Every year we come into the season wondering which coaches will not be around for the following season. A few lucky coaches get that big win against their rival at the end of the year to save their job for the next. Looking ahead, these are the 5 coaches that I think need to win now or they will not be around coaching their respective teams come 2008.

1. Karl Dorrell (UCLA) - Last year 7-6; UCLA Career Record 29-21. The Bruins’ fans in Westwood have grown weary of year after year of mediocrity under Dorrell. I really believe that the win against USC last year saved his job, and allowed him to have a one-year reprieve. This season all the cards are in place as he has all of his recruits and 21 returning starters. The Bruins should be able to win their first four games, but the next three against Oregon State, Notre Dame, and Cal should set the tone for the rest of the season. For Dorrell to keep his job I think he needs to finish in at least the top 3 of the Pac-10 and get 9 to 10 wins. But to get a real feel how Bruins fans feel about Karl Dorrell head over to Bruins Nation .

2. Al Groh (Virginia) - Last year 5-7; Virginia Career record 42-33. When Groh came to Virginia he revitalized the program and started bringing in big named recruits. But since 2002 where the Cavs had 9 wins; their win total has diminished since then. The 2006 season was the worst, only winning 5 games but with an experienced offensive and defensive line Groh has the hogs up front to set a solid base for a winning season. He will have to improve on an offense that was last in the ACC in passing, 11th in the ACC in points per game, and leading rusher with only 772 yards. Most of the yards came against the weak teams on the schedule. The first half of the schedule has 4 games the Cavs should win, but they end the season with Wake Forest, Miami, and Virginia Tech. Groh needs at least 8 wins this year to save his job.

3. Greg Robinson (Syracuse) - Last year 4-8; Syracuse Career Record 5-18. This will be Robinson’s third year as the coach of the Orange and he did improve from his first to his second, which wasn’t hard considering he won only 1 game in his first season. This year the Orange will have better personnel to run Robinson’s West Coast Offense scheme, but only return 10 starters from last year’s 4 win season. Syracuse opens with a winnable game against Washington but does not have another slam dunk until 7 weeks later against Buffalo. It might be a little early to think about using the hook on Robinson, but Syracuse was a once proud program and in the Big East today they should be going to a bowl game ever year. In their last 5 years, they have only gone to one bowl game (shared conference title in 2004 with 6 wins) and in total have 21 wins in that time span. For Robinson to keep his job, the Orange have to go bowling this winter.

4. Tyrone Willingham (Washington) - Last year 5-7; Washington Career Record 7-16. Right now Tyrone Willingham needs some luck. Last year he lost his starting quarterback in October, when it looked as if the Huskies were well on their way to a bowl game. In 2007, the team outlook does not look as bright as they will have to replace half of their starting core from last year’s 5 win team. The Huskies will be starting a 19 year old at QB with Jake Locker and have to improve on a rushing game that only averaged a little over 3 yards a carry. The defense has many holes in the secondary and linebacking core. For Washington to consider going bowling, they must win their first two games against Syracuse and Boise State because the only other games that look like winners are Stanford and Washington State. Willingham has a tough task ahead of him, and for him to keep his job safe he will need 5 or 6 wins this season. That might not seem like much, but with the schedule and what he has coming back, it will me a monumental task.

5. Ed Orgeron (Mississippi) - Last year 4-8; Mississippi Career Record 7-16. We all know that Head Coach Ed Orgeron can sell hummers, but the jury is out about his coaching. The Rebels have not gone bowling since 2003 when they had a young man by the name of Eli Manning behind center. Since Manning has left, the Rebels have won 11 games in 3 years and haven’t sniffed the postseason. There is a QB controversy right now between Seth Adams and last year’s starter Brent Schaeffer, right now Orgeron says Adams is the man. The strength of the offensive unit is the line and BenJarvus Green-Ellis is back after his 1000 yard season of 2006. Ole Miss optimistically could begin the season 2-2 before tough games against Florida and Georgia. After those two games I see wins against Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State. Orgeron will need to find two more wins to go bowling and save his job for another season. It is going to be tough.

Honorable Mentions: Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee) and Tommy Bowden (Clemson)