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Top 24 jobs in college football


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The list includes factors such as location, administrative stability, support from those bosses, facilities, recruiting base, path to conference titles/playoff, sense of tradition, fervor of fan base, too much fervor from a fan base, etc.

We hope and believe we have provided an intelligent and accurate overview of the jobs in college football, from worst to best. We've also received feedback from various coaches and industry sources to help shape these rankings.

Previous rankings: The bottom of the barrel | The middle of the road

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Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY SportsWisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium is a scenic and boisterous place to watch a game.

 

[h=3]Tier 4: The Not-quites[/h]

 

Established brands in their respective leagues -- but is there a certain ceiling that will stop these programs from reaching the top shelf?

24. Wisconsin

Just a couple of months ago, this job might have been a tick or two higher. But Gary Andersen bolting for Oregon State -- the No. 50 program on this list -- shined a light on potential administrative woes in Madison. Andersen complained that assistants were not being paid market value and that an unnecessary admission standard was hampering his ability to get in even marginal academic risks. "We have no speed," Andersen told me in late November. "Our fastest players are walk-ons -- and Melvin Gordon. Thank God for Melvin Gordon." His successor, Paul Chryst, was at Wisconsin previously as an assistant, so he surely understands the pluses and minuses of being the Badgers' head man. He's not entering as blindly as Andersen, coming from Utah State, had. Could the situation be better? Probably. Is it as dire as Andersen made it seem? No, probably not. Look at the teams Wisconsin is being asked to compete against in the Big Ten West. Do Iowa or Nebraska have an inherent competitive advantage, really? Even last season, despite all the "adversity," Wisconsin still won the division. (Thank God for Melvin Gordon?)

 

 

The program has a solid reputation nationally, built up for years thanks in large part to the work of former coach and current athletic director Barry Alvarez. There were some questions about whether Alvarez's larger-than-life presence was part of the reason for Andersen's departure, but Andersen told me point-blank in November that Alvarez had been a good boss. Camp Randall Stadium is one of the better home environments in the Big Ten. Now nearly 100 years old, it has held up well; a $100 million project completed in 2005 has helped keep it modern. The coaches' and players' facilities have seen some upgrades in recent years. Last but not least: Madison is one of the better college towns in the country, so long as it's warm. If the administration proves to be a bit more flexible, understanding that it needs to keep with the times in college football, this could easily move back toward being a top-15 job.

23. Miami (Fla.)

A number of coaches, especially those in the ACC, are down on Miami. "It's a s---- job," one coach said. Well, all right then. One thing that particularly sticks out to rival coaches is a lack of atmosphere for Miami's home games. Unless the opponent is Florida State, it's a ghost town. It makes sense, of course. The Hurricanes are playing 30-60 minutes from campus, depending on traffic, and in a part of town that has little else going on. What do you expect? "The Orange Bowl was awesome," a coach told me last fall. "How they didn't do something on that site, I'll never know. They're hurting now." Upgrades are on the way for Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphin/Dolphins/Land Shark/Sun Life Stadium -- but will that really bring in new or existing Miami fans? It's something the school is going to have to address if it's serious about growing the football program and not merely leaning on the past.

 

 

But that past does mean something. The history of "the U" is something that resonates, but more with adults than recruits. Having survived the NCAA's recent investigation, Miami now must do some soul-searching if it truly intends to reinvent itself. On the bright side, there is so much talent within a 100-mile radius of campus. Coach Al Golden has signed as many as any ACC Coastal program, and yet he hasn't done a whole lot with it. Miami is not completely broken, but it's in desperate need of repairs.

