Narratives start to pop up and talking points get put under a microscope, but one of the most popular topics of conversation is the "hot seat" one.There are several coaches who should sleep with one eye open heading into the 2026 season, but the two that seem to be the most talked about in this regard are South Carolina's Shane Beamer and Florida State's Mike Norvell.Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell reacts during a college football game against the Boston College Eagles at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium on Sept.2, 2024.
(Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Many college football talking heads have put Beamer and Norvell at the top of their hot seat rankings, including Brooks Austin, who made an entire video and graphic about the two embattled coaches, going so far as to say that the latter is already "fried like chicken."DEION SANDERS COMPARES SPATE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL FIRINGS TO 'MAIL-ORDER BRIDES' AND BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFTSIt looks like Austin is placing Norvell ahead of Beamer in hot seat rankings, but is he right?It might shock you, considering some of the things I've written about Norvell and the Seminoles in the past, but I might have to disagree with Austin on this one.I think Beamer is in even hotter water than Norvell, and there are many reasons this is the case.FIVE SEC TRAP GAMES IN 2026 THAT COULD UPEND THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RACE, FROM LSU TO GEORGIASouth Carolina head coach Shane Beamer reacts after his team's offensive momentum is slowed by another Mississippi injury during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Columbia, S.C., on Oct.5, 2024.
(Artie Walker Jr./AP)For starters, if we are looking at this through the lens of the 2026 season, South Carolina has a positively brutal schedule coming down the pike, especially compared to Florida State's slate.The Gamecocks have to play road games against Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma in conference, as well as a non-conference game against Clemson in Deat...