Sean Lewis Felt the Heat—But Others Got Burned in College Football’s Midyear Coaching Purge

The three wins from a season ago feel like such a distant memory at this point of Lewis’ 2nd season. As you will see next in our coaches fired list, before the Aztecs recent four game win streak Sean Lewis’ results were very much in line with many of these coaches win/loss outcomes.

But imagine if his Aztecs not gone on this fantastic streak? It begs to wonder how short his leash would’ve been this season? If things would’ve fallen apart with the team after that avalanche of a loss to Washington State, how far would the program have to fall in order to make a change?

The nation is taking notice of this team’s performance for the big play manor in which they are winning games by. But would JD Wicker have had the same gumption as some of these blue blood programs to make a change and turn the team over to an assistant? Guess we’ll never know and I for one am very happy about that.

At the halfway mark of the college football season many teams have assessed their standing and projected their outlooks enough to make the cuts—on the coaches that is. Several high profile universities have parted ways with their football leaders at this point and there figures to be more on the chopping block.

While I disagree with most of the firings of leadership before the end of the season, there are some exceptions. Here are a list of the coaches that got left behind and what each team has done so far.

Brent Pry (Virginia Tech): Fired on September 14, 2025, after an 0-3 start. Virginia Tech made the decision to let go of head coach Brent Pry following a 45–26 home loss to Old Dominion.

Pry held a 16–24 record over four seasons which just doesn’t cut it in Hokie territory. Offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. Virginia Tech went on a two game win streak under the interim Montgomery before dropping the last two as they now head into their bye week at 2-5.

DeShaun Foster (UCLA): Fired on September 14, 2025, after an 0-3 start to the season. Foster made the wrong kinds of media attention for his lackluster speaking performance at the B1G’s opening media days to start the season.

The lack of enthusiasm carried over to the team’s play as UCLA was embarrassed at home vs New Mexico. The move needed to be made clearly and interim coach Tim Skipper has taken over. Since then UCLA is 2-1 with a big victory over Penn State and Michigan State to bring their season record up to 2-4.

Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State): Fired on September 23, 2025, after an 0-3 start. Gundy had been the head coach for 21 seasons compiling a 170-90 winning record in his time. The firing came with struggles offensively, but curiously the Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham will serve as interim head coach.

Since the firing the Cowboys are still yet to win a game and have been unable to score. But even greater is their defense is allowing opponents to average over 40 points per game as well.

Sam Pittman (Arkansas): Fired on September 25, 2025, after a 2-3 start and a 56-13 crushing loss to Notre Dame. Bobby Petrino has taken over as interim and is capable to operate the team.

The Razorbacks since the firing had a bye week and had a narrow loss at #12 Tennessee 34-31 on Saturday. Unfortunately there wont be any more good sound bites from Pittman, but perhaps it’s not too late for Arkansas to turn their season around.

Trent Bray (Oregon State): Fired on October 12, 2025, after an 0-7 start. The trouble continued from last season where his Beavers won just five games in total.

Oregon State had made slow improvements this year keeping the last few games closer than the start of the season, but not earning a victory was just too much. To add insult to injury, Bray had lost his composure in a sideline interview with reporters during one of the early season losses. To lose is one thing, but to not carry oneself appropriately in defeat is another.

The Beavers will need win vs FCS Lafayette Leopards before hitting a bye week to prepare for the Washington State Cougars in the battle between the two Pac12 teams. Robb Akey takes over in the interim and was a previous head coach at Idaho from 2007-2012.

Trent Dilfer (UAB): Fired on October 12, 2025, after a 2-4 start to the season. His Blazers won 4 games in his first season, 3 in last year his second season, and even though they’d reached two wins this season already the brass just couldn’t take it anymore.

Dilfer in his first FBS head coaching position will be replaced by Alex Mortensen, the son of late ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen. He was the team’s offensive coordinator since 2023 and will try his luck right out of the gate against #22 Memphis before hitting a bye week and then UConn afterwards.

James Franklin (Penn State): Fired on October 12, 2025, after the Nittany Lions lost to Northwestern. The Nittany Lions were 104-45 in over 11 seasons with coach Franklin.

Despite three opening wins the last 3 close losses were enough to part ways mid season on one of the B1G’s most tenured coaches. No doubt the failure to win a National Championship and consistently dropping the big games vs Ohio State and Michigan when it matters the most was the driving force.

Terry Smith will serve as the head coach in the interim. Smith held roles such as defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach with the team since 2014 and unless the Nittany Lions go on some amazing turnaround against Iowa, #1 Ohio State and #3 Indiana, he doesn’t’ appear to be a candidate for the position after the season.