 

 

22. Arkansas

Coach Bret Bielema brought along strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert from Wisconsin. It required $300,000. He recently received a raise to get to $330,000, which is in the same neighborhood as Alabama's strength coach (and more than some NFL strength and conditioning coaches, I'm told). As much as that is a statement about Herbert's importance, it also speaks to Arkansas' commitment to competing with the SEC West's big boys. Financially and energetically, the school is going to do what it takes. Reynolds Razorback Stadium has seen a number of gradual improvements in the past decade, and Arkansas completed a shiny, new 80,000-square foot facility in 2013. Bobby Petrino (2008-2011) had the Razorbacks close to Alabama and LSU in the division, but they hadn't taken the final steps as far as developing a potent defense. After some initial growing pains, Bielema's addition of defensive coordinator Robb Smith might be the linchpin in terms of ultimately closing the gap. (His salary just went from $500,000 to $750,000, by the way.) Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas are an unsung part of the country, great for raising a family for a coach. It's relatively isolated, but big industry (Wal-Mart and Tyson Foods, most notably) has brought enough population and culture that it's an area that has transformed in the past two decades. Recruits see that vitalization, too. The state has a fair share of SEC-level prospects, but the Hogs need to recruit well in Memphis and Texas -- especially Dallas -- to reach maximum potential.

 

 

21. Nebraska

This is the best job in the Big Ten West, and yet (spoiler alert) it's behind three programs from the league's other division. That speaks to the gap between the East and West, but it also suggests that there are questions about Nebraska's viability. Like Miami, time has not been kind to a program that ruled college football not all that long ago. Geographical realities have set in for a program that has to recruit nationally to remain relevant. Bo Pelini was fired in November 2014 for his fiery personality as much as his win-loss record, but what happens if a nice guy -- hi, Mike Riley -- doesn't win more than Pelini did? Does he stay? What's the standard now at Nebraska? It isn't immediately clear, and it's why this job is not nearly as appealing as it would have been a little more than a decade ago.

 

 

Good side: The division is easily winnable. Then again, just because you win the Big Ten West doesn't mean you're among the sport's elite. It doesn't somehow guarantee that Nebraska (or Iowa or Wisconsin) will be automatically be a playoff player. The fan base is strong. The facilities are excellent. The pockets, especially for recruiting, are as deep as anywhere in the league. This was a huge step up for Riley, make no mistake there.

 

 

20. Michigan State

Spartans fans understandably didn't like the idea that their team's window of high-end success might be closing (or is closed), now that Urban Meyer-led Ohio State is title-ready and Michigan has hired Jim Harbaugh to kick-start that beleaguered-but-promising program. Even if Michigan State winds up being the third-best team in the division, it's not as if it should close its doors. It has the potential to be a perennial top-15 team that can, every few years, compete for a Rose Bowl and/or playoff berth. If the job were open tomorrow, the new coach would be wise to follow Mark Dantonio's lead on a recruiting and development model. The Spartans do well in-state, but Michigan and Ohio State do, too, and there are only so many Michiganders to go around. So the Michigan State staff has to get into Texas, Arizona and other parts of the country, and then it has to be solid developers of the raw materials.

 

 

The school's facilities are above average, but do not have a particular "wow" factor. An aging Spartan Stadium has seen updates in recent years, including a $24.5 million project to redo the north end zone, which was finished prior to last season. In reality, Dantonio's track record of putting players in the NFL has been a bigger selling point to recruits than the facilities. If the job were open, could a successor do that as well as Dantonio and his staff have? That's up for debate. This is a reminder that Nick Saban's conference record at Michigan State was 23-16-1.

 

 

19. South Carolina

Coach Steve Spurrier will rightly be praised for taking this historically mediocre program to heights it had never experienced, but do not forget former AD Eric Hyman in the discussion. After Hyman took over, he and his department provided order and a vision -- helping get the school's finances in order and its facility plans back on track -- just as Spurrier and his staff were capitalizing on several solid years of in-state recruiting. When Hyman left for Texas A&M and baseball coach Ray Tanner shifted into the AD's chair, it was a far better situation that he inherited. The challenge now is to continue to grow -- and the coaching choice after Spurrier will be a huge, huge part of that challenge. It will be a defining moment for Tanner, and that defining moment is drawing nearer.

 

 

That new coach will arrive to see a completely revitalized area around Williams-Brice Stadium, a profound upgrade over the dusty industrial area that preceded what is now a blossoming fan experience. Also, a new indoor facility and practice fields are on the way as a part of the periphery development plan. Spurrier and Hyman made repairs and realized some of the program's potential. Can Tanner and the next coach take additional steps? That goes back to the consistency of in-state talent as much as anything. Atlanta and Florida have been good to the Gamecocks, but they were at their best when the state's high schools were producing their next stars.

