College football coaching carousel 2026: Who to watch for the next big job opening

Key Points:

• P.J. Fleck of Minnesota has delivered consistent success with eight or more wins in five of the last six seasons and a perfect 7-0 bowl record, yet his achievements are often overshadowed by his branding and slogans.
• Jake Dickert at Wake Forest has overcome difficult situations to post a 32-24 record and a 9-4 debut season, with potential interest from other programs including Wisconsin due to his local ties.
• Manny Diaz revitalized his coaching profile by leading Duke to consecutive nine-win seasons and an ACC title, making him a rising name with prospects for higher-profile jobs.
• Several Group of 6 coaches, including Jason Eck (New Mexico), Matt Entz (Fresno State), and Dan Mullen (UNLV), have shown strong results and could be candidates for Power 4 openings if they continue their success.
• Among Power 4 coordinators, Glenn Schumann (Georgia) and Matt Patricia (Ohio State) stand out as established names likely to attract head coaching interest, while others like Bryant Haines (Indiana) and Kane Wommack (Alabama) are emerging as promising candidates.