Whoever tells you that college football is not as important as professional football clearly has never seen how cutthroat the NCAA football scene can be from time to time. Be it because of winning cultures and traditions or the mere fact that football is not only a sport but a cultural and social activity for its fans, in this stage you either make it or you get the boot, sooner rather than later. If you take a look at some of the top college football lines outlets, you’ll see that some teams who are called to be perennial favorites are not really where they should usually be and the problem is usually traced down to the same source, bad coaching.
While in the pros you can rely on the athlete’s talent to carry a team even when the coaching situation is not necessarily the best, in college football that’s not usually the case, given the fact that here is where the future pros prepare for hopefully a stellar future in the NFL. With the 2021 college football season ahead, let’s take a look at three coaches whose time might be running out in their schools.
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Wolverines
How long has it been since the Michigan Wolverines football team and Jim Harbaugh have been together? And more importantly how long has it been since the Michigan Wolverines have been waiting for Jim Harbaugh to finally turn them into a top contender in the NCAA football scene? Well, apparently for Michigan it’s been long enough. Ever since last season the message was loud, it was clear and almost set in stone, WIN NOW! After 6 seasons of not being able to win a division title and getting their existence handed to them by Ohio State and other rival schools, Michigan football fans are starting to grow very weary of waiting for the season in which Harbaugh works his magic and makes the Wolverines a contender again.
Two main tasks lie ahead of the 2021 season for Harbaugh in Michigan if he wishes to continue as the Wolverines coach without fearing for his job stability. One being that he has to be able to develop a quarterback that will set the tone for Michigan and become the difference-making player that this team has been needing for so long. Two, he needs to be able to beat Ohio State, as simple as that. If he can accomplish those tasks he might have his job secured, if not, it might be time to start looking for a new job.
Clay Helton, USC Trojans
If there is one man who knows a thing or two, or even thousands about what it’s like to continuously be on the coaching hot seat in college football it’s USC’s Clay Helton. And it’s not because he’s not winning or producing top quality players, it’s because he’s not winning enough and he is not being able to bring USC back to the top of the contention order in NCAA. He has taken USC to PAC-12 title games, three in the last six seasons and has done his part in trying to build a stellar football program but it just seems that every year his time for leaving USC is coming closer and closer.
Helton can brag though about doing some great recruiting work towards the 2021 season even landing the overall No.1 player, defensive end Korey Foreman, but basically put, if USC is not competing for a spot in the CFP’s this season, Helton will not be able to rest at ease.
Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech Hokies
Last but not least, a man whose seat is so hot you could cook a pizza in under 60 seconds, Hokies head coach Justin Fuente. Virginia Tech had been accustomed to always having over-.500 seasons showing some very solid football and giving the country very good players too. With Justin Fuente, the Hokies have managed to have two losing seasons in their last three in general. Fuente was very, very close to losing his job last season, with a win over Virginia not doing much to save his position.
While at one point Fuente was considered one of the best and brightest young coaches, right now his story is told in a different tone. The Hokies need to get better, especially on defense, but in general as well. Only a stellar winning season with basically no mistakes can save Fuente from the inevitable, the chop.
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