Thirty-one Bowl Subdivision programs had coaching changes last season, including seven that fired their coaches before the middle of October.
Things on this year’s coaching front stayed quiet until the past two weeks. Four Power Four schools and five programs overall have since sent their coaches packing in Baylor, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Sam Houston State.
These early firings put these programs at the front of the line in what could be another frantic cycle of coaching moves. With more changes expected in the coming weeks, USA TODAY Sports ranks the current FBS openings:
1. Florida State
For now, Florida State is the best opening in the Power Four. That will change when schools in the SEC and Big Ten make coaching moves later this month.
On one hand, the Seminoles can offer nearly unmatched history, a solid recruiting base and an easier path to the 24-team playoff out of the ACC. On the other, there are serious financial issues plaguing the athletics department, the ACC is the weakest of the Power Four leagues and multiple coaches have tried and failed for a decade to deliver a winning product except for a blip before an injury to Jordan Travis knocked the Seminoles out of the CFP. Basically, this is a very good job but no longer a great one.
2. Baylor
Baylor has the financial support to be a major player in the Big 12, though it hasn’t quite embraced the open-checkbook style of roster management that has turned Texas Tech into the league’s top program. With a little more spending, Dave Aranda’s replacement might be able to build a roster that could immediately compete for the conference title and a playoff berth. The chance for a quick turnaround is one big positive for this opening. Ultimately, look for Baylor to center its search on in-state candidates who can recruit the region and bring along players from their current program.
3. Maryland
Big Ten money and the chance to get into the conference increase Maryland’s appeal. That’s because there isn’t much more there: The Terrapins are multiple steps behind the middle chunk of the Big Ten and miles behind the league’s best, and not even an established Power Four coach can be expected to manufacture an Indiana-style turnaround from the start. But money talks in college football; the athletics department has Big Ten money and Under Armour money, which combined should attract a caliber of candidate that belies the program’s recent run of pitifulness.
4. North Carolina State
Dave Doeren proved that N.C. State can be a consistent winner and ACC contender even as the end of his tenure came down to an inability to take the next step. This is one program that would’ve made multiple playoff berths under Doeren had the 24-team model been in place, however. While a stronger program overall than Maryland and in a much better place in the moment, N.C. State trails that opening because of its place in the ACC. One benefit to a midseason firing is that it gives the program a headstart in a coaching cycle that may also come to include North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest, should the Tar Heels change course with Bill Belichick while Manny Diaz and Jake Dickert leave for other Power Four jobs.
5. Sam Houston State
Before being fired late last month, second-year coach Phil Longo posted two Bowl Subdivision wins and only four single-digit losses. While Longo’s offensive scheme was a flop, Sam Houston won’t be scared away from hiring an offense-first coach who can quickly maximize a weak roster. The program’s new hire will need to be more familiar with the area and have a firmer plan for talent development and retention in one of the tougher places to win in the Group of Six.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best jobs available. Ranking the college football coaching openings
