College football hot seat watch, Week 7: It’s still bad in the Big Ten

Last week: Lost to Rutgers, 26-24
This year’s record: 2-4 (0-2 B1G)
Record at Michigan: 28-17
Contract: $3.25 million through 2017
Buyout: $3 million

How fired is Brady Hoke? It’s legitimately surprising that he’s not already gone, especially after the Shane Morris concussion disaster. Even if athletic director Dave Brandon (who’s got his own job security to worry about) looks past the litany of issues that led to a concussed player staying on the field on two separate occasions, he has to contend with the fact that Michigan just looks like arguably* the worst-coached team in a lackluster Big Ten.

*The only competition is the next coach on the list.

The Wolverines’ slide has now hit three games, and they still haven’t beaten a power-conference team in four opportunities in the 2014 season. They’re now 3-9 in their last 12 games. Six wins and a bowl seem unlikely, and it’s not because the Big Ten is good.

A $3 million buyout is practically nothing to an athletic department like Michigan’s, and that’s assuming Brandon doesn’t try to oust Hoke for cause in light of the Morris debacle. With performance slumping and attendance cratering (but Coke sales soaring!), the only question that remains is who drives the final nail into the coffin. And here’s where we remind you that Michigan’s last game of the regular season is, yes, at Ohio State.

Last week: Lost to Purdue, 38-27
This year’s record: 3-3 (0-2 B1G)
Record at Illinois: 9-21
Contract: $1.7 million through 2016
Buyout: $1.05 million

In a regime of low points, last week’s loss — at home, by double digits, to lowly Purdue — might have been the absolute nadir for Beckman at Illinois. That was quite possibly Illinois’ only legitimate chance at a Big Ten win this year, and if none come in the last six games of the season, that’ll push Beckman’s B1G record to an astonishing 1-23 in three years at the helm.

There’s basically no bright spot in Champaign-Urbana. Illinois does not recruit well. It does not play well. Its offense is improving, but its defense is a horror show. Freshman WR Mikey Dudek is essentially all the Illini have going for them at this point, and ... well, that statement needs no embellishment. The only thing keeping Beckman on a lower level than Hoke is that it’s more likely Beckman’s allowed to finish out the year. That’s about it.

If there’s anything that’ll save Beckman going forward, it’s some very bad luck, as paradoxical as that sounds. QB Wes Lunt suffered a broken leg in the Purdue loss and is gone for at least a month. That won’t be good news for Illinois’ chances at winning any games, but it is a good excuse for the losses that are all but certain to ensue. Hey, Lunt was out, what do you expect?

Last week: Lost to Rice, 28-14
This year’s record: 1-4 (0-0 MWC)
Record at Hawaii: 5-24
Contract: $550,000 through 2016
Buyout: $750,000

Chow’s tenure with the Rainbow Warriors was supposed to be one of the feel-good stories of college football: a native son of Hawaii, returning home after a long, decorated career as an assistant coach at some great schools to finally live the dream of running a program.

Things have not gone as planned.

Chow’s Rainbow Warriors are the basement-dwellers of a defanged Mountain West, going 1-15 so far in conference play and not looking like serious candidates to pick up a W there this time around. Chow doesn’t look particularly capable of re-energizing the once-proud Hawaii program. He’ll probably be given the opportunity to retire or resign with dignity intact and head held high, but this era has been nothing short of a disaster.

Last week: Defeated Tennessee, 10-9
This year’s record: 3-1 (2-1 SEC)
Record at Florida: 25-17
Contract: $2.73 million through 2017
Buyout: $7 million

From a strictly W-L perspective, there’s nothing out of the ordinary with the Gators’ 3-1 (2-1) mark thus far on the year. In terms of actual performance, it’s clear Florida is far closer to the likes of Tennessee and Kentucky (which Florida beat by one point and in triple overtime, respectively) than to Alabama (which outgained UF 645-200 in a 42-21 blowout). Suffice it to say the historical standards of the Florida program are not being met here.

If Driskel’s back under center, another late swoon like last year’s seven-game losing streak seems entirely plausible. Anything similar would likely set fire to Muschamp’s seat, and only the asbestos lining of his $7 million buyout would keep him around another season.

Last week: Lost to Georgia Tech, 28-17
This year’s record: 3-3 (1-2 ACC)
Record at Miami: 25-18
Contract: $2.15 million through 2019
Buyout: Unknown

Al Golden’s perseverance with Miami is a thing to be rewarded, sticking it out through the NCAA penalties levied after the Nevin Shapiro scandal and eschewing overtures from other programs, like Golden’s alma mater Penn State. That’s an uncommon loyalty.

Slight problem through all this: Miami is as average as it’s ever been in its now-decade-long swoon, and last week’s whipping at Georgia Tech’s hands only reinforced how far the Hurricanes have to go. The fan base isn’t energized at all, the talent level is dropping off substantially (the recruiting rankings look good; the players themselves don’t), and the swagger is all but gone.