This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Every football coach feels pressure to win.
The degree of pressure can vary depending on the circumstances. Some feel a need to win this season because they’re multi-years into a rebuilding project that is behind schedule.
Some feel a need to win this season because they had an unexpectedly bad season last season. And some feel a need to not just win but to win big every season because that’s the expectation for their elite program.
The pressure to win this season might be less or greater in some cases with the arrival of the 12-team playoff field.
Some might feel less pressure at not having to finish in the top four to win a berth in the championship tournament. Some might feel more pressure because the expanded field increases the expectation of making the CFP.
Different coaches feel different pressures depending on the status of the program and the stage of their tenures.
Here’s a look at the college football coaches under the most pressure in 2024.
Ryan Day, Ohio State
OK, so Day’s job isn’t exactly on the line this year. After all, his record with the Buckeyes is 56-8. But he does have one of the most pressure-packed jobs in college football, not to mention a three-game losing streak against Michigan.
Ohio State followed its latest loss to the Wolverines with a desultory loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl and finished No. 7 in the final CFP rankings, its lowest finish under Day.
Most preseason rankings have the Buckeyes either No. 1 or No. 2, so the pressure is on Day to produce not only a victory over Michigan but also a deep run in the CFP (and preferably a national championship).
Will Hall, Southern Miss
The expectations for the Golden Eagles aren’t nearly as high as they are for Ohio State, but after sandwiching a pair of 3-9 finishes around a 7-6 mark in 2022, the pressure is on Hall to produce a team that shows significant improvement and is a factor in the Sun Belt Conference race.
Mario Cristobal, Miami
source: Getty Images Cristobal is entering his third season, but highly regarded recruiting and transfer classes have expectations for the Hurricanes on the rise. Cristobal’s second team improved from 5-7 to 7-6, but last season fell short of what it could have been.
Miami looked like it was going to improve to 5-0 as it tried to run out the clock while leading 20-17 and possessing the ball in Georgia Tech territory in the final minute. But instead of kneeling out the clock, they ran the ball, lost a fumble on third down and allowed the Yellow Jackets to drive 74 yards in 24 seconds to score a winning touchdown.
The Canes never fully recovered and wound up losing four of their last five games, leading to questions about whether the head coach got in the way of what should have been a better record.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Jul 15, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea speaking at Omni Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports The Commodores’ traditionally modest expectations can only keep the pressure low for so long. Lea has gone 2-10, 5-7 and 2-10, and with Vanderbilt in the midst of a $300 million athletic upgrade, the expectations might be less modest beginning in 2024.
Billy Napier, Florida
Jul 17, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Florida head coach Billy Napier speaking at Omni Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports The Gators expect to be consistent contenders for the SEC championship, and with Napier’s first two teams finishing 6-7 and 5-7 and Texas and Oklahoma arriving to make the conference even deeper, there’s a lot of pressure on Napier’s third team to have a breakout season.
Kalani Sitaki, BYU
Sitaki is the third-winningest coach in Cougar history, going 61-41 in eight seasons. But after an 11-1 record that landed BYU at No. 11 in the AP post-season poll in 2020, Sitaki’s teams have won fewer games in three consecutive seasons (10-3, 8-5, 5-7). The overall success of his tenure remains an asset, but there’s pressure to start trending upward again.
Dave Aranda, Baylor
Sep 2, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda on the sidelines during the second half against the Texas State Bobcats at McLane Stadium. credits: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports It was just three years ago that the Bears went 12-2 and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. But Baylor followed that milestone season with a 6-7 finish before sliding to 3-9 last season. The pressure is on Aranda to produce a dramatic turnaround in 2024.
Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Jul 18, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman speaking at Omni Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports Pittman endured a 3-7 finish in his first season in 2020 before lifting the Razorbacks to a 9-4 record in his second season. But slipping to 7-6 and 4-8 the last two years—along with the arrival of Texas and OU—has Pittman feeling pressure at least as strong as what Napier is feeling in Florida.
