Going to add the ACC in here as there wasn't that much that happened in the coach carousel then in the other big three conferences. Either way, here is the links to the other coaching hirings in the other conferences.
https://fanspo.com/nfl/s/general/p/-cOh94hJfm4Q7c/2025-coaching-hiring-grades-link
ACC
Cal (2025 HC: Justin Wilcox; 2026 HC: Tosh Lupoi): C+
If they were in the Pac 12 or if their main focus is just to beat Stanford and win six games, then I respect it and always really like the hire. But they are in the ACC and I am not really sold on this hire helping them compete in the ACC. The Cal alum has experience coaching in the South in Alabama but hasn't really coached in college on the east coast ever. I think Lupoi would eventually make out as a great coach, I just don't think Cal is a great fit despite it being his alma mater.
Stanford (2025 HC: Frank Reich; 2026 HC: Tavita Pritchard): C+
Another California school hiring their alumnus. I don't know how much he will help them win games, but it feels like all him and Tosh were hired to do was to beat each other and win 4-6 games a year. Neither are worried about championships, just happy to be in a big four conference.
Virginia Tech (2025 HC: Brent Pry; 2026 HC: James Franklin): B+
As soon as Franklin got hired, he immediately started looking for a new job and Virginia Tech was already open. This was a home run hire as soon as he got the job, but then he started hiring his staff and I become less amused. They looked around for a DC and settled with former Penn State DC and former Hokies HC Brent Pry like two months removed from his dismissal in Blacksburg and then they go and hire Penn State's TE coach Ty Howle after a lackluster offensive performance. They had a beast in Tyler Warren that Howle coached in 2024, but the TE's were less impressive this go around than last. I'm not too upset with the DC hire, just confused by Pry would go back. I don't like the OC as the offense is what I feel let's down a James Franklin team year in and year out. I don't think he hires the right guys and they bring in OC's who can't get the best out of their star players or they can get the best out of their players but those players aren't quite as talented compared to their competition. But oh well, all he has to do in the ACC is win 8 or 9 games and he'll be in the ACC Championship Game every year.
American
Memphis (2025 HC: Ryan Silverfield; 2026 HC: Charles Huff): A
This is the third A have have given out so far. I really like Huff and I really thought he was better off going to a SEC or Big Ten school after Southern Miss, but the last three games of the regular season seemed to have hampered the possibility and he settled with Memphis. He's a fantastic coach and an even better recruiter. He is losing his QB and some of his star defensive weapons that he brought with him from Marshall to Southern Miss to graduation and draft, but he is building a competitive team over there that should keep them in the conference championship contention for some time now.
North Teas (2025 HC: Eric Morris; 2026 HC: Neal Brown): B
I am happy Neal is getting back into coaching, I just didn't expect it to be in North Texas. I am giving it just a B just because he was a great coach at Troy, just ok at West Virginia. This is the American where you are still a G5 school, but are trying to compete to be considered the fifth (or fourth) best conference in the FBS. I expect the first season to be rocky, but am more curious to see how he does in year 2, 3, and 4 then year 1.
Tulane (2025 HC: Jon Sumrall; 2026 HC: Will Hall): C-
I love Will Hall the person, I don't like Will Hall the coach. I think this is a bad hire because able to do anything at Southern Miss and Huff came in and was able to turn it into a top program in one year. He had a bad first season that ended with Frank Gore Jr as QB, then had a decent second year that ended with a bowl game win though that season was being heavily carried by Gore Jr, the third and fourth seasons they onl won 4 games combined until he got the boot. Is there more resources in Tulane than Southern Miss? Yes. Does that change the fact how good of a coach Hall is? No.
UAB (2025 HC: Trent Dilfer; 2026 HC: Alex Mortensen): C
To think how bad their coaching process was is the fact their top three candidates turned down the job and then one eventually took a job in the MAC, the other a a job in the C-USA, and the third took another job in the FCS right before they named an interim is honestly comical. No shade to Mortensen who did a great job getting UAB out of the bottom of the pickle jar and somewhere in the middle at the end of the season, but they could have had Casey Woods, Mike Jacobs, and Steve Englehart and all three declined and eventually took jobs at schools that 100% paid less than what UAB could had offered. They messed up the hiring process somehow and they had to settle on their interim.
USF (2025 HC: Alex Golesh; 2026 HC: Brian Hartline): A
Home. Run. Hire. Hartline has zero experience as a HC, but has done a fantastic job with Ohio State's WR's after taking over for... Well, let's just say he took over. He had a great offense this past season as well after learning from Chip Kelly after his first Ohio State OC stint failed. He was a candidate for the Penn State and Kentucky jobs and now he will be in Tampa coaching in the American is just a great move by the Bulls.
Sun Belt
Coastal Carolina (2025 HC: Tim Beck; 2026 HC: Ryan Beard): C+
Jamey Chadwell set a precedent for the Chanticleers that it seems like the AD and the board don't want to match based on the two hires post Chadwell. Tim Beck replaced a young, fiery spirit with an old, boring personality and Ryan Beard may be young but this isn't a guy who I see competing for the Sun Belt championship game year in and year out. He took over for his father in law at Missouri State and just kept them afloat so they can move up to the FBS which they had an impressive 7-5 first season, though there wasn't much competition on their schedule in the first place. The Sun Belt is a different beast than the C-USA and I don't see 7-5 cutting it in Myrtle Beach.
James Madison (2025 HC: Bob Chesney; 2026 HC: Billy Napier): A
I believe this is number six in A's I have given out. They don't call him Sun Belt Billy for a reason. In the four seasons he was in Louisiana, he made it to the Sun Belt Championship game four time and winning once, technically twice due to a no contest in 2020. It also helps bringing in SEC experience and success he has had at Florida. I feel like a second time is the charm for him and I do expect to see him coaching in the championship game very soon.
Southern Miss (2025 HC: Charles Huff; 2026 HC: Blake Anderson): B+
Huff came in and brought a new culture to the program, Anderson is here to retain the culture. That is the same thing he did when he took over at Arkansas State years ago when Freeze, Malzahn, and Harsin all took the job and left for bigger ones after one year and he was able to keep them competitive year in and year out. Now, if Southern Miss is looking for a Arkansas State exit program, I don't think Anderson is your guy as he seems to like to stay loyal to where he is at and build a 7 or 8 win program.
There is another list, let me know your thoughts down below!