16. Lebby- Said that he's outstanding as a coordinator. Only here because of the unknown as a HC.
SEC Mike and Athlon guy agree.
15. Lea- Critical point in his tenure. Needs to avoid 0-8 in conference in 2024. Both agree.
(Kirby and Stoops are the only coaches still at their schools since 2019)
14. Napier- SEC Mike- Napier hasn't done as well as Mullen and the team wasn't much better when Mullen took over.
Pittman- Athlon guy- trend line not good.
13. Pittman- SEC Mike- Arkansas beat UF last year.
Beamer- Athlon Guy- The only reason Napier ahead of both Pittman and Beamer, he's had more success at another job.
12. Venables- SEC Mike- No respect for the Big 12. Should have a better record in that conference with his roster.
Napier- Athlon Guy-stated above, he had success somewhere else.
11. Beamer- SEC Mike- 3-11 vs. top 25. Doesn't lose many games that he's projected to win. Carolina won't give him time if he has another bad year, but maybe they should. Took his father several years, but was the best coach in Va Tech history.
Venables- Athlon Guy- Improved in their second year and he knows what it takes to win in the SEC.
10. Stoops- SEC Mike- 20-52 vs. .500 teams or better
Freeze- Athlon guy- calls hookers (I kid, I kid)
Won in the SEC before, has some question if he can win with the changes going on.
9. Freeze- SEC Mike- Will win games he shouldn't and will lose games he shouldn't. 22-26 in SEC play even when counting vacated games. Will win more next year, but no guarantee they'll have a ten win season.
Stoops- Athlon guy- Consistently wins and gets them bowl eligible. Hard to do there. Would like to see more coaching staff stability and homegrown QB talent instead of always going to the portal.
8. Drink- SEC Mike- Could win ten games again next year. .500 record in SEC.
Elko- Athlon Guy- Could flip with Drink at 7.
7. Elko- SEC Mike- Made Duke a good team. Coveted guy by a lot of schools. Could be a top five before long.
Drink - Athlon guy- Headed in the right direction.
6.Sark- SEC Mike- Has had success, but they should've beaten Washington. That's a coaching issue. Lost to Oklahoma, and that's the only team close to him in talent in Big 12. Solid, not elite.
Heup- Athlon guy- Can they get to where they cycle players in and out without falling off? Worst season yet on offense anywhere he's coached, still won 9 games. Should benefit from Saban's retirement.
5. Heupel- SEC Mike- Staffing is main concern. Only hires from within.
Kiffin- Athlon guy- Team needs to win big in 2024. Major expectations next year. Need to close the gap with Georgia.
4. Kiffin- SEC Mike- Beats who he should. Doesn't beat the elite teams.
Deboer- Athlon Guy- I don't think it's crazy to have him at no. 2. But he hasn't done it in the SEC yet. Has won at every level and improved teams. Spots 2-5 are close for me. Only negatives, he's never been at a big program for long and we don't know if he can recruit. Have to do better than top 8. Have to beat Smart for some of the players. They should make the playoff next year.
3. B. Kelly- SEC Mike- Incredible record. But 34-34 against top 25. 5-22 vs. top 10. Staff hires for this year are great. All Star defensive staff. Should've had that to begin with though. Will they take a step back this year? Slightly concerned.
Sarkisian- Athlon Guy- Was his own worst enemy in that Sugar Bowl. Should've ran all over Washington like Michigan. But he has some Nick Saban experience on the resume. Improved each season at Texas. Got the roster to win it all. Looks to be able to cyle player out and in without missing a step.
2. DeBoer- SEC Mike- This speaks to the lack of star power and turnover in the SEC lately. Beating teams with significantly better rosters. Best roster than he's ever had. Can win the NCship now. Can he maintain it after his first couple years?
B. Kelly- Athlon guy- Notre Dame had a ceiling. LSU has a higher one. Better recruiting. No excuses this year. But he has won at every stop and it's hard to do that. Does it even with all the changes in college football. Important year for him, though.
1. Smart- both agree- SEC Mike- 19-8 vs. top 10, 34-13 vs. top 25, 9-2 in bowl games (only one bowl game not in CFP or NY6). As elite as elite gets. Far and away the best coach in the SEC now. Best coach in the country. Best recruiter.
Athlon Guy- The losses of late are to the Heisman winning QB and a CFP Alabama team this past year. Schedule is tough next year, but good luck to the rest of college football trying to slow them down. Big winner with Nick Saban's retirement. Only losses the past three seasons were to Saban.
