLA has a five-year record of 30-24 and an estimated value of $343 million. The Bruins have been hampered by fan apathy and some serious financial woes, running a deficit of over $200 million in the last five years.
Even with those issues, the job’s graded a B. The right coach could absolutely wake this sleeping giant.
Unlocking UCLA’s Potential
Now in the Big Ten and sitting in Southern California, UCLA’s ceiling is high. The next coach needs to lock down recruiting in California and inject some energy into the fan base.
Annual bowl games and the occasional 10-win season? That should be the baseline goal. The money situation is rough, but there’s real room for success here.
Oklahoma State: A Program in Transition
Oklahoma State sits at 33-24 over the last five years and is valued at $373 million. The Cowboys had some recent highlights, like a Fiesta Bowl win in 2021, but things unraveled for Mike Gundy in a hurry.
This job gets a B. There’s potential, but the program needs more financial firepower to keep up.
The Path Forward for Oklahoma State
With a strong pipeline to Texas talent and a winnable Big 12, Oklahoma State’s got a clear path to the College Football Playoff. The next coach should capitalize on that Texas connection and aim to compete for Big 12 titles regularly.
Boosting financial investment is going to be key if they want to stick around at the top.
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Virginia Tech: Reviving a Once-Great Program
Virginia Tech’s five-year record is 23-31, with an estimated value of $455 million. Under Frank Beamer, the Hokies were a national force, but those days feel distant now.
The job gets a B. There’s potential, but they need to get better at developing talent.
Revitalizing Virginia Tech
The next coach should focus on dominating recruiting in the Hampton Roads area and finding hidden gems. Athletic director Whit Babcock wants to boost the budget, but where that money will come from is anyone’s guess.
The expectation? Compete for the ACC Championship Game. The Hokies haven’t made it there since 2016.
Stanford: A Program in Need of Identity
Stanford sits at 14-39 over five years and is valued at $202 million. The Cardinal have struggled in the NIL and transfer portal era, and their recent move to the ACC only adds to the mess.
This job’s a C+. It’s a tough spot, and they need a coach who can squeeze every drop out of the roster.
The Future of Stanford Football
General manager Andrew Luck is throwing everything into turning things around, but his inexperience is a worry. The next coach will have to navigate Stanford’s unique challenges and aim for regular bowl games.
Lower conference payouts and an identity crisis are real obstacles, but the right coach could bring some overdue stability.
Oregon State: Picking Up the Pieces
Oregon State’s five-year record is 30-28. The Beavers are trying to rebuild after getting left out during conference realignment.
The facilities are decent and there’s some NIL support, but the job’s a C+ for a reason. The reimagined Pac-12 offers a way back, but resources are thin.
Rebuilding Oregon State
The Beavers expect to compete in the new Pac-12, which mostly features current Mountain West schools. The new coach needs to use the facilities and NIL support wisely.
Regular bowl games should be the aim, with hopes of occasionally making a run in the conference.
UAB: A Program in Decline
UAB’s five-year record is 25-31. The Blazers went from a feel-good story to a program in free fall, especially after Trent Dilfer’s tenure.
This job’s a C. The team needs someone who can bring back the spark.
Reviving UAB Football
UAB has a new stadium and a solid location, which could help with a turnaround. The next coach must overcome financial challenges and build a competitive roster.
The program’s past success under Bill Clark shows it’s possible, but it won’t be easy.
Kent State: The Ultimate Underdog
Kent State’s five-year record is 14-40. The Golden Flashes have struggled for ages, and the recent firing of coach Kenni Burns just adds to the chaos.
The job grade is F. It’s a tough mountain to climb for whoever takes over next.
The Challenge at Kent State
It’s kind of wild—Kent State produced coaching giants like Nick Saban, Lou Holtz, and Gary Pinkel, yet the football program still struggles to get anywhere. The next coach faces some real financial headaches and will probably have to settle for slow, steady progress rather than overnight success.
Competing in the MAC gives Kent State a little breathing room, maybe even a shot at moving up. Still, let’s be honest, the climb is pretty steep.