College football lost one of its most colorful characters and best coaches Wednesday when Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh left for the Chargers, two weeks after another big name (Nick Saban) retired from Alabama.
With both gone, Georgia’s Kirby Smart is the clear No. 1 coach in the country; he’s a two-time national champion with seven consecutive top-seven finishes.
But who’s No. 2?
Here’s our case for and against some of the best options in a surprisingly shallow pool:
Mike Norvell, Florida State
Record: 69-33 overall (31-17 at FSU)
The case for: He inherited a mess in Tallahassee and has improved the Seminoles every season, culminating with a 13-0 start, an ACC title and at least two national coach of the year awards. Memphis has only three top-25 finishes in school history; Norvell was responsible for two of them.
The case against: The 8-13 start to his FSU tenure weighs him down, even if you grade on a curve because his first season was during the pandemic. His four seasons with double-digit wins doesn’t stack up to others on the list.
Ryan Day, Ohio State
Record: 56-8
The case for: His .875 winning percentage is the best on this list, and he has never finished outside the top 10. The Buckeyes have made the College Football Playoff in three of his five full seasons, advancing to the title game once and narrowly missing it another time.
The case against: His three-game losing streak to Michigan doesn’t sit well. And as good as the Buckeyes have been, you can argue they’ve underachieved given their elite talent and resources.
Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Record: 170-43
The case for: Swinney, Smart and North Carolina’s Mack Brown are the only active coaches with national championships (Swinney has two). He hasn’t finished unranked since 2010 and has built the Tigers to where 9-4 is a disappointment.
The case against: His…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kirby-smart-college-football-best-100000773.html
Author : Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Publish date : 2024-01-26 10:00:00
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