The college football coaching carousel may have slowed down, but it certainly has not stopped. As the 2026 season approaches, LSU appears to be settling into its new era under Lane Kiffin, while Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is facing a very different kind of spotlight.

The coaching landscape has changed dramatically over the past year, with 17 new head coaches taking over Power Four programs during the most recent cycle. Now, attention is shifting toward which coaches could be under pressure next.

🟣 LSU Turns the Page

LSU enters the 2026 season with one of the most closely watched coaching situations in the country no longer centered on finding a coach. Lane Kiffin is firmly in place after making the move from Ole Miss to Baton Rouge, and expectations surrounding the Tigers are enormous.

Kiffin has already generated plenty of attention since arriving at LSU, including strong roster-building efforts through the transfer portal. The Tigers are being positioned as a potential playoff contender, putting immediate pressure on the new head coach to deliver.

For LSU fans, the biggest question now is no longer who will coach the team? It is whether Kiffin can turn the excitement surrounding his arrival into victories.

🟠 Dabo Swinney Enters a Critical Chapter

While LSU looks forward, Clemson and Dabo Swinney are entering a season filled with questions.

Swinney built Clemson into one of college football’s premier programs, but recent seasons have created more scrutiny around the longtime coach. Heading into 2026, analysts are increasingly pointing to Clemson as a program worth watching closely.

A recent assessment of college football’s hottest coaching seats placed Swinney among coaches facing significant pressure. That does not mean Clemson is preparing to make a coaching change, but it illustrates how quickly expectations can shift in today’s sport.

For Swinney, the challenge is simple: restore Clemson to the national championship conversation and silence the growing doubts.

🔥 The Carousel Could Heat Up Again

The bigger story is that the coaching carousel has become almost impossible to predict.

The expanded College Football Playoff, transfer portal, NIL and revenue-sharing era have dramatically increased the pressure on coaches to produce quickly. Programs have less patience for lengthy rebuilds, while talented coaches can become attractive candidates almost overnight.

Several coaches could find themselves under the microscope if their teams struggle early in the season. The latest hot-seat discussions include names such as Mike Norvell, Luke Fickell, Dave Aranda, Shane Beamer and Lincoln Riley, showing just how many major programs could become part of the conversation.

For now, LSU is focused on building its future, while Clemson and Swinney face a pivotal opportunity to change the narrative.

But college football has taught fans one thing: coaching stability can disappear quickly.

The carousel may look quiet today.

By November, it could be spinning again. 🏈🔥