Seven Power 5 head coaches have been fired (Joe Moorhead at Mississippi State, Matt Luke at Ole Miss, Steve Addazio at Boston College, Barry Odom at Missouri, Chad Morris at Arkansas, Willie Taggart at FSU and Chris Ash at Rutgers).
We share which coaches could be on the move, and which jobs are the right fit for those coaches.
So, what's next in the college football coaching carousel? This will be your home for all coaching news, intel and insights throughout the season, along with the latest updates on the hot seat.
Jump to a situation:
Colorado | Michigan State | Washington State | Baylor | Mississippi State |
Ole Miss | FSU | Washington | Boston College | Rutgers | Missouri |
Coaches staying put | Arkansas | Hot seat
Colorado hires Dolphins' Dorrell after Tucker leaves
Colorado has its replacement for Mel Tucker: Miami Dolphins assistant head coach Karl Dorrell.
Dorrell had spent the past five seasons as the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets (2015-18) and Dolphins (2019). He spent five seasons as head coach of UCLA from 2003 to 2007.
The 56-year-old Dorrell replaces Tucker, who left earlier in February to become head coach at Michigan State.
"It is a blessing and honor to return to Michigan State University where I began my coaching career with Nick Saban," Tucker said in a statement. "... Returning home to Michigan State is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and my family but it created the toughest decision of my life -- to leave Colorado."
Tucker went 5-7 in 2019, his only season as head coach of the Buffaloes, and helped Colorado finalize the nation's 34th-ranked recruiting class, according to ESPN.
Michigan State hires Tucker after Dantonio steps down
A week after Mark Dantonio stepped down from his role as Michigan State head coach, the Spartans named Mel Tucker as his replacement.
"It's fitting that Mel returns to the place where his coaching career began as a graduate assistant," athletic director Bill Beekman said in a statement released by the school. "While he returns to Michigan State with a loftier title, his passion is every bit as fierce. Head football coach might be his title, but he will be an amazing ambassador for our department, our university and more than 550,000 living alums."
Dantonio coached Michigan State for 13 seasons, leading the program to three Big Ten championships, a Rose Bowl victory and a College Football Playoff berth. He won more games than any other coach in program history. His last few years have been marked by controversy.
"After much reflection and discussion with my family, I feel that it is now time for a change as we enter into a new decade of Michigan State Football," Dantonio said in a statement.
Dantonio -- along with Michigan State's athletic director and university president -- said he expected to stay with the team at the conclusion of the 2019 football season. He collected a $4.3 million retention bonus in the middle of January.
Washington State names Rolovich coach
Washington State has named Hawai'i's Nick Rolovich as its head coach, the school announced Tuesday.
He is expected to sign a five-year deal worth approximately $3 million annually, a source told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.
Rolovich guided the Rainbow Warriors to a 10-win season in 2019 and compiled a 28-27 record during his four-year stint as the program's coach.
Rolovich, 40, will replace Mike Leach, who was named coach at Mississippi State. Leach went 55-47 in his eight seasons in Pullman and took the Cougars to a school-record five consecutive bowl games over the past five seasons.
Matt Rhule leaves Baylor for Carolina Panthers, Dave Aranda hired from LSU
The Baylor Bears are expected to hire LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda as their next head coach, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Aranda replaces Matt Rhule, who last week left to become head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Rhule spent three seasons at Baylor and this past season guided the Bears to 11 wins, a spot in the Big 12 championship game and a Sugar Bowl appearance.
Mississippi State hires Mike Leach
Washington State coach Mike Leach will be the new head coach at Mississippi State, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
Leach replaces Joe Moorhead, who had a 14-12 record with the Bulldogs, culminating with a 38-28 loss to Louisville in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.
Ole Miss names Lane Kiffin new head coach
Lane Kiffin will be the next head football coach at Ole Miss, the school announced Saturday.
Kiffin, whose Florida Atlantic team won the Conference USA title 49-6 over UAB, replaces Matt Luke, who was dismissed after three seasons.
The 44-year-old Kiffin was Florida Atlantic's head coach for the past three seasons. Prior to that, he was Alabama's offensive coordinator from 2014 to 2016.