 

 


Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY SportsPenn State has been mired in controversy in recent years but remains one of the sport's traditional powers.

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[h=3]Tier 3: The Comebacks[/h]

 

Traditional powers that are working to resurface, or get over a hump.

17. (tie) Penn State

However far this job plummeted amid the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal and fallout, it's now on the way back up. But it has been a long road, both in terms of public perception and roster construction (resulting from the NCAA-mandated scholarship reductions). Bill O'Brien's work as coach to guide Penn State through the darkest hours was commendable, and James Franklin's enthusiasm has and will go a long way in continuing to shift and build momentum. So if the job were open tomorrow, the footing would be much firmer than a year ago -- and certainly than it was a year before that. "There were only a handful of guys who would have gone there [just after the scandal]," a Power 5 coordinator said, pointing out that the job went to an NFL assistant instead of someone from the college level. "Now, who wouldn't want it? The worst is behind them, you'd have to think, right?"

 

 

The state has always been strong for recruiting, and Joe Paterno made Penn State a national name. The program still resonates with high school coaches and players across the country; it was never irreconcilably damaged. And Franklin's attitude definitely helps to assuage whatever ill feelings it does encounter. The upgrades to Beaver Stadium, now about a decade old, still make it one of the country's finer venues. Fan support never waned throughout the recent trials. The Lasch football building is due for upgrades, and the school has looked into the possibility of updating it in the near future. State College is seemingly tucked away from the rest of the state, but it's a relatively short ride to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and even New York. It's also one of the top college towns in the country. Penn State is moving back toward being a top-15 job. It's again a destination job. In reality, the depth of the Big Ten East might be the thing that holds it back the most.

 

 

17. (tie) UCLA

A visit to the website for UCLA's soon-to-be-built football facility is immediately interrupted by a pop-up video featuring coach Jim Mora. He opens it by talking about collective commitment. "It's players, it's coaches, it's administrators, it's the fan base ... all pursuing the highest reward in college football, and that's a national championship," Mora says. "It's important that the nation see UCLA is determined to be a national player, every year." He then says the Wasserman Football Center, a $50 million project set to break ground this fall, is the key to relevance and prominence. On a meta level, he's right. Coaches have long wondered just how committed UCLA's administration has been to football success. While it has ostensibly improved in recent years, this sort of venture -- a beautiful, sparkly football headquarters to rival that of others in the Pac-12 -- is precisely a sign that UCLA is in fact serious about its football.

 

 

Like Miami, UCLA also has to deal with the fact that its stadium is 30-60 minutes from campus. Unlike Miami, UCLA plays at the Rose Bowl, what legitimately might be the most breathtaking sporting venue in America. If you've ever been to the UCLA campus, you know that an on-campus stadium -- or even a structure nearer to it -- will never, ever be an option because of the cost of land and how the campus is pinned in by neighborhoods and hills. Note, however, that those neighborhoods and hills are very, very nice. The Bruins are in a far more tony part of L.A. than their rivals. There's a lot to offer, and Mora's recent recruiting prowess backs that up. UCLA has added a full class of ESPN 300 prospects -- 25 of them -- in the past three years. With a new level of commitment, as is being demonstrated, UCLA could make a strong top-10 push in the coming years.

 

 

16. Clemson

There is no way around the fact that Clemson has underachieved in the past 10 to 20 years, especially in the time that Florida State wobbled. It failed to take full advantage of the Bobby Bowden transition years, and now the Seminoles are again rolling. But make no mistake that coaches would line up to take this job if it were open, because the support and resources are there to be competitive at the highest level.

Put it this way: Clemson has an SEC mentality and SEC facilities -- but it plays an ACC schedule. And in the ACC, there's FSU, a gap to Clemson at No. 2 -- and then a gap to the rest of the league. Going back to the conversation about South Carolina leaning hard on in-state talent for high-end success, it is not as necessary for Clemson. The Tigers have had a better presence in Florida for years, and they fare well in Atlanta, too. Dabo Swinney and former coach Tommy Bowden have worn their faith on their sleeves. They've sold recruits on Clemson being an extension of their own family. The school has also shown that it has deep pockets for assistant coaches' salaries. The fact that it shelled out $1 million-plus to hire and keep former offensive coordinator Chad Morris was eye-opening to coaches.

