Table of Contents
Now that we’re in the second half of the regular season, there’s no better time to look at some interesting (and not-so-interesting) coaches as we choose a coach from each of the four Power Four conferences:
IMPACT ON RECRUITMENT: Miami vs. Florida State
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CAC
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HOT: Mario Cristóbal, Miami
In his first two seasons in MiamiCristobal went a disappointing 13-13, but things have changed dramatically in Year 3 (often when they change for the better), as the Hurricanes are 7-0 and are three-touchdown favorites over their rival. State of Florida this weekend.
There have been some scares along the way, especially in the last-second showdowns against Virginia Tech and California but the Hurricanes answered the bell last weekend with a 52-45 victory in louisville. There is a very solid path for Miami to finish undefeated heading into the ACC championship game.
Through a large portal, quarterback incorporation chamber room and elite high school recruiting over the past few seasons, Cristobal has Miami among the nation’s elite.
NO: Mike Norvell, State of Florida
At that time it was a surprising loss when Georgia Tech beat Florida State in Ireland to start the season. Looking back, it might have been the Seminoles’ best performance all season.
After a year in which FSU went undefeated during the regular season only to miss out on the College Football Playoff after the star quarterback. Jordan Travis‘Untimely injury, the Seminoles have completely collapsed.
They are averaging only 15 points per game. Only 2.5 yards per carry. They have scored just 10 offensive touchdowns in seven games. They only have one win, a 14-9 rout of Cal. No ACC team has a worse record.
After two poor seasons as a starter for Norvell in Tallahassee, things seem to be back to normal at FSU: winning a lot. But Norvell is now 20-18 in ACC play during his time with the Seminoles, as they are 21-point underdogs heading into this weekend’s rivalry game.
BIG 12
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HOT: Matt Campbell, Iowa State
After a nine-win season in 2020, Iowa State He’s had some breaks in recent seasons, but this might be Campbell’s best team. The offense is firing on all cylinders and defense remains one of the team’s main strengths.
There have been some critics against Iowa and UCF in a thriller last weekend, but the Cyclones remain undefeated and ranked No. 10 nationally. Iowa State and BYU They are the only undefeated teams left in the Big 12 and the Cyclones’ schedule suggests they could be undefeated heading into a late November matchup against Kansas State.
Prior to Campbell’s arrival in Ames, Iowa State suffered nine of 10 losing seasons. The Cyclones now head into the College Football Playoff with an offense full of interesting players.
NO: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
The only Big 12 team without a conference win is Oklahoma State as the Cowboys looked better in a close loss to BYU last week, but were downright bad in blowout losses to W.V. and Kansas State in recent weeks. Oklahoma State also lost to Utah22-19, as the Utes had a freshman quarterback in isaac wilson and the offense has been so bad for them this season that OC Andy Luis He resigned over the weekend.
Gundy is desperately trying to solve a tough quarterback situation because Alan Bowman he throws too many interceptions (he has nine this season) and the coach went to Garrett Rangel last week but got hurt against BYU. The Cowboys have also struggled to stop the run, giving up 5.7 yards per carry.
Oklahoma State is good enough (and Gundy is a good enough coach) to win games against. Baylor, Arizona State, TCU, Texas Tech and Colorado left. But the Cowboys have been inconsistent, so it could also be a tough ending.
BIG TEN
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HOT: Curt Cignetti, Indiana
The Big Ten is having a pretty good run to start the season if the coach of the number one team (Oregon) isn’t the best coach. But Cignetti has been incredible, almost incredible, so far in Indiana.
With so many smart, elite additions to the transfer portal, the Hoosiers have completely revitalized their roster and Cignetti has been at a great level running a program. Indiana He not only has seven wins, but seven double-digit wins, seven blowouts that basically include a 56-7 decision against Nebraska during the weekend.
The schedule has been light and it gets tougher, but this is a program that, not counting the COVID year, had one winning season in the last 15 and two in the last 28. Cignetti has been by far the Coach of the Year, Indiana. Football is the story of the year and who would have thought it?
NO: Lincoln Riley, USC
Major Minnesota for a touchdown heading into the fourth quarter, USC lost by seven to the Golden Gophers a few weeks ago. The Trojans were up 20-6 at halftime against State of Pennsylvania only to lose, 33-30, in overtime. USC was up 21-7 on Maryland in half only to lose, 29-28, to the Terrapins last weekend.
When asked why his team can’t finish a game after the Maryland loss, Riley said, “I don’t know.”
Here’s what we do know: USC is a disappointing 3-4 and Riley is now 22-12 overall, 14-9 in conference play. In five seasons in OklahomaRiley lost a total of 10 games.
SECOND
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HOT: Mike Elko, Texas A&M
The only time the former coach Jimbo Fisher They started 6-1 in COVID 2020. Other than that, it was one disappointment after another in College Station, as the Aggies had everything to succeed but couldn’t get over the hump.
Elko’s first game in Texas A&M ended up being a failure: a 23-13 loss to Notre Dame – but since then the Aggies are undefeated and face a great matchup against L.S.U. this weekend. Kyle Field should be rocking. They beat the previous undefeated Missouri It’s a few weeks and the Aggies are giving up less than 18 points per game.
NO: Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Only in the first year of the Nick Saban it was did Alabama losing two games so quickly in one season. Last year, the Crimson Tide’s second loss didn’t come until the College Football Playoff against the eventual champion. Michigan. Saban went two undefeated seasons and another six with only one loss.
In his first season, DeBoer’s team lost to Tennessee this past weekend when Alabama – Alabama! – couldn’t run the ball. The Crimson Tide also had an unforgivable and unforgivable loss. Vanderbilt a few weeks ago and then survived against South Carolina in a stretch that Tide fans are not accustomed to.
DeBoer has been a big winner throughout his coaching career, whether in Sioux Falls, Fresno State either Washington. But the Tide has Missouri and LSU in the coming weeks and Alabama suddenly looks very beatable.
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