"Our staff and I will work tirelessly to recruit and develop successful players for this program, and I look forward to producing many exciting memories to add to Ole Miss' storied football legacy," Kiffin said in a press release. "I am excited to get to Oxford and begin the groundwork of building a championship program that Mississippi's flagship university deserves, and I'm thrilled to be back in the greatest athletics' conference in the nation."
Ole Miss dismissed Luke on Dec. 1 after he had gone 15-21 in three seasons at the helm.
News: Ole Miss fires Luke
Feature: All-access with Lane Kiffin
Mike Norvell agrees to deal with Florida State
After Florida State fired head coach Willie Taggart in November after just 21 games at the helm, the Seminoles may have found their next coach in Memphis' Mike Norvell.
Norvell agreed to a deal with the Seminoles after leading Memphis to an American Athletic Conference championship victory over Cincinnati on Saturday, sources told ESPN's Chris Low.
Norvell, 38, led Memphis to a 12-1 record and likely a New Year's Six berth after his Tigers beat Cincinnati 29-24 in the AAC title game.
He will replace Taggart, who went 9-12 in one and a half seasons for the Seminoles. Florida State said in a statement that it would introduce its next coach at a news conference on Sunday at noon ET.
Chris Petersen steps down at Washington
Washington coach Chris Petersen will step down after the Huskies' bowl game and be replaced by defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, the school announced Monday.
As part of the shocking announcement, the school said Petersen will transition into a "leadership advisory role" within the athletic department.
"It has been a privilege and a professional dream fulfilled to be part of this world-class institution," Petersen said in a statement. "I will forever be grateful, honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to coach our fine young men on Montlake for these past six seasons."
Petersen, 55, arrived at Washington prior to the 2014 season and led the Huskies to a pair of Pac-12 titles and a berth in the College Football Playoff in 2016. His career record of 146-38 includes eight seasons as Boise State, where he famously led the Broncos to a pair of Fiesta Bowl victories and four top-10 finishes in the AP poll.
Lake has been on Petersen's staff since 2012 at Boise State, was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2016 and has been the Huskies' sole defensive coordinator the last two seasons.
Boston College fires coach Addazio, hires Hafley
Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will be Boston College's next coach, the school announced Saturday.
In a statement, BC athletic director Martin Jarmond said Hafley was "someone we targeted from the outset."
Hafley, 40, is in his first season at Ohio State but has helped the defense dramatically improve. The New Jersey native spent the previous seven seasons with three NFL teams, including the past three as San Francisco 49ers defensive backs coach.
Hafley replaces Steve Addazio, who was fired on Dec. 1, a day after the team finished the regular season at 6-6. Addazio, who went 44-44 in seven seasons at Boston College, on Thursday was introduced as Colorado State's head coach.
Rutgers fires Chris Ash, eventually rehires Greg Schiano
Rutgers was the first coaching domino to fall this season, when it fired head coach Chris Ash on Sept. 29 following a 1-3 start. Ash went 8-32 in three-plus seasons at the school. Nunzio Campanile, who had been the tight ends coach before the change, is the interim coach and is now also serving as offensive coordinator.
Missouri fires coach Odom, hires Drinkwitz
After a 1-5 finish to the year and Barry Odom accruing an overall record of 25-25 (13-19 in SEC play), the Tigers fired Odom on Nov. 30.
"As a program, we had tremendous momentum coming into the 2019 season with the opening of the new south end zone facility as well as other strategic investments in our football program," Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk said in a statement. "However, we lost a great deal of that energy during the last half of the season. This decision was difficult to make but was necessary."
On Dec. 8, sources told ESPN that Eli Drinkwitz has reached an agreement to become Missouri's next head football coach and a deal is being finalized.
Vanderbilt retains Mason; PSU's Franklin gets new contract; Helton to return to USC
Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason will return for a seventh season in 2020, athletic director Malcolm Turner announced Tuesday.
The Commodores are just 2-8 this fall, leading to speculation about a possible coaching change. But Turner said Mason has his "full support" as the school tries to enhance facilities and other support areas for the program.
Other coaches staying put
Arkansas fires Chad Morris, hires Sam Pittman
Arkansas fired Chad Morris after he was just 4-18 overall since replacing Bret Bielema in December 2017 and winless in 14 SEC games. On Dec. 8, the Razorbacks hired Sam Pittman as their new head coach.
Hot seat intel, updates
Which big names could be on the move? We track potential openings, firings and transactions.