Wisconsin and Other Struggling FBS Teams Bound for Major Coaching Changes

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It is one of the main topics in college football that you can't avoid: the hot seat.

With so many teams, there are bound to be disappointing seasons each year, and the majority of the blame gets put on the head coaches. After all, they are the guys that are in charge, so they are the ones that must be screwing up, right?

And the higher the expectations, the easier it is to do the finger-pointing. As we enter Week 4 of the college football season, here are a few programs that could have new head coaches if things don't quickly turnaround.

Boston College

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Does anybody know how Frank Spaziani is still a head coach?

Since 2011, the Eagles are flying low with a 5-10 combined record. That record includes losses to Northwestern (twice) and getting upset by Duke last season. Running back Montel Harris was dismissed from the team during the offseason and now the offense can't find the end zone. Boston College has reached the red zone 16 times this season, but has only walked away with five touchdowns.

It wasn't long ago this was a respected program in the ACC. Now, the Eagles just have to find somebody to help lead them in the right direction.

Maryland

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And this is who Ralph Friedgen was fired for?

Head coach Randy Edsall is a combined 4-11 since he stepped foot in College Park and I'm sure most Maryland fans would not mind seeing him step out. The Terrapins have, by far, the worst offense in the ACC this season and even lost to Connecticut, Edsall's previous team.

Maryland barely beat William & Mary in the season opener and won all but two games last season.

Edsall has quickly learned that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

Auburn

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Despite winning three consecutive bowl games, including a BCS National Championship in 2010, Gene Chizik may be coaching his last season in Auburn. There was much optimism and anticipation as the Tigers were returning a majority of last year’s club, but this team could easily be 0-3 right now.

Auburn looked flat in the first two games against Clemson and Mississippi State and was outplayed by Louisiana-Monroe in Week 3. The defense may have regressed, as the Tigers are allowing over 440 yards per game, and the offense can't score points.

The heat is already on Chizik, but with teams such as LSU, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama still on the schedule, things may get even uglier for the head coach.

Arkansas

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Remember when John L. Smith wanted to remain in Arkansas for more than just a season?

Well, um, that is not happening.

Arkansas has lost two in a row—a loss to the ULM Warhawks, and a blow out at home to Alabama. If that wasn't bad enough, Smith held this very strange press conference earlier this week that tells you all you need to know about the guy.

Maybe Smith didn’t get the memo, but nobody is smiling—his Razorbacks have not given anybody a reason to. This was a team that had BCS title hopes to start the season. After just three weeks, those are all washed down the drain.

Good luck looking for work in the offseason, John.

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin already saw its offensive coordinator in Paul Chryst leave, now it may be time for head coach Bret Bielema to start fresh as well. Sure, the Badgers are 2-1, but that loss was against a lesser talented Oregon State team. They also have beaten mighty Northern Iowa and Utah State by a combined seven points.

These are your defending Big Ten champs, that still has the Big Ten player of the year in running back Montee Ball.

Bielema has won 75 percent of his games in Madison, but has never been able to get over the hump, losing two straight BCS bowl games. If this season continues as is, the program may decide to look elsewhere for somebody who can carry this team to the next level.

Iowa

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You have to applaud head coach Kirk Ferentz for the job he has done with Iowa. He has coached the Hawkeyes since 1999 and has led them to 10 bowls in the last 11 seasons.

But he has yet to coach his program to the next level. Instead of taking advantage of a down year in the Big Ten, Iowa has joined them as one of those struggling teams. The team lost to Iowa State and, in the season opener, beat Northern Illinois by just one point. Despite having one of the better quarterbacks in the conference in James Vandenberg, the offense is ranked 112th in the country.

Ferentz has done a good job of putting the program on the map, but you would expect a little more return on investment from a $3 million annual salary.

Kentucky

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Head coach Joker Phillips is in his third season at Kentucky and the success of the basketball team has not rubbed off on him. He is a combined 12-16 in his tenure, and the remainder of this season is not looking good at all.

With eight of the last nine games against top SEC teams, the Wildcats are very likely to finish the season with only two wins this year. That will be considered a huge step back under Phillips, as it would be the Wildcats' worst season since 2004 under head coach Rich Brooks.

Maybe John Calipari knows a thing or two about football?