He also beat Michigan in the Alamo Bowl. Coaches have gone to different regions and have done wellNick Saban was a consummate Midwest guy before LSUbut I have a hard time seeing Muschamp and Nebraska finding their way to each other. The headlines would be juicy. He has Big Ten bona fides from his days as Ohio States DC and would bring serious credibility to a Nebraska program looking to get competitive in the conference. The Huskers have added 39 new scholarship players via the transfer portal and the 2023 recruiting class. Because Air Force is not exactly a headline-grabber in college football, some may find hiring Calhoun to be underwhelming and head-scratching. Frost studied under coaching legends, knew the Nebraska program inside and out, had two years of head coaching experience, and still failed. His culture, tireless work ethic and no-nonsense approach would appeal to Nebraska. If Nebraska were to target him, the thinking would be that they want to get a guy before he breaks out. The meltdown in Minneapolis would be legendary. The Cleveland Browns hired former Indianapolis Colts special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone last week. And if he does, would he stick around? But lets be honest, Gruden was really overrated. Then he got booted for off-the-field allegations from his time at LSU. Maybe he could be worth considering, but rest assured there would be a lot of skeptics. Like Frost, he has a national championship ring (LSU, 2019). Northwestern has played in two of the last four Big Ten Championship Games. There would be cultural nuances that would take some adjusting to from both sides, but that would quickly fall by the wayside if he started winning. 7, quickly became a disappointment and they finished 7-6 with a loss in the bowl game. Lindsay Whalen, Ben Johnson and the emotional toll of coaching A week ago, Whalen was sounding optimistic about the future while Johnson was about as low as he could get. But regardless, this is a candidate that needs to be addressed. Could Nebraska lure the former Oklahoma coach out of retirement (or semi-retirement)? First, Moorhead probably isnt leaving Akron after one year. Hes now back at San Diego State for a second stint. Make no mistake: if Nebraska were to pull this off, it would be utterly stunning. Here are some candidates to watch: Nebraska Football: Coaching Candidates to Replace Scott Frost. He may have reached his ceiling. Blackshirts? 1. He seems like a guy who prefers to build a program rather than jump to a better job at the earliest chance. His record at Washington is a somewhat less stellar 55-26, but he finished (or tied) first in the Pac-12 north division for three straight years, and won the conference championship twice. Why It Might Work: Mendenhall quietly did an amazing job at BYU when they transitioned to an FBS Independent, but how he managed to find success in the salvage project he undertook at Virginiawhich had only 3 winning seasons in 10 years before he arrivedis even more impressive. Nebraska Football: Mike Rileys Breakout Group Comments At Big Ten MediaDays, The 2007 Nebraska Football Season: Booing, Big Holes, and BrokenHopes, Flakes: Auto Play Videos Should BeBanned, Nebraska Football: Mike Rileys Remarks At Big Ten MediaDays, Shawn Eichorst: Nebraska Obliged To Do One Home Friday Night Football Game Every ThirdYear, Nebraska Baseball: Bolts Boys Knock Off #7 Vanderbilt 5-3, Nebrasketball: Iowa Hawkeyes Game Preview, Nebraska Baseball Brunch Date with #7 Vanderbilt Game Thread, Wrestling: Your Big Ten Championships Primer, Friday Flakes: Turner Gill Played Some Shortstop for Nebraska and Ernest Schackleton. Aranda probably wont be coming into the Big Ten with the same level of naive arrogance, shooting off his mouth about how the conference should adjust to him. A competent athletic dept. These are the coaches with far more pros than cons, generally speaking, who the majority of fans would probably be on board with, and other than that its exactly what it says on the tinmay generate excitement. Craig Bohl, head coach, Wyoming. Creighton has taken his programs as far as they realistically could go, so he could be worth a look. He would have to go a long way to earn the trust of the players, fans, and boosters. Now he doesnt seem to have the ambition to go after a big job with big expectations. For this list Im mostly focusing on guys with at least some head coaching experiencemany current, some former. According to one report, a former FBS head coach and long-time defensive coordinator will be joining the Tigers for the 2023 season. Patterson's skills were on display Saturday as he teamed with Longhorns defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski to limit Alabama to its fewest points in a true road game since 2017. Closing Comment: Ive heard his name mentioned a bunch, but I just dont see him leaving Kansas two years in, barring a stunning breakthrough. Creighton is 53. Like Venables at Clemson, Leonhard has to be figuring he has a better job right now. A former Husker (who youve probably