 

 

The city is a quaint, clean college town with nearby mountains and lakes, boosts for both leisure and scenery. Fan support is fervent. The tailgate scene rivals any in the SEC, or anywhere in the country. Memorial Stadium was beginning to show its age, but the WestZone project about a decade ago was a fountain of youth. Additional phases are in the works to continue upgrading that end of the stadium. The school also completed an indoor facility in 2012. As far as a total setup for success, there isn't a whole lot more a coach could ask for than what Clemson currently has.

 

 

15. Tennessee

After a putrid, embarrassing decade, characterized by instability from the president's office on down, Tennessee appears to again be moving in the right direction. The school is on its sixth president since 1999, but at least Joe DiPietro has been in office for four years (and counting). To a lesser extent, the athletic director and football coaching positions had become a turnstile. After another rocky transition for Rocky Top, AD Dave Hart and coach Butch Jones seem to finally have everything steadied. Jones was not Hart's first choice, but he has exceeded expectation as a program- and morale-builder. His consistent air of positivity was absolutely what the moribund program needed. Related: The on-field product is trending upward. Jones and his staff just completed their second consecutive top-five recruiting class, no small feat for a program that cannot rely on in-state talent.

 

 

So a coach walking in the door tomorrow would be greeted with a lot sunnier forecast than what met Jones. Additionally, the school's facilities are literally unrecognizable from a decade ago. A much-needed revamp of dilapidated Neyland Stadium kick-started a push that has since included an overhaul of the team's practice and training facilities, offices and meeting rooms. Peyton Manning's lounge, which houses memorabilia and overlooks the practice fields, just might be the coolest hangout in college football. A new residence hall geared for athletes is on the way, as well. Everything is again set up for success. Can Tennessee again climb toward the top 10? And if it reaches that point, can it stay? Or is it just too difficult for a program that has to recruit nationally?

 

 


{C} Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY SportsMichigan's tradition and passionate fan base has it among the nation's elite -- and likely on the rise.

{C} [h=3]Tier 2: The Next-Best[/h] Not quite elite, but not far from it. In many cases, programs that could creep toward -- or inside -- the top five in the future.

 

 

14. Michigan

There are a lot of parallels that can be drawn between the past decade for Michigan and the previous entry, Tennessee. They both ousted successful veteran coaches -- national-championship-winning coaches -- only to wander in the wilderness for years and contemplate how true the grass-is-greener adage really is. As we said, Tennessee is in the midst of a renaissance led by Jones. Michigan is only beginning its resurgence phase, but the hire of Jim Harbaugh provided a sizable spark. NFL types never really thought Harbaugh would spurn pro ball and return to his alma mater. And yet here he is, wearing a goofy grin and a block "M" ballcap. Harbaugh hasn't even coached a game at the Big House yet, and it can be said with some certainty that the NFL is the biggest threat to Michigan's long-term success. If he gets the itch to again chase an elusive Super Bowl ring, the Wolverines could be left in the lurch. But let's say he does leave in two, three, four years. How much can he do in the interim to prop up the injured brand? How much better will the job be?

 

 

All that can be done at this point is speculate, but he has momentum. He has been a successful coach wherever he has been. There's arguably unprecedented administrative support, as evidenced by how aggressively and intently Michigan pursued Harbaugh. The academic side will always have a football aversion, but it does not appear prohibitive in any way to success. Construction will continue to elevate Michigan's facilities, which were lavishly praised just last week by Jameis Winston after the Heisman winner worked out there. Winston also said he wishes he could have played for Harbaugh. Imagining the new coach gets a few Winston-level talents along the way, Harbaugh will assuredly leave Michigan in a far better place than he found it.

