Coaching in the SEC is not an easy task.

The SEC is arguably the toughest conference to win in all of college football, while expectations remain high for most programs within the conference.

Nick Saban, with five SEC championships since 2007, is one of a few SEC coaches who should feel safe in his job, and a number of SEC coaches may find themselves looking for a new school after this season.

In a survey conducted by Ty Duffy with Awful Announcing, 18 media members voted three SEC coaches as the first to be fired this season.

Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin (six votes) edged UCLA’s Jim Mora (four votes) as the choice for first Power 5 head coach fired in 2017. Tennessee’s Butch Jones…earned two votes…Auburn’s Gus Malzahn…received a vote.

Coach Sumlin recently indicated he was not worried about being on the hot seat and understands the high expectations surrounding A&M. ESPNU Radio tweeted Sumlin’s comments:

Though Malzahn was not the most voted to get fired this season, he did finish tied for most likely to be on the hot seat after this season with Florida’s Jim McElwain.

The coaches most likely to be on the hot seat after 2017 were Auburn’s Gus Malzahn, Florida’s Jim McElwain with three votes each, and Nebraska’s Mike Riley with three votes each. Arkansas’ Bret Bielema received two votes.

These coaches may face a tough outlook, but a strong season in the SEC can change things in a heartbeat. There is still time for each coach to save their job, but the time is now to put it all together.