heard of), Bohl was the head coach at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State from 2003 to 2013. Nebraska football fired head coach Scott Frost following their difficult start to the 2022 season. Closing Comment: Mullen isnt coaching anywhere right now, so hed be available. How would the fan base react? Hes the former head coach of the Florida Gators and, before that, the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This is another Ohio guy who likes being close to that area. I do like the potential if he were to bring his Florida recruiting cache and mix in his Stanford-Harbaugh style from his early coaching career. Could Nebraska win a bidding war? Why It Might Work: He's got an impressive record, and to have the country talking about Coastal Carolina when most people have never even heard of them is quite an accomplishment. And yet he says he's not done coaching. Meyer didn't even make it through a full season in 2021 with the Jags. His unique motion-heavy style is sometimes difficult for quarterbacks to grasp, and there were times, as with all OCs, where the play-calling was suspect. Hes currently "coaching" the Dallas/Arlington Renegades in the XFL, a relatively low-profile job. He is obsessed with winning and is known for relentless coaching, sometimes to unhealthy levels. The Gophers have no business being this good, and it is still mind-boggling how Fleck fell into their lap. No, we need more. Closing Comment: I was big on Charlie Strong and thought hed kick butt at Texas. It took some convincing to get Kentuckys athletic dept. He also would not be completely new to the Big Ten and might be more prepared in his second go-round. Why It Might Not: It looks a lot like Mike Riley, doesnt it? Why It Might Not: There are so many reasons. Frost is a Husker legend who would surely be a popular hire with Nebraskas loyal fan base. Another former Big Ten head coach, Hoke ran Michigan with mixed results. As an alumnus in the coaching field, he may have the highest possible pedigree, and candidates like this simply dont grow on trees. Georgia Southern's Clay Helton was the first coach fired last season at USC. Its interesting that he got that job, given his previous spot was as Arkansass RB coach, when they went 4-20 in the Chad Morris era. An understated, under-the-radar coach who seems to do more with less? Weve seen him be an aggressive recruiter and theres no reason to think that would not continue if he were the head coach. Iowa States 2021 season, where they started ranked No. Hes a household name and hes crazy. He regularly punches above his weight and has out-schemed and out-coached Nebraska on multiple occasions. Twice since 2018 he has won 10 games, perhaps prompting his angry comeback recently when John Calipari suggested Kentucky is far more focused on basketball success. At 63 with not much upside he is unlikely to be in high demand. Why It Might Work: Campbell is 42 with a record of 77-49 as a head coach, as of this writing. Why It Might Not: Well, for starters, hes in his late sixties. This isnt a Harbaugh-and-49ers situation, where the coach and ownership are on rocky terms. Nothing worked to the point Georgia Southern sealed the deal Saturday night by gaining 642 yards in hallowed Memorial Stadium where Heisman Trophy winners and national champions used to dwell. Once considered a paltry candidate after floundering to 6-7 as Ohio States interim head coach in 2011, Fickell has since proven to have massive coaching chops by quietly building Cincinnati into one of the G5s powerhouses and crashing the CFP as the first non-Power Five program to do so. Im sure youve heard of him. Is he waiting for Ryan Day to leave Ohio State? Hes a Husker and currently serving as interim coach. So it seems like hes got the head coaching chops, and his coordinator experience at LSU and Wisconsin make him very familiar with how big programs operate. Hes had other stops including LSU and is now the OC for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Air Force has been up and down but theyre generally solid. The bottom is "Could Be Interesting." Hes certainly a good coach, but is he elite? Nebraska Book Co. in Lincoln shutting down; 114 to lose jobs; In a van outside OUs Lloyd Noble Center, Doc Sadler lives out another season in 45 years of It would be like bringing in a far less successful Dabo Swinney. Putting aside the obvious fact that Nebraska can do worse (and typically has), Bob Stoops would bring instant credibility to the program despite his age. And hes bred for the South. Hiring him would have the obvious potential of failing spectacularly. Bill O'Brien, Alabama offensive coordinator: "Obie" already has Big Ten experience as the first Penn State coach in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Hes done a decent head coaching job at two different programs with limited resources, and hes turning 51 in December. Hes been under the big lights of a major college football program, and may be looking for another chance to be on that kind of stage again. Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Why It Might Not: At 64, Bohl is definitely on the tail end of his coaching career, and it might be asking a lot for the guy to completely rebuild his alma mater into something respectable. He did the obligatory rehab-at-Alabama thing. Closing Comment: Jason Candles not a big name and maybe feels content flying under the radar in college football. Who should replace Scott Frost at Nebraska? And even with great recruiting operations already established at Ohio State, he somehow managed to take it to another level. How could it not? Closing Comment: Nebraska would certainly tell everyone where they stand in the Big Ten pecking order by poaching the dynamic head coach of a division rival, who also happens to be one of the best recruiters in the conference. This guy has been around. Hes probably done coaching and no one is really looking at him. Why It Might Not: Kentucky demonstrated tremendous patience through his early years developing the program, when his record was 12-24 (4-20 in conference) after 3 seasons. Closing Comment: He seems due for a second stint as a head coach, and hes as good as any top coordinator candidate. Why It Might Work: Theres no doubt in Bohls ability to coach and win. The former was a perennial bottom feeder which he transformed into a conference champion, and the latter was reeling from the Art Briles scandal. It could be possible for him to employ a similar turnaround at Nebraska. Why It Might Work: Leipold is certainly a good coach. Bring him in, allow him to restore some semblance of competitiveness, and then when he retires (in 5 to 7 years), go after the elite guy. Plus, he discovered Josh Allen. Creightons a lot younger but it might be tough to shake off the similarities. Buy Colts Tickets. Entz could be riding on the coattails of North Dakota State, which finds it rare to not win the FCS national title. It might be worth going after him before another program can. Why It Might Work: A lot of people attribute Tom Osbornes success to his degrees in educational psychology. Why It Might Work: Taggart did well at a place with low expectations. Closing Comment: Theres a lot to like with Matt Canada when you look under the surface. Hes not wowing you unless you live in Ypsilanti. WebA Day in the Life of an Account Analyst Intern. If Im being honest I cant see Calhoun leaving his alma mater, but if Nebraska wants to do something different and go for a triple-option head coach, hes the next best choice after Jeff Monken. He has coached both a Heisman Trophy winner (Bryce Young) and the G.O.A.T. These are guys who might be a bit of a longshot fit-wise, or who have some issues, or would take a bit more convincing to get people on board. He may have bitten off more than he could chew with the FSU job, but he was also succeeding Jimbo Fisher, one of the programs most successful coaches. Nebraska Book Co. in Lincoln shutting down; 114 to lose jobs; In a van outside OUs Lloyd Noble Center, Doc Sadler lives out another season in 45 years of coaching Taylor is a young coach who caught fire in one season (sound familiar? Experience in training, coaching, and/or mentoring experience. This seems like a Southern-oriented guy. Monken is the current head coach at Army, a notoriously difficult place to recruit D-1 competitive athletes. He could bring that recipe to Nebraska, which would afford him the necessary resources. If youre going for the veteran guy that no one else is looking at, this is a low-key option that has the potential of working out big time. How committed would he be to staying at Nebraska long term if things started to work out? He has steadily turned NC State, one of the ACCs most lowly also-rans, into an ascending program. It would all be judged on his staff. How would he jive culturally? But as caveats go, thats fairly small. He struggled (to put it mildly) to develop a quarterback. A 54-22 record is solidly in the plus category, and he went 5-0 in bowl games as a head coach. Nebraska is not the same quality of job it used to be. With the timing of the firing being almost all about recruiting -- Nebraska is swallowing $15 million to fire Frost before Oct. 1, when the buyout dropped to $7.5 million -- Joseph would be able to pick up where Frost left off on the trail. Bohl is a Lincoln native, played his college ball at Nebraska and also spent time with the Cornhuskers as an assistant from Although Mullen may have gotten fired in a profession with brutal expectations, there may have been problems underneath the surface. He is .500 in bowl games and has an overall record of 135-81, marking a solid resume for any head coach. With little more than a single impressive season, there are reasons for skepticism. The coaching carousel is always fun. Bringing that energy to Lincoln could make the Huskers a very dangerous program. He is still a huge name that will be brought up with every vacancy at a major college football program. Hed be an obvious bridge coach who would have to do a lot to win over the skeptics. Previously he was a coordinator