 

 

13. Auburn

When you think about it, Auburn partly has Alabama to thank for its recent success, including the 2010 national title. With Nick Saban's program taking off, Auburn had to become aggressive to close an ever-widening gap. (There are some Ohio State-Michigan parallels there.) Saban forced Auburn to get better, or get left behind. The rivalry is again competitive, including in the recruiting world. The Tide signed a ridiculous 18 ESPN 300 prospects in the 2015 class; Auburn signed 12, including the nation's No. 1 overall recruit, Tampa-based DE Byron Cowart. The addition of Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator played a decided role in the Tigers' strong signing-day close.

 

 

Auburn's level of commitment was illustrated when it hired Muschamp in December, making him the highest-paid coordinator in the country. The facilities, in total, are among the best in the SEC. Jordan-Hare Stadium has aged relatively well, but Auburn is reportedly exploring the idea of adding more club-level seating and updating the locker room. The football building up the street still has a fresh feel to it, and the adjacent indoor facility was completed in 2013. As evidenced by the 2010 hardware and the 2013 run to the BCS title game, Auburn is well equipped to compete for championships -- even with Saban still in the picture. A coach would jump at this job if it opened tomorrow.

 

 

11. (tie) Oregon

Oregon has not hired a head coach from outside the program since Rich Brooks in 1977, so if the job were open tomorrow the Ducks would likely just promote again. But if that weren't an option, there would be a line of coaches from campus to I-5. Brooks and Mike Bellotti elevated Oregon to contender status, and Chip Kelly and Mark Helfrich have continued the program's ascent. Coaches have long viewed Autzen Stadium as one of the tougher places in the country to play. A $90 million renovation in 2002, on Bellotti's watch, elevated the venue to be the best in the Pac-12.

In 2013, the school finished a $68 million complex that is second to none in college football. From the weight room to the coaches' offices to a full-service barber shop, they didn't miss a thing. The coaches and administrators deserve a lot of credit for their work, but Nike money has driven the program higher and higher. No one else has that sort of a sponsor. The Ducks have never been elite-level recruiters, but they've found fits for their system. That's primarily been speed, and on both sides of the ball. The recent staffs have been tremendous in identifying and signing freakish athletes who develop into sound players. A new coach would be silly to change that philosophy.

With Nike's involvement, Oregon has remained on the cutting edge of equipment and uniforms. More than anything, it's the brand's synonymous association with the Ducks that have the program tracking toward the top 10. Despite its momentum, why isn't Oregon higher? Some skepticism still remains because it's the most recent program to make a leap toward being elite. Really, it needs a national title to shed that scrutiny and establish its staying power. Until then, it's just hanging out on the second shelf.

 

 

11. (tie) Texas A&M

Coaches acknowledge that a good job got better when A&M moved to the SEC. "To have an SEC school in Texas," one said, "that's huge." You've likely noticed that construction projects have been thematic throughout this exercise -- but you have not seen one to the extent of Texas A&M's two-year, $450 million makeover of Kyle Field. The Home of the 12th Man needed a remodel; it's getting a rebirth. The team's facility, connected to the south end of the stadium, is also in the process of being redone. In fact, the coaches are currently displaced from their offices while they're getting a much-needed face lift. When the extensive project was announced, coach Kevin Sumlin was quick to say that $125 million of the funds needed was privately raised in a single week. So there is eagerness and commitment from A&M's administration and its benefactors. That was also evident last year when Sumlin, amid overtures from USC and the NFL, had his salary bumped to $5 million a year.

 

 

A coach walking in the door tomorrow would endure the remainder of the construction project, but it will mostly be complete by the start of this fall. And when it's done, it's going to move Kyle Field toward the very best venues in the sport. It already had fire and energy, but it will soon have visual appeal, as well. College Station is kind of stuck out in the middle of nowhere, but it's growing rapidly and it's still only an hour or two from Austin and Houston. Generally, location isn't something that is preventing recruits from going to A&M. And the Aggies are doing well in that area, having signed 31 ESPN 300 prospects in the past three classes. You can win with that kind of talent, even in the SEC West.

