Mike Norvell—Florida State:

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Mike Norvell’s tenure at Florida State has been nothing short of a roller coaster. He’s delivered a perfect regular season — and he’s also watched the Seminoles sink to the bottom of the ACC.

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The overall body of work, though, has been underwhelming. Five losing seasons and a record hovering near .500 isn’t what Florida State signed up for.

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The calls for his job in Tallahassee have been loud and persistent, but Norvell has managed to do just enough to survive — a strong transfer class here, a shocking win over Alabama there — buying himself another year each time.

That margin is gone.

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If 2026 doesn’t bring a dramatic turnaround, it’s hard to see a path forward. For Norvell, it’s ACC title contention and a playoff berth — or bust.

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Luke Fickell—Wisconsin:

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When Luke Fickell was hired at Wisconsin in 2021, he arrived with serious momentum. At Cincinnati, he consistently posted double-digit win seasons and came within one win of a national championship appearance. He was one of the most coveted names of that coaching cycle.

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Success in Madison, however, has been elusive.

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The decision to pivot away from Wisconsin’s traditional, run-heavy identity to an Air Raid passing scheme in 2024 was a disaster — and the struggles carried into 2025. The Badgers fielded one of the worst offenses in the country, averaging under 13 points per game and ranking near the bottom nationally in most key offensive metrics.

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The Fickell era has been defined by identity confusion and personnel mismatches. Unless he can restore a clear offensive direction, 2026 may determine whether he’s still in Madison come 2027.

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Mark Stoops — Kentucky:

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It appears Mark Stoops may be wearing out his welcome after 13 seasons in Lexington. By Kentucky’s football standards, his tenure has been largely successful — seven winning seasons in the SEC is nothing to dismiss.

But the past two years have felt different.

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Kentucky has looked directionless, managing just three conference wins, zero bowl appearances, and 15 total losses over that stretch. The results have slipped — and so has the energy around the program.

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Interestingly, it wasn’t just the losses that frustrated the fanbase. Stoops’ flirtation with Texas A&M during its coaching search stirred real unrest in Lexington, raising questions about long-term commitment.

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Basketball will always dominate the headlines at Kentucky, but patience isn’t unlimited. If Stoops doesn’t steady the program soon, the pressure won’t just be coming from the stands — it’ll be coming from the administration as well.