at Oklahoma, where he also did well. Why It Might Work: Strong was a top candidate at Texas for a reason. By the time it got resolved, it was Thursday before the Oklahoma game. Why It Might Not: Air Force is his alma mater and thats a big hurdle when hes doing well there. The break from Virginia was equally confusing, and Mendenhall gave the now-typical "spend time with family" line as the reason. A program looking for energy could really benefit from that. So Ive compiled an exhaustive list below of virtually every coaching candidate I think Nebraska could pursue. Before that he was Notre Dames offensive coordinator, and before that he was the head coach at Grand Valley State and won multiple Division II national championships, posting a record of 74-7. Known for building Temple and Baylor into double-digit win teams despite difficult circumstances, Rhule is now trying to do it in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. He was Ohio States stellar OC on their national championship team in 2014. But they also end there. His next gig has to be the absolute right fit. Why It Might Not: Setting aside the baggage that Malzahn allegedly would bring with a reportedly outspoken wife who creates drama, this guy seems entrenched in the deep South. A steady decline in play resulted in losses piling up and he got the boot. Hes nuts. Yes, the SEC is cutthroat, but youd think a guy with Moorheads acumen would be able to weather it. Seems entrenched in Texas. Less what? He had an outstanding first season, going 11-2 with a BCS bowl victory. While his teams arent on Clemsons level in terms of talent, they are always competitive. Why It Might Work: Petersens record at Boise State was 92-12. If Trev Alberts were to poach him from Lawrence, Leipold would suddenly be under a lot more pressure. Why It Might Not: Assuming he actually took the jobwould he really leave the NFL?Nebraska might be wary of doing a second take of the "former Husker to save program" thing immediately following the Scott Frost debacle, and the last time Nebraska hired an NFL head coach who had nearly won a Super Bowl, it was Bill Callahan. So why isnt he coaching in Gainesville? So without further ado, lets get into it. Chadwell racked up numerous Coach of the Year Honors for the job he's done recently. Nebraska football has received three crystal balls total for Raiola, but Wiltfong, the lead expert for 247 sports, still has his crystal ball on Georgia. And if that were to happen, Nebraska wouldnt be the only program interested. Thanks to his time as an assistant at Navy and Paul Johnsons Georgia Tech, he is also one of the most well-versed coaches in the triple-optionone of the toughest schemes to prepare for. The program was plagued by the scandal involving Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky, most big-time recruits and players jumped ship, and OBrien took the job with no previous head coaching experience and under the auspices of a two-year bowl ban. Husker message boards and Facebook groups are littered with That kind of price tag in hindsight is laughable. There were a number of missteps, including a radical change in offensive philosophy and a lack of attention to the offensive line, which fell apart in a hurry. If nothing else, Kliemans teams have been solid and that would be a huge upgrade to the shoddy job Scott Frost has done. March 3, 2023 7:00 am ET. Receivers coach Mickey Joseph will be the interim coach for the Huskers. (Tom Brady). On the other hand, theres a case to be made that maybe Nebraska should go that way. In addition, while his teams have done well overall, there are times when his ability as a play-caller has been costly. He was doing well at Arizona until off-the-field allegations made them show him the door. Hes Miami of Ohios head coach, where hes been since 2014. If youre looking for consistency, this might not be the best choice. If you wanted to replicate Wisconsin at Nebraska, you couldnt do much better than this guy. Why It Might Work: OBriens two years at Penn State were really good given the circumstances that he walked into. Well, it may surprise you to learn that Matt Entz has a Masters Degree in Education from Wayne State College in Nebraska. After the scandal that forced Jim Tressel to leave Columbus, Meyer moved in and promptly started kicking the entire Big Tens ass. Matt Campbell (Iowa State) Dave Clawson (Wake Forest) Chris Kliemen (Kansas State) Jonathan Smith (Oregon State) Lance Liepold (Kansas) PJ Fleck Assuming he agreed to come to Lincoln, how would he get on? 171d Adam Rittenberg. Hes never even interviewed for a head coaching job in college. His final year at Texas saw a massive recruiting drop, including reports that his own players were actively sabotaging visits. Oh, and his current OC is Tim Beck. Strong would have to go a long way to prove that hes viable as head-coaching material for a big program. Is this a championship-caliber coach? Dont sleep on his football knowledge, either. Husker fans might be wary because Stoops appears to be a blend of Mike Riley and