Baylor, Maryland, and NC State Fire Head Coaches in Late October Coaching Shifts
Three major programs have replaced their head coaches since October 21, following a 2025 cycle that saw 32 FBS hires.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
The 2026 college football coaching market moved in late October after a quiet start. Baylor, Maryland, and NC State have all dismissed their head coaches since the week of October 19. These departures follow a 2025 season that saw the highest turnover in modern history.
Baylor parted ways with Dave Aranda on October 21. Aranda spent seven seasons at the school and finished with a 40-40 record. He led the Bears to a Big 12 title in 2021 but went 26-32 in conference play over his tenure. The university has not named a replacement. Candidates include Jeff Traylor of UTSA, GJ Kinne of Texas State, and Lincoln Riley of USC.
Maryland fired Mike Locksley after he finished 39-54 over eight seasons. The Terps went 4-8 in the two seasons before 2026. Locksley’s departure began the current cycle of firings. The program will consider candidates such as Jake Dickert of Wake Forest and Charles Huff of Memphis. Huff is a Maryland native. The school has improved its Name, Image, and Likeness resources but faces the challenges of competing in the Big Ten.
NC State dismissed Dave Doeren after 14 years in Raleigh. The Wolfpack fell to 1-3 in the ACC after losing 31-28 to Stanford. Doeren consistently won seven to nine games annually but struggled with late-season losses in recent years. The search for his replacement has drawn interest for Philip Rivers. Rivers coached high school football for five years in Alabama and interviewed for a head coaching job with the Buffalo Bills in January. His son, Gunner, is committed to play for NC State. Other names in the mix include Shannon Dawson, Dan Mullen, and Charles Huff.
The 2025 cycle set a record with 32 new FBS head coaches hired. That number included 17 hires in the four power conferences. Hundreds of assistant positions changed hands as well. Ninety-three FBS programs have changed head coaches over the last three offseasons. Schools are currently assessing whether the high cost of the Name, Image, and Likeness era and revenue sharing will slow future turnover.
