What Might Next December's College Football Coaching Carousel Look Like? [UPDATE]

With this year’s coaching carousel finally slowing down – the best open jobs right now at Wisconsin, Colorado and Cincinnati – let’s look ahead 12 months to next December. What schools could be looking to hire a new coach?

Texas. Mack Brown’s struggles have been chronicled here. A lot will be depend on which players (especially on that terrible defense) declare for the NFL or return to Austin. Brown will be 62 next August, and as the success of Johnny Manziel (and RGIII in the pros) blossoms, Brown will continue to be mocked for wanting to recruit them as defensive backs.

Florida State. Jimbo Fisher. Three underwhelming seasons so far when you consider the talent, preseason expectations, and conference. The 2013 schedule doesn’t feature any difficult out-of-conference opponents besides rival Florida. He lost defensive coordinator Mark Stoops to Kentucky. I don’t think Fisher goes into the season on the hot seat, but I think given the program’s history, pressure will be turned up on Fisher if he scuffles again vs. inferior teams.

Missouri. Gary Pinkel’s been with the Tigers for 12 years, and finishing under .500 (5-7) in his first year in the SEC (while Texas A&M thrived) wasn’t a good look. A string of seven straight bowl games has been snapped. I do think Pinkel will open the season on the hot seat, and if he doesn’t win, he’ll be gone. What might make Missouri’s decision easier – the number of very, very good up-and-coming coaches (like Hugh Freeze [UPDATE: Dammit to hell! Don’t you hate it when you’re looking at two lists at the same time and write the wrong bloody name? MIKE MACINTYRE is the name I was thinking about. We regret the error.]), who would love to jump into the SEC.