Fall football camps have kicked off and we are just three weeks away from Week 0 games and a month from Week 1 games. There are a handful of ACC teams playing in Week 0, but Virginia Tech fans will have to wait until Sept. 5, Week1, to see James Franklin's Virginia Tech debut against VMI at Lane Stadium.
Last year at this time, former Hokies coach, now defensive coordinator, Brent Pry was on the hot seat entering the season, while other coaches were safe. This year, there are some coaches on the hot seat and others, well, not so much. Here are the ACC football coaches hot seat rankings going into the 2026 season.
Tier 1: Searing Hot
- Mike Norvell: Florida State
- Bill O'Brien: Boston College
There is no doubt that Mike Norvell's seat in Northern Florida is getting as hot as it can get without being fired. If it weren't for money, he'd likely be out of a job with the Seminoles. He can't survive another repeat of 2025, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him let go during the season if things head in that direction. As for Bill O'Brien at BC, yes, it's a tough place to win. Resources are limited, but his act is growing thin on a fanbase that talks a big game in supporting them, but then doesn't, and the Eagles play in front of a half-empty Alumni Stadium.
Tier 2: Getting Hotter
- Bill Belichick: North Carolina
Year 1 in college football was a disaster for former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. A 4-8 season that had so much drama throughout was like nothing he ever encountered in Foxborough. If things head down a familiar road in 2026 as they did in 2025, then some uneasy decision might have to be made in Chapel Hill.
Tier 3: Not Hot, But We Need Progress & Success
- Dave Doeren: North Carolina State
- Fran Brown: Syracuse
Ok, NC State fans, don't come flying at me all at once. Last season, when a wounded and bad Virginia Tech football team went to Raleigh and upset the Wolfpack, most of the fan base was calling for Doeren's job. It feels like a loss like that happens at least once a year, and truth be told, they pulled out some lucky wins in 2025. A season-opening loss at Virginia could make for an interesting season. NC State could get to Charlotte in December or finish 6-6. As for Fran Brown at Syracuse, you have to wonder if a season with three or four wins might cause the seat to get hot in Central New York.
Tier 4: Need Continued Success
- Pat Narduzzi: Pittsburgh
- Manny Diaz: Duke
- Tony Elliott: Virginia
First and foremost, yes, Tony Elliott is on this list. I know Virginia fans are not used to much success on the field, but most of the fanbase wanted him fired after a blowout loss in 2024 in Blacksburg to end the season at 5-7. Last season can't be a one-hit wonder, especially with James Franklin at Virginia Tech. Most UVA fans will deny it, but we all saw it. A down season, and they will be calling for his job again; count on it. As for Manny Diaz, a surprise trip to the ACC Championship Game last year and winning it cost them their quarterback to Miami. How do they respond? Pat Narduzzi's Pitt team sandwiched bad home losses to Notre Dame and Miami around a stunning win at Georgia Tech. If only Narduzzi cared about each game each week.
Tier 5: Safe & Secure
- Brent Key: Georgia Tech
- Mario Cristobal: Miami
- Dabo Swinney: Clemson
- Rhett Lashley: SMU
- Jeff Brohm: Louisville
- Jake Dickert: Wake Forest
There isn't much to say here. Dabo Swinney, many believe, is on the hot seat at Clemson, but unless things fall completely off the rails or he's enticed to take another job, he's not going anywhere in terms of being fired. Jake Dickert had a very nice first season at Wake Forest, and Mario Cristobal led the Hurricanes to the National Championship Game, then swiped Duke's quarterback. Rhett Lashley is building a powerhouse in Dallas with SMU, while Jeff Brohm at Louisville and Brent Key at Georgia Tech are extremely safe.
Tier 6: Welcome to the ACC
- James Franklin: Virginia Tech
- Tosh Lupoi: California
- Tavita Pritchard: Stanford
The group of first-year coaches is an interesting one, to say the least. James Franklin comes to the Hokies after being fired after a very successful run at Penn State. As for Tosh Lupoi at Cal and Tavita Pritchard at Stanford, they are walking into two different situations in Northern California.
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