As hard as that is to believe, it also means that we have some significant data to draw from that will help paint a clearer picture of the landscape of college football for 2026.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.
This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.Some teams are already outperforming their preseason expectations while others are greatly disappointing thus far, as is the case with every season.COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 4 CONTENDERS, PRETENDERS: TEXAS SURVIVES, MICHIGAN'S KARMA AND COACHES ARE SWEATINGWith that, we also have four games worth of data on head coaches and where they stand on the "hot seat" conversation, so I thought it would be interesting to look at a few coaches who entered 2026 with a target on their back and how they've done to either improve or worsen their standing.Think of it as a "hot seat report card."KEEP AN EYE ON THESE UNDER-THE-RADAR NAMES DURING THIS SEASON'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHING CAROUSELWith all the preamble out of the way, let's begin.Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda works the sideline during the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at Nippert Stadium on Oct.25, 2025.
(Aaron Doster/Imagn Images)Dave Aranda's path at Baylor has been a circuitous one, to say the least.It was looking like a classic rags to riches story for the former LSU defensive coordinator early on, as he guided the Bears to a Big 12 championship and a 12-win season in just his second year on the job.Since then, the results have fluctuated between middling and downright putrid, and entering this year, Aranda was said to be on his last leg.So far, though, I don't really think he's done anything to change that for better or for worse, but he has set himself up nicely to buy a little more time in Waco.Outside of a neutral site opener against Auburn, in which the Bears had a chance to win on the last play eve...