Strong, Sumlin entering 2016 on coaching hot seat

To consider Les Miles on the dreaded hot seat at LSU entering this season suggests a lot about job security among college football coaches these days – especially those in the Southeastern Conference.

In 11 seasons as Tigers coach, Miles has 112 wins. Only one LSU coach has more and Charlie McClendon’s 137 victories came in 59 more games. Miles’ .778 winning percentage is better than any coach who has had more than a 30-game stint at LSU – even Nick Saban at .750. Miles has one of LSU’s three national championships.

Still, the Mad Hatter was nearly run out of Baton Rouge last season. If No. 5 LSU falls short of lofty expectations this season, expect Miles’ future to become a hot topic again in Baton Rouge. Southeastern Conference championship or bust?

Around the country, several other coaches enter the season in need of some wins and a change of trajectory to keep their jobs. Here are a few:

Charlie Strong, Texas

This situation looks pretty simple: Strong can’t have a third straight losing season and expect to return as coach when the athletic director and school president who hired him are no longer around. How many victories does Strong need to keep the gig? Hard to say. If the Longhorns land on 7-5 or 8-4, how they get there could be as important as the how many, as well as who is available. (Insert obligatory Houston coach Tom Herman mention here). This would be a good time for Strong’s team to go 9-3.

Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M and Gus Malzahn, Auburn

A couple of SEC West coaches who just a few years ago were getting serious NFL buzz. Neither has had a losing season, but both programs have been trending in the wrong direction. Complicating each situation is a rich buyout: $15 million for Sumlin and $9 million for Malzahn. Sumlin’s is a pay-in-full payment within two months of being let go. But, hey, it’s only money and this is the SEC. Don’t be surprised if Sumlin departs on his own terms if A&M has a good season.

Mike MacIntyre, Colorado

Classic case of a coach walking into a horrendous situation, making it better but maybe not enough. The Buffaloes went 4-9 last season, MacIntyre’s third in Boulder. Five of those losses were by one score. Nine-game conference schedules don’t provide much room for growing a program (2-25 in the Pac-12), but all the positive signs might not matter for MacIntyre if Colorado cannot reach a bowl game for the first time since 2007.