Bo Pelini, but somehow hes made it work in Lexington. Why It Might Not: NC State still hasnt had the type of special season you would expect from someone who could be a great head coach. Another guy who had a surprising breakout 12-win season in year two as a head coach, Traylor and UTSA had a magical year in 2021. Maybe hes learned a lot and would want to take a crack at it again, in the Big Ten? Here is a look at five early candidates for the vacant Nebraska head coaching job. His Big Ten familiarity is also a plus. They'd be back. He is easily the best head coach on the market, from a purely football perspective. And it begs the question, why has no one given him a serious look before now? The former head coach of Penn State and the Houston Texans is now enrolled in Nick Sabans rehabilitation program as an assistant coach for the Crimson Tide. Prior to this development, insiders were saying Campbell was interested in only two jobs: Ohio State and Notre Dame. He had an up-and-down career thats been mostly down, at least at the head coaching level. But his two jobs at Texas and South Florida were massive failures. KSU hasnt had a breakthrough season yet. Why It Might Not: Hokes failure at Michigan was widely publicized, and though he generally seemed to run a tight ship, theres been a fair amount of off-the-field controversy, which he is also dealing with now at San Diego State. He went 11-2 at Army in 2018. He retired suddenly after a disappointing 8-5 record in 2019 and hasnt sought any coaching opportunities since. Closing Comment: Its a risk. Despite some down years, hes done exceptionally well at Air Force and they have no desire to see him leave. Taking on the Nebraska job would place him squarely in the limelight. If he were to hire a competent DC and win, the rest may be worth overlooking. He then went on to win two national championships at Florida. But more important than nostalgia is how disciplined his teams are. Nebraska coaching candidates to replace Scott Frost, Report: Big 12 in recent contact with Pac-12 schools, Rules committee proposes change to speed up games, Saban unhappy over proposed permanent rivals, USC coach Lincoln Riley builds the perfect QB. Closing Comment: So Im skeptical about this. To no ones surprise, hes doing well as Alabama OC and can now boast having coached a Heisman-trophy winner. That would give him a serious advantage in recruits living rooms, if he can also win games. He was a bad fit in Austin, but his messaging was sound and seems like the perfect thing Big Ten programs would want. Hes still fairly young at 46. The Redhawks were a complete tire fire when he took over, and hes made them relatively competitive in the MAC, which always seems like auditioning grounds for Big Ten jobs. He appears more ready for a jump to a mid-major. Curriculum development and delivery of adult education courses. (Consider this: How many guys with statues on campus are firedduring the season?) There are some reports he prefers the job he has now and is settling in. He also lacks significant regional ties and seems more geared for the Pacific Northwest and Utah-Colorado areas. Nebraska has fired Mike Riley after three seasons with the program. Why It Might Work: Like Jeff Monken, Calhoun is 55 and is an established head coach well-versed in the triple-optionwhich, again, is the most difficult scheme to prepare for. Seven Nebraska coaching candidates to replace Mike Riley. Why It Might Work: Arandas Bears came out of nowhere to win the Big 12 in 2021 and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. All Rights Reserved. Hes got a national championship ring as a head coach. But that kind of long term thinking and recalibration of expectations seems very unlikely in todays trigger-happy arms race of college football. Closing Comment: Its a think-outside-the-box hire like Monken if it happens. Closing Comment: As far as fall-back options go, this isnt bad. Hes coached as an assistant at Louisville, Minnesota, Georgia, Colorado, and is now Michigan States OC, where hes done well. And dont forget, hes built a program from scratch. Hes a Penn State grad with strong Midwest recruiting ties, and was considered for the job in State College. Why It Might Not: No Nebraska or Big Ten ties. Gruden hasnt even sniffed, let alone showed interest, in a college head coaching job in his entire career, but that wont stop people from pounding the table for him. And to be fair, though there is potential, his head coaching tenures with both the Nittany Lions and the Texans were not exactly spectacular. Meanwhile, a once-proud program suffers. That fact is both a surprising and depressing trend. Could it be interesting? Account Analyst Interns work in our Revenue Accounting Operations group in Atlanta, GA and are responsible for the management of our accounts receivable. Why It Might Work: It would be something of a coup to nab one of the hottest commodities in coaching right now. Its highly unlikely anyone else was considered. Closing Comment: Like Matt Campbell, Fickell chose not to take any