College football coaching hires 2026: Handing out grades for Lane Kiffin, James Franklin and more

One year after there were just six Power 4 coaching changes, the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC combined for 17 coaching changes in the 2025-26 cycle. Blueblood jobs such as LSU, Florida, Penn State and Michigan all enter 2026 with new leadership.The carousel began Sept. 14, when Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry and UCLA fired DeShaun Foster, and it ended on Dec. 26, when Michigan sealed the deal with Kyle Whittingham.Here is a quick look at the faces in new places, and SN's grade on the new hire.MORE: Ranking the 138 FBS coaches entering 2026ACCCal: Tosh LupoiPrevious job: Oregon defensive coordinatorThe Cal alum comes home for his first head coaching job, and he already got his first win by keeping QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele out of the transfer portal.Grade: B-MORE: Order SN's 2026 College F