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The SEC is getting a head start on the coaching carousel this year, with the Arkansas Razorbacks<\/a>, the Florida Gators<\/a> and the LSU Tigers<\/a> already in the market for new head coaches.<\/p>\n It seems likely that the SEC isn\u2019t done making coaching changes, and those changes might happen in a number of ways. We could have a couple more firings (looking at you, Auburn<\/a> and Kentucky<\/a>). <\/p>\n Could we see a record number of fresh faces in new places when SEC Media Days 2026 kicks off in Tampa on July 20?<\/p>\n First, some background.<\/p>\n Based on some great research put together by my colleague, Spenser Davis, it appears the most new coaches we\u2019ve had in the SEC coming into a season since 1987 is 5. That happened back in 2018, when Dan Mullen made his Florida debut, Joe Moorhead was a first-year head coach at Mississippi State<\/a> and Arkansas (Chad Morris), Tennessee<\/a> (Jeremy Pruitt) and Texas A&M<\/a> (Jimbo Fisher) all had new head coaches, as well.<\/p>\n Having 6 new head coaches this cycle wouldn\u2019t be that difficult to reach. But could we get to 8 (or more) new head coaches in the SEC for 2026?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at how this unlikely, but not totally impossible, chaos scenario could take place.<\/p>\n At risk of getting fired<\/p>\n Candidates: Hugh Freeze (Auburn), Mark Stoops (Kentucky)<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think we\u2019re quite done with the firings this year in the SEC. I\u2019m aware that Mark Stoops<\/a> has a massive buyout at Kentucky that might not be palatable, but this could end up being a situation where both parties feel the need to move on and something is negotiated that allows Stoops to leave for another job. Things aren\u2019t going well at Kentucky and it seems like a change is needed.<\/p>\n I do expect Auburn to eventually fire Hugh Freeze<\/a>. At this point, though, there\u2019s not really a rush to do it until after the regular season. If both of these jobs open up, that gets us to 5 openings.<\/p>\n Change of scenery<\/p>\n Candidates: Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), Eli Drinkwitz (Mizzou), Shane Beamer (South Carolina), Mike Elko (Texas A&M)<\/p>\n Here\u2019s where I need to make myself clear \u2014 I\u2019m not predicting that any of these guys will actually leave their current schools. I do believe Lane Kiffin<\/a> is happy at Ole Miss<\/a>. It would take a lot for Shane Beamer<\/a> to move on from South Carolina<\/a> (though I would be nervous the longer the Virginia Tech job stays open and the longer South Carolina continues to flounder). (I\u2019d also be nervous about Beamer wearing out his welcome the longer he stands by Mike Shula as the OC, but that\u2019s s different conversation.) I personally think Mike Elko<\/a> would be insane to leave what he has at Texas A&M<\/a> for a job at Penn State, but crazier things have happened.<\/p>\n The guy that worries me the most is the head coach at my alma mater, Eli Drinkwitz<\/a>. The odds keep trending toward the Mizzou<\/a> head coach taking the Florida job, which has me worried. The fine folks in Las Vegas aren\u2019t setting out to lose money. If even 2 of these 4 guys end up heading to new schools, that gets us to 7 openings.<\/p>\n NFL possibility?<\/p>\n Candidate: Steve Sarkisian (Texas)<\/p>\n I\u2019m a firm believer in the \u201cwhere\u2019s there\u2019s smoke, there\u2019s fire\u201d theory. The report that came out that Steve Sarkisian<\/a> was open to NFL offers had to come from somewhere. There haven\u2019t been any reports published about Lane Kiffin being interested in an NFL gig. There haven\u2019t been any reports about Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart<\/a>, Ryan Day or any other top-tier college football coaches being interested in the NFL.<\/p>\n Sarkisian has blasted the original reporting<\/a>, but we\u2019ll have to wait and see what happens with Texas down the stretch this season and what Sark decides to do in 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n Wildcard Scenario<\/p>\n Candidate: Clark Lea (Vanderbilt)<\/p>\n Again, I\u2019ll start this section with a disclaimer so y\u2019all don\u2019t yell at me online: I don\u2019t think Clark Lea<\/a> is going anywhere. The only scenario that would worry me is the (very unlikely) situation where Marcus Freeman leaves Notre Dame for LSU, Penn State or Florida. Again, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n