bigger job opportunities. Absolutely. He would be a top candidate at any program. The first is the Big Names. He does have some college experience as the Cincinnati Bearcats OC in 2016 (not too long ago), so it wouldnt be necessarily a huge adjustment for him to come back to college. He was a tough, hard-nosed coach who got his teams at Louisville to punch well above their weight and made them think they could be champions. When he was there, he managed to recruit some NFL talentnot easy to do, given the football programs history and Indianas reputation as a basketball school. He may be mercurial, but it doesnt change the fact that the job Fleck did at Western Michigan and with the once-hapless Goofers has been excellent. It's certainly more highly resourced than Iowa State, especially with the Big 12 moving down in the pecking order with the forthcoming departures of Texas and Oklahoma. Regionally, itd be a good fit. Texas snatched him up two years later, hoping for a return to greatness. I hear his wife makes a mean plate of nachos. Why It Might Work: At every stop, Creighton has left the place better than hes found it. Would he be up to it? Why It Might Work: Monkens teams practice great fundamentals and rarely if ever beat themselves, which would be a welcome change from the Scott Frost era. Closing Comment: Mark Stoops would be a solid hire. Why It Might Not: Did Campbell peak in 2020? Why It Might Not: Fit and longevity. GP has plenty left in the tank at age 62 after a bitter departure from TCU. That guy was Scott Frost. Why It Might Not: The pressure he felt at Boise was nothing compared to Washingtonwhich is not even one of college footballs biggest blue bloodsand it clearly weighed on him. That cost Meyer a three-game suspension at the beginning of the 2018 season, his last with the Buckeyes. Why It Might Not: Was Fickells rejection of MSU a signal he wants to stay put long term, or is he leery of Big Ten competition and high expectations which he knows all too well? The general thinking is if he can go to a conference championship with practically nothing at Iowa State, imagine what he could do at Nebraska. No doubt youre going to disagree with some of these. I may do a follow up article as the year goes on. Why It Might Work: Hes a Husker who happens to be an NFL head coach, almost won a Super Bowl, and hes only 39. (859) 414-6776. He didnt, but a lot of that was because he didnt have internal support. Nebraska after Scott Frost: Huskers coaching job pluses, minuses and candidates. Hes very much an old-school style coach and appears more stubborn than most. At the end of each candidate I include a Closing Comment, which is basically my personal take on what I think of the candidate. to get more serious about football, but now that they have, the results are showing. Second, Im bugged by the Mississippi State thing. Then he went to Kansas and did the same as every coach who went to Kansas after Mark Mangino. Jerry Kill: If Nebraska wants to poach a head coach from another school, Jerry Kill seems like a logical direction to go. Closing Comment: It would be interesting to see Hoke roam the sidelines in Lincoln, and he would almost certainly do a better job than Scott Frost, but there isnt much he can provide in the long term. You cant find a more aggressive, out-of-his-mind competitor beyond him other than possibly Jim Harbaugh. The next hire must hit because the hamster wheel of coaches since Osborne is worn and rusted. That changed when he brought in Tom Allen, who took over after Wilson was oustedpartly from clashing with the community, among other things. Closing Comment: Les Miles may have been interesting as a replacement to Mike Riley or Bo Pelini, but that window has long since closed. Closing Comment: Despite some Husker fans pounding the table for Chadwell, I think he more than likely ends up in the SEC or ACC. Closing Comment: Its odd that Campbell didnt make a jump to a better job after last season. As soon as Matt Rhule was fired from the Carolina -Lance Why It Might Work: Mullen was the toast of college football after what he did in Starkville, Mississippi. Why It Might Work: He has head coaching experience from his time at Indiana and is at least familiar with the challenges of running a Big Ten program. Four candidates are vying for each of the other two district seats. Why It Might Not: The USF flop is a huge concern. Cincinnati is going to the Big 12 soon. Hes never been a head coach but Johnsons acumen as an assistant makes him someone likely to get an offer soon. He seems like a solid head coach, but its hard to project him being either wildly successful or a disappointing failure. Narduzzi seems comfortable where he is and it would take a hefty offer to make him pack his bags for Lincoln. Its an exciting time, right? Some argue that he left BYU for Virginia to prove he could coach and win outside the Mormon comfort of Provo, but even at the time it felt odd. Auburn is not an easy place to win but Malzahn might be itching to get back into the SEC like Lane Kiffin before him.