Which college football coach is on the hottest seat heading into 2026? Florida State’s Mike Norvell, South Carolina’s Shane Beamer, North Carolina’s Bill Belichick, and Maryland’s Mike Locksley are among several college coaches facing mounting pressure as expectations threaten their jobs. Could Florida State’s brutal early slate against SMU, Alabama, Louisville, and Miami force a high-stakes midseason firing? Or will Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks survive a punishing SEC run with matchups against Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee?

Brian Smith offers sharp insights, breaks down buyout complications, and highlights how power struggles off the field—NIL, booster involvement, and staff shake-ups—directly impact program stability. Get scouting on who’s poised to take over next: top coordinators, Group of Six coaches, and bold predictions about surprise openings. Can embattled coaches survive, or will college football’s coaching carousel start spinning faster than ever?

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SEC coaching shakeup rewrites the recruiting game as Lane Kiffin, Pete Golding, and Alex Golesh spearhead unprecedented roster overhauls. Massive portal moves—LSU and Arkansas each bringing in 40 new players, Ole Miss nabbing Carius Curne and Jay Crawford, and Kentucky landing Lance Heard—promise a seismic shift in the trenches and at corner. Which revamped squad has the best long-term plan, and can anyone replicate Indiana’s blueprint for instant success?

Recruiting analyst Brian Smith breaks down each program’s approach to the NIL era, prioritizing linemen and strategic fits while balancing high school recruiting. Key topics include LSU’s aggressive Portal spending, Auburn’s quest to rebuild its offensive line, Florida’s calculated NIL focus, and the critical role of off-field evaluators. With Ole Miss and LSU primed for immediate impact, the only question is—who sets the new gold standard in the SEC?

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.

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Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase.

Mazda

Like our players, we’re driven by the details. Because highlights make the reel. What it takes to get there makes it count.

There’s more to a Mazda. Because there’s more to you.

Turbo Tax

For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life.

Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

FanDuel

If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.

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Penn State’s momentum stalls as five-star running back Kemon Spell shocks the Nittany Lions by committing to Georgia, leaving Coach Matt Campbell searching for answers. Can Penn State recover and flip the Pittsburgh native before National Signing Day, or will powerhouses like Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Miami outmaneuver them in the recruiting arms race?

Zach Seyko and recruiting expert Brian Smith break down Spell’s decision, the NIL landscape, and what it means for Penn State’s trajectory under Campbell. Discussion centers on the urgent need to lock down blue-chip in-state talent like Khalil Taylor and Matthew Gregory, the ratings boost for Penn State’s 2026 commits Elijah Reader and Jackson Ford, and the future of the program’s recruiting strategy. Don’t miss this fast-paced analysis of Penn State football’s high-stakes recruiting battles and what’s next for the Nittany Lions in a changing college football world.

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.

Click here to learn more and join the community: https://theportal.supercast.com/

Help us by supporting our sponsors!

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase.

Mazda

Like our players, we’re driven by the details. Because highlights make the reel. What it takes to get there makes it count.

There’s more to a Mazda. Because there’s more to you.

Turbo Tax

For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life.

Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

FanDuel

If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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