SEC Mike and Athlon guy agree.
15. Lea- Critical point in his tenure. Needs to avoid 0-8 in conference in 2024. Both agree.
(Kirby and Stoops are the only coaches still at their schools since 2019)
14. Napier- SEC Mike- Napier hasn't done as well as Mullen and the team wasn't much better when Mullen took over.
Pittman- Athlon guy- trend line not good.
13. Pittman- SEC Mike- Arkansas beat UF last year.
Beamer- Athlon Guy- The only reason Napier ahead of both Pittman and Beamer, he's had more success at another job.
12. Venables- SEC Mike- No respect for the Big 12. Should have a better record in that conference with his roster.
Napier- Athlon Guy-stated above, he had success somewhere else.
11. Beamer- SEC Mike- 3-11 vs. top 25. Doesn't lose many games that he's projected to win. Carolina won't give him time if he has another bad year, but maybe they should. Took his father several years, but was the best coach in Va Tech history.
Venables- Athlon Guy- Improved in their second year and he knows what it takes to win in the SEC.
10. Stoops- SEC Mike- 20-52 vs. .500 teams or better
Freeze- Athlon guy- calls hookers (I kid, I kid)
Won in the SEC before, has some question if he can win with the changes going on.
9. Freeze- SEC Mike- Will win games he shouldn't and will lose games he shouldn't. 22-26 in SEC play even when counting vacated games. Will win more next year, but no guarantee they'll have a ten win season.
Stoops- Athlon guy- Consistently wins and gets them bowl eligible. Hard to do there. Would like to see more coaching staff stability and homegrown QB talent instead of always going to the portal.
8. Drink- SEC Mike- Could win ten games again next year. .500 record in SEC.
Elko- Athlon Guy- Could flip with Drink at 7.
7. Elko- SEC Mike- Made Duke a good team. Coveted guy by a lot of schools. Could be a top five before long.
Drink - Athlon guy- Headed in the right direction.
6.Sark- SEC Mike- Has had success, but they should've beaten Washington. That's a coaching issue. Lost to Oklahoma, and that's the only team close to him in talent in Big 12. Solid, not elite.
Heup- Athlon guy- Can they get to where they cycle players in and out without falling off? Worst season yet on offense anywhere he's coached, still won 9 games. Should benefit from Saban's retirement.
5. Heupel- SEC Mike- Staffing is main concern. Only hires from within.
Kiffin- Athlon guy- Team needs to win big in 2024. Major expectations next year. Need to close the gap with Georgia.
4. Kiffin- SEC Mike- Beats who he should. Doesn't beat the elite teams.
Deboer- Athlon Guy- I don't think it's crazy to have him at no. 2. But he hasn't done it in the SEC yet. Has won at every level and improved teams. Spots 2-5 are close for me. Only negatives, he's never been at a big program for long and we don't know if he can recruit. Have to do better than top 8. Have to beat Smart for some of the players. They should make the playoff next year.
3. B. Kelly- SEC Mike- Incredible record. But 34-34 against top 25. 5-22 vs. top 10. Staff hires for this year are great. All Star defensive staff. Should've had that to begin with though. Will they take a step back this year? Slightly concerned.
Sarkisian- Athlon Guy- Was his own worst enemy in that Sugar Bowl. Should've ran all over Washington like Michigan. But he has some Nick Saban experience on the resume. Improved each season at Texas. Got the roster to win it all. Looks to be able to cyle player out and in without missing a step.
2. DeBoer- SEC Mike- This speaks to the lack of star power and turnover in the SEC lately. Beating teams with significantly better rosters. Best roster than he's ever had. Can win the NCship now. Can he maintain it after his first couple years?
B. Kelly- Athlon guy- Notre Dame had a ceiling. LSU has a higher one. Better recruiting. No excuses this year. But he has won at every stop and it's hard to do that. Does it even with all the changes in college football. Important year for him, though.
1. Smart- both agree- SEC Mike- 19-8 vs. top 10, 34-13 vs. top 25, 9-2 in bowl games (only one bowl game not in CFP or NY6). As elite as elite gets. Far and away the best coach in the SEC now. Best coach in the country. Best recruiter.
Athlon Guy- The losses of late are to the Heisman winning QB and a CFP Alabama team this past year. Schedule is tough next year, but good luck to the rest of college football trying to slow them down. Big winner with Nick Saban's retirement. Only losses the past three seasons were to Saban.
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