There has already been some absolutely massive movement in college football this season, as big-name coaches have already been fired or placed on some extremely hot seats, making it inevitable that we will see huge openings be filled around the country. From the Pac-12 to the
SEC, here's my five most exciting potential coaching moves.
1. Scott Frost to Florida
UCF's head coach has made quite a name for himself in just a year. The former Oregon assistant and offensive guru has lead the Knights to an undefeated record heading into November, putting his team firmly in the driver seat for an effective Group of Five championship and New Year's Six bowl appearance. Jim McElwain, despite being the most successful coach fired so far this year (he'll be back on this list), couldn't score featuring anemic quarterback play from a host of Gator signal-callers, and Frost's offensive mentality is exactly what Florida fans have been looking for.
2. Jon Gruden to Tennessee
It feels every time the Tennessee job is open, Gruden's name comes up. The former Super Bowl winner has crafted a mystique that he is the next big thing at the college level, but it's difficult to envision Gruden leaving his comfy role as ESPN's lead analyst. It is incredulous that Butch Jones is still in a job in Knoxville in the wake of losing to Kentucky, but it shouldn't carry on much longer, especially since the #EmptyNeyland movement may not allow it to.
3. Jim McElwain to Oregon State
McElwain has won two consecutive division titles in the SEC while winning 22 out of 34 games at a marquee program, so he simply does not look like the type of coach to be newly-available for a team like Oregon State. However, McElwain couldn't handle the off-the-field football madness that is the SEC, and heading back to the West Coast with much more tempered expectations could be an absolute boon for a wandering program to gain relevancy.
4. Les Miles to Texas A&M
Les Miles is the only National Championship-winning coach on this list, and given his expressed interest in returning to coaching after 10+ wins annually at LSU wasn't good enough, it is shocking he isn't already back. He could very well have been disheartened when he saw the options weren't as enticing as he had anticipated, especially after former Georgia coach Mark Richt, with a very similar profile, got his dream job at a resurgent Miami. However, a triumphant return to the SEC West could be just what the doctor ordered for both Miles and the Aggies, who are displeased with Kevin Sumlin (who will be a head coach at another Power Five program very soon). Miles will get the chance at the biggest job he can receive, given the fact that other candidates are running away from the A&M job after their treatment of Sumlin, and with that platform, Miles will have the opportunity to stick it to his old team and once again challenge Nick Saban's Alabama for supremacy.
5. Chip Kelly to Arizona State
This entire coaching carousel has been focused on one name and one name only: Chip Kelly. Fans of nearly every program have been clamoring for their current coach to get the can in favor of the former Oregon Ducks, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers man, but he appears to be plotting his next move very carefully. I believe that Kelly wants nothing to do with the SEC and their deluded fans, imposing defenses, and convoluted recruiting, and would rather build another program to glory in a conference he knows well, the Pac-12. Todd Graham did an incredible job getting ASU to this point, but has struggled these past few seasons to the point where a change of direction feels imminent. Whether that means a safe hire like former offensive coordinator Mike Norvell from Memphis or the splash hire of Kelly, ASU is a program that is ready to get back into contention in the Pac-12 South, and the stars appear to be aligning for it to be the best job that fits Kelly's profile. UCLA appears to be unwilling to spend big on football and pay a massive buyout to Jim Mora and hire the most expensive coach on the market in the post-Josh Rosen era, Khalil Tate may just save Rich Rodriguez yet down in Tuscon, Oregon is committed to Willy Taggart's vision, and Kelly didn't appear interested in the Cal job last season, while Oregon State just feels too small for a coach with the prowess of Kelly. Other than these teams, USC, Utah, Washington, Washington State, Stanford, and Colorado all have established coaches that don't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon, leaving just ASU on the table for a potential Chip Kelly return, this time trading the Pacific Northwest for the desert.