Which head coach’s seat is hotter heading into 2026 season: Shane Beamer or Mike Norvell?
With the college football season still a few months away, many fans are looking for something to hold onto in the offseason.
Narratives are beginning to emerge and talking points are coming under the spotlight, but one of the most popular topics of conversation is the “hot seat” topic.
There are a few coaches who should be sleeping with one eye open heading into the 2026 season, but the two most talked about 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 September 2, 2024. (Icon Sportswire via Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Many college football talking heads placed Beamer and Norvell near the top of their hot seat rankings; these include Brooks Austin, who has produced an entire video and graphic about the two embattled coaches, going so far as to say that the latter is already “fried as a chicken.”
DEION SANDERS COMPARES UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL FIRES WITH ‘MAIL-ORDER BRIDES’ AND BRAZIL DEPARTURES
It looks like Austin puts Norvell ahead of Beamer in the best seat rankings, but is he right?
This may shock you considering some of the things I’ve written about Norvell and the Seminoles in the past, but I may have to disagree with Austin on this one.
I think Beamer is in even hotter water than Norvell, and there are many reasons for that.
FIVE-SECOND TRAP PLAYS THAT COULD IMPROVE THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAY-OFF RACE FROM LSU TO GEORGIA IN 2026
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer reacts after his team’s offensive momentum slowed due to another Mississippi injury during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Oct. 5, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (Artie Walker Jr./AP)
For starters, if we look at this through the lens of the 2026 season, South Carolina has an extremely brutal schedule, especially compared to Florida State’s situation.
The Gamecocks must play road games against Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma in the conference, as well as a non-conference game against Clemson in Death Valley.
That doesn’t even take into account home games against College Football Playoff contenders Tennessee, Texas A&M and Georgia.
SEC FANS ARE TRADING TO SMELL ALL NON-REVENUE SPORTS, EVEN A FOOTBALL NATIONAL TITLE, AND THEY ARE NOT WRONG.
Conversely, while Florida State’s schedule isn’t exactly a breeze, it does have some breathing room.
The Noles travel to Miami and Alabama, but many of their toughest matchups come at home.
With my naked eye alone, I see six solid shots for victory in their program. If Norvell can squeeze out two more wins from six other questionable encounters, then eight wins would mark a marked improvement and all but guarantee safety for 2027.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer leads his team onto the field before their game against the Wofford Terriers on November 23, 2024 at Williams-Brice Stadium. (Jeff Blake/Imagn Images)
There is also a lot more pressure on Beamer regarding the talent he has accumulated for next season.
As Austin points out in his video, if Beamer can’t get eight or nine wins in 2026 with guys like LaNorris Sellers, Nyck Harbor, Dylan Stewart, etc., and transfer offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak likely moving to the NFL after the season ends, then he may never reach that peak again.
And of course there’s the $60 million elephant in the room (give or take a few dollars).
Norvell’s contract stipulates that unless there’s a dumpster fire during a season, the powers that be in Tallahassee won’t have the financial backing to pull the plug on his coaching tenure.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. GET THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
There’s a world where 6-6 keeps Norvell in garnet and gold for at least another season. I’m not sure anyone can say the same for Beamer.
In reality, we are splitting hairs.
South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Nyck Harbor celebrates the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. (Dustin Safranek/USA Today Sports)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
These are a couple of coaches in very hot seats, and there’s a good chance they’ll both be out of their respective jobs by the end of the year.
It would be embarrassing for their career trajectory, but they would later land the biggest job in America: firing the coach with an eight-figure buyout.
