Coach on the hottest seat (besides Tyrone Willingham and Greg Robinson)
Mandel: Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee. If the Vols finish below .500, which appears increasingly likely, the school will buy him out.
Staples: Fulmer. If things get much worse, Fulmer -- an alum who loves his school -- may offer to fall on his sword.
McCartney: Fulmer. How can they be my surprise and Fulmer still get fired? Making a mid-level bowl (if they make it that far) won't be enough for a fan base that's tired of lagging behind in the SEC. And you know Tennessee's not scared of that rumored $6 million-plus buyout.
Winn: Fulmer. When the Vols finish at .500 this year, the heat from alums will be intense enough to warrant paying the $6 million buyout and starting over with a stronger recruiter at the helm.
Markazi: Mike Stoops, Arizona. It may seem hard to put a coach of a winning team (4-2) on the hot seat, but when those wins are against Idaho, Toledo, UCLA and Washington, it's really not. A fifth disappointing season in Tucson will earn Stoops a one-way ticket back to Oklahoma to help his brother, Bob.
Trocchi: Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State. If Mississippi State finishes .500 or below (and at 2-4 with road games at Tennessee, Alabama and Ole Miss remaining, that seems likely), that will give Croom one winning season in five years in Starkville. Croom is popular, but at some point the Bulldog faithful are going to want a change.
Filice: Tommy Tuberville, Auburn. The theoretical seat of Kirk Ferentz, my preseason selection, is definitely hot, but Tuberville's is on fire. The erratic Auburn fan base isn't too happy with the Tony Franklin fiasco. Not to mention this former top 10 team has lost three of its past four.
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