Top College Football Coaching Jobs: LSU Surpasses Penn State
This year’s college football coaching carousel is already wild. With 11 Power 4 programs searching for new head coaches, the landscape feels primed for big changes.
Last year’s hiring cycle was slow, mostly because of the financial fallout from the House v. NCAA settlement. Now, the focus is back on coaching moves, and everyone’s watching closely.
We’re taking a look at how these open head-coaching jobs stack up. The rankings consider potential for success, program value, and how things have gone lately. If you want the full list, check out this New York Times article.
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Top-Tier Coaching Jobs
A few programs really stand out for coaches aiming high. Tradition, money, and a shot at greatness—these schools have it all, or at least most of it.
LSU
Record over the last five years: 40-21
Estimated valuation: $1.23 billion (10th among Power 4 programs)
Job grade: A
LSU is, in my opinion, a top-five job in all of college football. They’ve got national titles under Les Miles and Ed Orgeron, and Louisiana’s loaded with football talent.
Things got rocky for a while, especially with player spending falling behind. But LSU bounced back, putting together an $18 million roster and landing the country’s top transfer class. It’s a pressure cooker, though—expectations are sky-high, and the politics can get messy.
Penn State
Record over the last five years: 44-17
Estimated valuation: $1.2 billion (11th among Power 4 programs)
Job grade: A
Penn State has tradition, money, and a recent track record that puts it right up there among the best. The Nittany Lions are clearly serious about winning, even paying nearly $45 million to move on from James Franklin after a playoff run.
The facilities are modern, the support is strong, and they’re just waiting for a coach who can take them all the way.
High-Potential Opportunities
These jobs aren’t quite at the LSU or Penn State level, but for the right coach? There’s a real shot at greatness.
Florida
Record over the last five years: 28-30
Estimated valuation: $1.08 billion (12th among Power 4)
Job grade: A-
Florida’s ceiling is crazy high—three national titles since 1996. The recruiting base is there, but recent coaches haven’t managed to put it all together.
With a sparkling new football building and more money flowing in, this is a job that plenty of coaches would love to land.
Arkansas
Record over the last five years: 29-27
Estimated valuation: $646 million (23rd among Power 4 programs)
Job grade: B
Arkansas doesn’t have a ton of in-state talent, and they’re not spending like the top SEC teams. Still, it’s an SEC job with die-hard fans and room to grow.
The right coach could do a lot here, especially if they can get the boosters on board and squeeze the most out of the roster.
Mid-Tier Programs with Upside
These schools might not have the history or cash of the big boys, but there’s something to work with. The right coach could make a real dent.
UCLA
Record over the last five years: 30-24
Estimated program valuation: $343 million (T-43rd among Power 4 programs)
Job grade: B
UCLA always seems to have more potential than results. No conference championship since 1998, and the fan base isn’t exactly fired up.
Still, it’s a Big Ten job in Southern California. If someone can spark recruiting and bring back some excitement, things could turn around.
Oklahoma State
Record over the last five years: 33-24
Estimated valuation: $373 million (39th among Power 4)
Job grade: B
Mike Gundy’s fall-off was sudden, but Oklahoma State has been in the Big 12 title mix recently. They’ve got a pipeline to Texas and a winnable conference.
If the school steps up with more investment, the next coach could keep the good times rolling—or even take things higher.
Programs Needing a Rebuild
These places have hit rough patches, but there’s a chance for a coach to make a name by turning things around.
Virginia Tech
Record over the last five years: 23-31
Estimated valuation: $455 million (31st among Power 4)
Job grade: B
Virginia Tech used to be a big deal, but it’s been a struggle lately. Not enough funding or staff compared to the rest of the ACC.
They need someone who can develop players and get back to competing for ACC titles. It’s been a while—2016, to be exact.
Stanford
Record over the last five years: 14-39
Estimated valuation: $202 million (60th among Power 4)
Job grade: C+
Stanford was a powerhouse once, but the new NIL and transfer era has been rough. Andrew Luck is now the general manager, which is interesting, but the program feels unsettled.
The next coach will have to get creative with player development and figure out how to win in the new-look ACC.
Challenging Jobs with Potential
These schools have plenty of obstacles, but for the right person, there’s a shot to leave a real legacy.
Oregon State
Record over the last five years: 30-28
Job Grade: C+
Oregon State’s had some recent success, but location and a reorganized Pac-12 make things tricky. Facilities are solid, and NIL support isn’t bad.
It’ll take a coach who can handle those hurdles and keep the team in the bowl conversation year after year.
Colorado State
Record over the last five years: 21-35
Job grade: C+
Colorado State has great facilities and a loyal fan base, but the wins just haven’t come. The next coach has to unlock the potential here and manage a tougher Pac-12 slate.
UAB
Record over the last five years: 25-31
Job Grade: C
UAB was a feel-good story not long ago, but things have been tough since Bill Clark left. Facilities and location are good, but money is tight compared to the rest of the American Conference.
Whoever takes over needs to rebuild and find a way to win consistently.
The Toughest Job
And then there’s the hardest gig in college football. Success has been rare, even with some big-name alumni. It’s a tall order, but you never know who might step up.
Kent State
New coach: Mark Carney (promoted from interim)
Record over the last five years: 14-40
Job grade: F
Kent State is, honestly, one of the toughest gigs in college football. The program’s history is rough—lots of losses, not much to cheer about.
Money’s tight, and wins have been even scarcer. It’s wild considering the school produced names like Nick Saban and Lou Holtz, but success just hasn’t stuck around.
Mark Carney, now stepping up from interim, has a serious challenge ahead. Turning this ship around won’t be easy—maybe not even likely, if we’re being honest.
For more details on these coaching jobs, check out the New York Times article.