 

 

10. Notre Dame

One panelist had Notre Dame rated sixth while three voters had the Irish just outside the top 10. But we all agreed that one of the sport's more storied brands still had a spot among the elite. Coaches do, too, for the most part. One did wonder whether the academic standard could make it a more complicated job than others in the top tier. But most coaches figured the strong, time-tested name would offset any admissions concerns. The Irish have as much of a national image as any program. "They can still recruit with anyone," one Power 5 coach said. Notre Dame is also working to keep up from a facilities standpoint. Nearly on A&M's level, historic Notre Dame Stadium is in the middle of a $400 million renovation. The project, called Campus Crossroads, also involves adhering academic buildings to the stadium's periphery. Think there's a message being sent there? The stadium remodel speaks to renewed commitment to football, but the administration is making sure the public knows classroom work is still a daily priority. This is a great, career-making sort of job -- but those close to coach Brian Kelly took note how worn down he seemed by the end of last season. There's a lot that goes into keeping Notre Dame running at a high level. Most coaches would agree it's well worth it.

 

 

9. Oklahoma

Some Sooners fans are getting impatient with longtime coach Bob Stoops, but that's because he spoiled them by winning a national in his second season. At this point, however, it's been five years since OU's last outright Big 12 title. The winners since then: Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Baylor and TCU. No Oklahoma, no Texas. Stoops has continued to win 10 or 11 games a season, but perhaps new blood would hit "reset" on the program's stalled momentum. And if a new coach took over tomorrow, he'd find a talent- and resource-rich environment, a program primed to again win big. Despite underachieving seasons in 2011 and 2014, Oklahoma is far from broken. The in-state crop is decent, but recruiting in Texas is and always will be the barometer for the program's success. If it dips, so do the Sooners. But coaches see no discernible reason why Oklahoma wouldn't remain consistently strong in Texas. OU's stadium and facilities are above average, certainly among the best in the Big 12, but the school isn't standing pat while everyone else in the region upgrades. The board last summer approved a $350 million to $400 million plan that includes enhancing the football complex and closing in the stadium's south end zone. The John Blake dark ages aren't returning anytime soon, but someone could do more at Oklahoma than Stoops is presently. Even Stoops' friends have hinted that that's true.

 

 

8. Georgia

With Atlanta recruiting talent at your disposal, some wonder why coach Mark Richt can't turn Georgia into a juggernaut, why a perennial contender isn't a regular champion. Is Richt underachieving -- or, maybe, is his employer failing him in certain areas? The more intently you listen, the more coaches have questions about administrative support at UGA. First, it was the preemptive suspension of former Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley. At least one coach wondered why Gurley wasn't allowed to continue playing during the NCAA's investigation, as others have been when accused of similar offenses -- or for worse things than taking money for autographs. Then it was Georgia's inability to give longtime offensive coordinator Mike Bobo a raise to keep him from leaving for Colorado State. The latter, those close to the program said, really chapped Richt. The tension escalated so much that some familiar with the situation wondered if the bowl would be the last game for either Richt or AD Greg McGarity.

 

 

As it turned out, the clobbering of Louisville led to a lot of good mojo. In the days following the win, McGarity announced raises and extensions for Richt and others. Crisis averted. But if Georgia had lost, what would have happened? It all makes you consider that it might not be as simple for a UGA coach as: "Hey, why don't you just go get a bunch of studs from Atlanta and win some titles?" College football is an increasingly complicated business with a lot of political moving parts. All that said, Georgia is still one heck of a job. Athens is the top-notch college town. Sanford Stadium is a terrific venue, and the school's practice and training facilities have seen upgrades. The Bulldogs are even finally getting an indoor facility, it seems. Finding a location had long been an issue, but school officials -- again intentionally showing more commitment -- are working through it.

 

 

7. Florida State

Two or three coaches thought we had FSU way too low. One thought it deserved to be in the top three, if not No. 1. He thought it was well on the way to replacing Alabama as the dynasty du jour in the sport. "With the way you can recruit there, it's the best job in the country," he said. To his point, the Seminoles have had 36 ESPN 300 recruits in the past three classes -- and 26 of them were Floridians. With Florida struggling, FSU has again become the "it" school in the state. So what held it back from a higher ranking in our poll? It was likely the sense from coaches that its facilities and assistants' pay appeared to be lagging. That's an evolving perception, however. There's a $250 million plan on the books to update Doak Campbell Stadium between now and 2018. That includes the outdated-looking offices and training areas in the south end zone of the stadium. Also, an indoor facility adjacent to Doak Campbell was completed in 2013. Another reason FSU isn't in our top five? Tallahassee, while it's the state's capital city, is bland and average. It is at least relatively close to the Panama City and Destin beaches. Florida State has been trending up for the past three or four years. It's back to where it was at Bobby Bowden's high point, more than one coach has said.

