Baylor, Maryland, NC State Fire Football Coaches
Three major college football programs part ways with their head coaches amid struggling seasons.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Football
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Baylor, Maryland, and North Carolina State have each fired their head football coaches following a wave of mid-season staff changes. The departures come as programs adjust their leadership during a volatile period in the college football landscape.
Why it matters
The sudden coaching changes reflect a growing trend of major college programs cutting ties with staff early to reshape their future direction. These decisions follow disappointing performance streaks that prompted athletic departments to seek new leadership.
Baylor faces a $12 million buyout for Dave Aranda, while Maryland owes Mike Locksley $9.75 million and NC State is responsible for a $10.3 million buyout for Dave Doeren. These figures account for the high financial stakes involved in ending these coaching tenures.
The players
Dave Aranda
He is the former head football coach at Baylor University who finished his tenure with a 40-40 career record.
Mike Locksley
He served as the head football coach at the University of Maryland and accumulated a 39-54 career record.
Dave Doeren
He held the head coaching position at NC State University for 14 seasons with a career record of 98-73.
The details
Baylor fired Dave Aranda after seven seasons following losses to TCU and Kansas, while Maryland dismissed Mike Locksley after a 2-5 start to the current campaign. North Carolina State parted ways with Dave Doeren after a 14-season tenure, with the school required to pay $600,000 within 30 days and the remainder in monthly installments.
Timeline
Wednesday, October 21, 2026: Maryland fired Mike Locksley.
Saturday, October 24, 2026: NC State fired Dave Doeren.
Sunday, October 25, 2026: Baylor fired Dave Aranda.
Season Trajectory
These coaching changes represent a significant disruption to the current competitive balance across multiple conferences. This mass turnover forces these programs into an immediate search for new leadership while they attempt to salvage the remainder of their seasons.
These firings trigger immediate transitions in team management and recruiting priorities for the impacted universities. Prospective fans and observers should watch for interim coaching appointments and the subsequent impact on recruiting class commitments.
The takeaway
Programs often act during mid-season lulls to provide themselves more time to evaluate potential candidates for the next academic cycle. Fans should expect speculation regarding new hires to intensify as these universities attempt to secure future leaders for their programs.
Further reading
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