College Football Hot Seat 2017: 5 coaches who must win in Week 13

With Week 13 upon us and college football coaches sitting squarely on the hot seat, which five must win in order to save their jobs for next year.

Following the events of Week 12, there was another coaching casualty in the college ranks. Jim Mora Jr. is out as head coach of UCLA after a six-year tenure following the Bruins loss to crosstown rival USC on Saturday night. In his six seasons in Los Angeles, Mora compiled a 46-30 record, including back to back 10-win seasons in 2013 and 2014.

Things had soured in the last couple seasons as UCLA finished 4-8 last season, mainly due to the absence of Josh Rosen because of injury. The Bruins were 5-5 heading into the showdown with USC and need to win this weeks game against Cal, Berkley if they want to get back to a bowl game. It was apparent that UCLA was willing to pay Mora’s $14.76 million buyout in order to get a good hire.

Following those events, let’s focus on the coaches who need to pick up a win in their respective season finale’s.

5. David Beaty, Kansas

It’s very clear that the Kansas Jayhawk program is well past the point of mediocrity. The Jayhawks have had three coaches since the controversial firing of Mark Mangino. In fact, Kansas is one of two schools still paying Charlie Weis buyout money (Notre Dame being the other). But in his third year Lawrence, David Beaty has not seen much of any improvement from his teams.

Beaty’s first year ended with a winless, 0-12 record, only the second time in Kansas school history. The Jayhawks appeared to have a glimmer of hope, finishing the 2016 campaign 2-10, including a monumental upset of Texas. However, the Jayhawks fell flat on their face yet again this season, maintaining a 1-10 record through their 11 games, with the only win over FCS foe, Southeast Missouri State.

It’s becoming clear that it is very unlikely Beaty will provide any future success to the program, but an upset of a disappointed Oklahoma State squad could surely raise the spirits of the program heading into the off-season.