 

 

6. LSU

Some coaches argued that LSU should be higher, definitely in the top 5. The biggest reason? A lack of competition for in-state prospects in a talent-rich state. Other schools are recruiting them, sure, but very few beat LSU on home-state recruits. "It's a miracle if a Louisiana kid leaves Louisiana," a coach said, laughing. "If they do, they better not count on going back home anytime soon." The sense of family and loyalty is deeply entrenched in the state and at LSU. Coach Les Miles is someone who doubles down on that idea. There are passionate fan bases -- and then there's LSU. No one beats a bayou tailgate, and the party just continues inside Tiger Stadium. And then afterward, too. LSU spent $80 million on a recent expansion of the stadium's south end zone, a project that includes a number of new luxury boxes. Another round of upgrades, including to the west side suites and press box, is about a decade old. The team's practice fields and football facilities -- just across a main road from Tiger Stadium -- are adequate, but they do not merit a "wow." With great food and friendly people, just visiting Baton Rouge is a blast. So there's a lot of appeal for both recruits and coaches. New Orleans is an hour away, too.

 

 


Kim Klement/USA TODAY SportsFlorida's location in the heart of a recruiting-rich state is one of its biggest selling points.

{C} [h=3]Tier 1: The Best[/h] With just about every resource on hand and every opportunity to succeed, these are literally dream jobs for coaches.

5. Florida

Probably the most appealing part of the Florida job: The bar is currently set unbelievably low. It's basically where it was when Urban Meyer took over, when the program quickly bounced back and won a pair of national titles. (No pressure, Jim McElwain.) So what happened to Will Muschamp? As one AD said after Muschamp was fired, Florida just isn't the kind of place you learn to be a head coach. Meyer had previous experience. So does McElwain. He should be fine. UF isn't perfect, coaches sometimes point out. McElwain had a checklist when he arrived. One of the first items was finally getting an indoor facility erected, and the school announced in January that a $15 million structure was on the way. It should be ready by the fall. The coaches' offices need work, too. There's a surprising lack of windows and light for the Sunshine State's flagship school. The Swamp used to be the SEC's most daunting atmosphere, along with LSU's Death Valley. A coach's enthusiasm could quickly bring back the vigor that has been missing since Meyer's penultimate season. We'll see whether McElwain can do that part of the job. Conditions are right for Florida to again rebound and take its rightful place in the SEC. It's really difficult to fail with that much talent in the backyard.

4. Ohio State

When Meyer landed at Ohio State, there was a collective "uh oh" emanating from the rest of the Big Ten and college football's powers. It was a match that seemed as if it would quickly yield results, and it has. If not for NCAA restrictions, including a postseason ban, the Buckeyes might have been in title position sooner. Then again, the run-in with the NCAA is what prompted the coaching change and led to Meyer's hire. The Woody Hayes Athletic Center was ahead of its time in 1987, and regular updates have kept it among the country's best facilities. Similar upgrades along the way continue to make the Horseshoe one of college football's most iconic places to watch a game. To no one's surprise, Meyer and his staff are leveraging OSU's positives to recruit at an absurd rate -- especially compared to the rest of the league. The Buckeyes have signed 40 ESPN 300 recruits in the past three classes while the other six programs in the Big Ten East have added a total of 62. The talent gap in the league is as wide as it has ever been. Beyond the focus on the three quarterbacks, Ohio State has as much returning in 2015 as anyone in college football. It didn't lose a single underclassman to the draft. Meyer would be a tough act to follow, but with those players and those resources, it'd be worth a shot.

