Even after an 8-5 campaign, Michigan football will be a heavy target for some head coaches who need wins now to stay off the hot seat.
Only one of these four coaches on this list had a winning record in 2024, and all of them will have to lead nothing short of a playoff run to get them off the hot seat. A win over Michigan football or another prominent program will do that and also ease the stress of the masses in their respective cities. Here are the four names to know.
Brent Venables-Oklahoma
6-7 is not the standard at Oklahoma. This matchup with Michigan will be just as important as the Texas affair, if not more because they're not in the Big 12 anymore. Beat Michigan and the expectations change drastically. Lose and the residents will be calling for his head. Venables desperately needs a playoff run and it starts with Michigan.
Luke Fickell-Wisconsin
Fickell may be in over his head. He couldn't cut it at his alma mater, but Wisconsin thought differently. There's a real chance that Fickell doesn't last the entire season with Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State and the rest of that havoc-filled schedule lurking. Fickell may have the most unenviable job in America because of that. He'll will have to win two or more of those games to potentially save his job.
Lincoln Riley-USC
USC could be undefeated coming into the October contest with Michigan, but that's where their season went sideways a year ago. The defense didn't improve enough to help either. Jayden Maiava is no Heisman candidate yet and to save Riley's job, he might have to be. Recruiting would become a free-for-all if his 2026 class gets disbanded by his firing.
Mike Locksley-Maryland
Locksley is going to trot out a freshman quarterback for a squad that avoids Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State in 2025. Out of the four coaches mentioned, he's got the easiest path to manage. Pep Hamilton will take over the offense for another former Michigan coach, Josh Gattis. This position isn't on the same level as the other three, but I can guarantee no one wants to go 4-8 consistently, including Locksley.