College Football Hot Seat: 10 Coaches That Need a Bowl Win to Keep Their Job

College football is no different from any other sport when it comes to coaches on the hot seat. 

Some of it may be warranted, while some may be fans overreacting to a bad call or a few bad games. 

Universities hire these coaches and pay them big bucks expecting good results. 

It does not always happen that way, and it is only a matter of time before a coach is placed on the hot seat. 

Here are 10 coaches who need a bowl win to keep their job.

10. Danny Hope, Purdue

Danny Hope is in his third season at Purdue and so far is having his best year to date.

The Boilermakers currently sit at 6-6 and appear headed for their first bowl game in four years.

However, his overall record is still under .500, and winning their bowl game would go a long way toward helping Hope keep his job.

A loss does not necessarily mean the end for Hope, but a win would certainly help.

9. Gary Pinkel, Missouri

Gary Pinkel has had great success at Missouri and is not in real trouble to lose his job, but the Tigers have had quite a disappointing season, and ending it on a good note with a bowl win will help Pinkel solidify his job.

He is 84-54 in his 11 seasons at Missouri but has lost his last two bowl games and would benefit greatly from a win this year.

8. Steve Sarkisian, Washington

Steve Sarkisian is also in his third season as head coach, and his 19-18 overall record certainly leaves something to be desired.

The 7-5 regular-season finish for the Huskies is the best during his tenure, but losing three of their final four games is no way to end the regular season.

Washington is headed to its second consecutive bowl game, and while Sarkisian has improved the Huskies' record each season, winning his second straight bowl game would help him shore up his job for another season.

7. Tom O'Brien, North Carolina State

Tom O'Brien is in his fifth season at North Carolina State and has a record only two games above .500.

After a slow start this year, the Wolfpack are now 7-5 and headed for their third bowl game in the past four seasons.

O'Brien has only produced two winning seasons while at North Carolina State, and fans are starting to grow tired of him.

A win in their bowl game will go a long way toward him keeping his job.

6. Tom Bradley, Penn State

Tom Bradley has done an admirable job since stepping in for the departed Joe Paterno amid all of the allegations at Penn State.

After losing to Nebraska, the Nittany Lions bounced back to defeat Ohio State before falling to Wisconsin 45-7 in the worst Big Ten defeat ever for the Nittany Lions.

If the Nittany Lions do accept a bowl invitation, it will be a welcome addition for Bradley, who may be coaching for his job.

A win in a major bowl game would be the first step toward him achieving his goal.

5. Jeff Tedford, California

Jeff Tedford has been at California for 10 seasons, and while he is not on the hot seat, the Bears have struggled slightly the past two seasons.

After going 5-7 last year and missing a bowl game, the Bears finished 7-5 this season but lost five of their final nine games.

Tedford has had great success while at California, and a bowl win will certainly help get fans behind him heading into next season.

4. Everett Withers, North Carolina

Everett Withers has filled in admirably as the interim head coach at North Carolina. 

The Tar Heels are 7-5 on the season and headed for a bowl game. Unlike Luke Fickell at Ohio State, who has no chance to retain the coaching job, there is still hope for Withers, who has a fighting chance to keep his job.

A bowl win in the coming weeks will go a long way toward determining his fate at North Carolina for the years to come.

3. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State

Arizona State had a collapse similar to Illinois this season.

After starting the season 6-2, it lost its final four games to finish the year 6-6.

Erickson is 31-30 overall with only one previous bowl appearance in his five seasons as head coach.

Not a good way to end the regular season for head coach Dennis Erickson, who now finds himself on the hot seat and in need of a bowl victory to help him keep his job.

2. Rick Neuheisel, UCLA

Rick Neuheisel has seemingly been on the hot seat since his arrival at UCLA.

He has a 20-27 record in four seasons with only one bowl appearance.

A 50-0 loss to city rival USC was not a great way to close out the conference season, but with the probation USC was placed on, UCLA will be in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon on Friday night.

While this is not a bowl game, it is just as close, and Neuheisel may need a win to propel his team to the Rose Bowl in order to keep his job.

1. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M

Ever since his arrival at Texas A&M, Mike Sherman has been a major disappointment.

With all the success he had at the professional level, he has been unable to translate it to the college game.

The Aggies are 25-25 in his four seasons and have reached two previous bowl games.

After being ranked No. 9 to start the season, the Aggies quickly plummeted out of the polls. With their loss to Texas on Thanksgiving, they finished the season a disappointing 6-6, losing four of their final five games.

Sherman may need to win their bowl game against a solid opponent to prove himself and keep his job for another season.