3. USC

Our panel was torn a bit on the Trojans, with the five votes ranging from Nos. 1 to 6. The divisive part, with both our panelists and the coaches we talked with, was Los Angeles. You're either enamored by it or you can't stand it. It's polarizing that way. And USC isn't tucked away in Orange County; it's 10 minutes south of downtown, right in the middle of everything. For assistant coaches, it's easy to understand qualms with the cost of living and potentially long commutes. Head coaches, though, usually wind up building or buying places in one of the nice beach communities. (Vince Vaughn bought Lane Kiffin's old house in Manhattan Beach, after all.) The clear upside of L.A. is the ability to sell sun, sea and celebrity. Where else can you go where Will Ferrell might be hanging out at practice? The $75 million McKay Center brought USC sports into this millennium. The locker room and training areas were huge upgrades from the previous facility. The Coliseum now needs some freshening up. AD Pat Haden has said the school will figure out how to use $70 million in the next decade to update the historic venue. With the NCAA matters now behind the Trojans, roster limitation is no longer hanging over anyone's heads. Leveraging momentum, USC added a baker's dozen of ESPN 300 recruits in the 2015 class. If Steve Sarkisian cannot win big in the next couple of seasons with all the talent on campus, it really will be someone else's job.

2. Alabama

Nick Saban brought Alabama football to where Tide fans thought it should be. But that creates a danger if you're the one tasked with following Saban. As someone in that media market said this week, Saban himself is learning how difficult it is to maintain the bar that he set. Impossible expectations is one of the only things keeping Bama from the top spot in our rankings. But that concept is a college football "first-world problem," isn't it? That the previous coach was too successful? You'd much rather that be the case than a revolving door because no one could win. Tuscaloosa is a classic college town situated 45 minutes from Birmingham. The facilities, many of them recently updated, are truly first-class. Bryant-Denny Stadium's north end zone was enclosed just before Saban arrived, and the south end zone followed a couple of years into his tenure. Now the school is just doing cutesy things like adding a Starbucks. That's when you know your stadium is up to code among the country's elite. Coaches say the renovations to the football building named for late AD Mal Moore -- another person who deserves ample credit for re-establishing the program -- are simply stunning, second only to maybe Oregon. The weight room is a particular marvel, they all say. Alabama is a relatively strong recruiting state, but Saban has again established the program's name well beyond its borders. Flash an Alabama business card these days, and you can get in whichever door you'd like. The Tide is the biggest brand in the game right now. It's the Yankees or the Patriots of college football. Staying there? That's the rub. A coach would be silly not to take the Bama job, but the standard is so, so high.

1. Texas

Ah, we've arrived at our destination. If every Power 5 job suddenly opened tomorrow ... Texas would be the most desirable choice. Even its conference and regional rivals didn't argue much with those results. "I mean, what more could you want?" one Big 12 coach said. Austin is a vibrant, diverse and growing city that is receiving international acclaim; it's a destination for coaches and recruits alike (if only for Franklin Barbeque brisket). The facilities aren't brand-new, but they're still among the best in the country. Even so, you're not going to catch the school's brass sitting on its hands -- not with A&M's headline-grabbing stadium project and the acclaim for new venues at Baylor and TCU. Texas let everyone know last summer that it had earmarked $750 million for athletic facilities spending for the next five to 10 years. That includes updates to the football building and some parts of DKR Stadium. The administration is proud enough -- and has deep enough pockets -- to make sure the football program has everything it could possibly need, and more.

 

 

As for recruiting, Texas high school football is as close to a minor league feeder as there is for college football. Skill players are especially plentiful -- and quarterbacks, too, though that hasn't been Texas' strong suit in recent years. The Longhorns have a gigantic fan base but it has never been known as particularly exuberant once inside DKR. The "wine-and-cheese" metaphor for North Carolina basketball also works for Texas football, one coach suggested. It's a fairly accurate portrayal, though a counterpoint is that some of that is coach-driven; someone could come in and immediately enthuse the Exes. The only discernible downside of the gig is a sometimes turbulent political climate at the university -- where the AD and president, in addition to the head football coach, have been run off in the past year. A powerful or successful enough coach, however, can avoid the political potholes. There's pressure involved, sure, but the job also entails myriad perks. The Forty Acres is college football nirvana, all the live long day.

 

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