Sorry if posted before:
10. Hawaii: No money. Mediocre, at best, facilities. No recruiting base. Other than that …
9. North Texas: The program once was the big dog in the Sun Belt. It’s tougher to do that in Conference USA, but the recruiting base is a strong one and UNT definitely can contend in C-USA. (By the way, there is a large gap — large — between Nos. 8 and 9 on our list.)
8. Minnesota: A nice new stadium, and Jerry Kill definitely is leaving the program in better shape than he found it. But this is a lower-tier job in the Big Ten — but this still is a good job.
7. Illinois: Another lower-tier job in Big Ten, but a better recruiting base and better facilities than Minnesota.
6. UCF: UCF has the second-largest enrollment in the nation, has a nice (and relatively new) on-campus stadium and enjoys good facilities. It also has an excellent recruiting base, even if George O’Leary’s staff didn’t take full advantage. The school has “Big Six” aspirations and could get there; at the least, UCF should contend every season for the AAC title — which means annually contending for the automatic “Group of Six” berth into one of the New Year’s Six bowls. Annual contention for that berth makes it a more attractive job than some of those in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and even SEC.
5. Maryland: The recruiting base is far better than most folks think, and Under Armour appears willing to try to do for Maryland what Nike did for Oregon. A big negative: The Big Ten East is loaded (you’re competing with Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State every season).
4. South Carolina: Steve Spurrier made the Gamecocks nationally relevant, but to expect that to continue might be a bit much. The school had one 10-win season before he got there. The fan support is excellent, though, and the recruiting base is a good one.
3. Virginia Tech: It’s easier to win in the ACC than it is in the SEC, especially considering Virginia Tech is in the easier Coastal Division. While the recruiting base is solid (the Tidewater region is loaded on an annual basis), following Frank Beamer is not for the faint of heart. It’s better to be the guy who follows the guy.
2. Miami: The facilities aren’t that good, including second-class status in a stadium that is about a 45-minute drive from campus. The pay is not great, especially considering the ridiculous fan expectations. And speaking of expectations, the fan support is a mile wide but an inch deep. Still, the recruiting base is the best in the nation (yes, the best), and the program has been dominant for long stretches in the past 30 years, so it can be done.
1. USC: A storied history and tradition. A great recruiting base. A large amount of money. This is an elite job — one of the five best in college football.
10. Hawaii: No money. Mediocre, at best, facilities. No recruiting base. Other than that …
9. North Texas: The program once was the big dog in the Sun Belt. It’s tougher to do that in Conference USA, but the recruiting base is a strong one and UNT definitely can contend in C-USA. (By the way, there is a large gap — large — between Nos. 8 and 9 on our list.)
8. Minnesota: A nice new stadium, and Jerry Kill definitely is leaving the program in better shape than he found it. But this is a lower-tier job in the Big Ten — but this still is a good job.
7. Illinois: Another lower-tier job in Big Ten, but a better recruiting base and better facilities than Minnesota.
6. UCF: UCF has the second-largest enrollment in the nation, has a nice (and relatively new) on-campus stadium and enjoys good facilities. It also has an excellent recruiting base, even if George O’Leary’s staff didn’t take full advantage. The school has “Big Six” aspirations and could get there; at the least, UCF should contend every season for the AAC title — which means annually contending for the automatic “Group of Six” berth into one of the New Year’s Six bowls. Annual contention for that berth makes it a more attractive job than some of those in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and even SEC.
5. Maryland: The recruiting base is far better than most folks think, and Under Armour appears willing to try to do for Maryland what Nike did for Oregon. A big negative: The Big Ten East is loaded (you’re competing with Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State every season).
4. South Carolina: Steve Spurrier made the Gamecocks nationally relevant, but to expect that to continue might be a bit much. The school had one 10-win season before he got there. The fan support is excellent, though, and the recruiting base is a good one.
3. Virginia Tech: It’s easier to win in the ACC than it is in the SEC, especially considering Virginia Tech is in the easier Coastal Division. While the recruiting base is solid (the Tidewater region is loaded on an annual basis), following Frank Beamer is not for the faint of heart. It’s better to be the guy who follows the guy.
2. Miami: The facilities aren’t that good, including second-class status in a stadium that is about a 45-minute drive from campus. The pay is not great, especially considering the ridiculous fan expectations. And speaking of expectations, the fan support is a mile wide but an inch deep. Still, the recruiting base is the best in the nation (yes, the best), and the program has been dominant for long stretches in the past 30 years, so it can be done.
1. USC: A storied history and tradition. A great recruiting base. A large amount of money. This is an elite job — one of the five best in college football.
