CFB Coaching Jobs: Weighing Pros and Cons

Saban’s Shadow, Harbaugh’s Legacy: Big Noon Kickoff Debates College Football’s Premier Coaching Vacancies

The recent seismic shifts in the college football coaching landscape provided fertile ground for debate among industry analysts. On a recent segment of the “Big Noon Kickoff” show, the esteemed panel of Rob Stone, Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, and Matt Leinart engaged in a spirited discussion, dissecting which of the high-profile head-coaching vacancies from the late 2023 and early 2024 carousel truly presented the most attractive opportunity for a new leader.

Unsurprisingly, three-time national championship coach Urban Meyer immediately directed the conversation toward the Alabama Crimson Tide. Following Nick Saban’s shocking retirement in January 2024, the Alabama job became arguably the most coveted and daunting position in all of sports. Meyer acknowledged the unprecedented dynasty Saban built over 17 years in Tuscaloosa – an astounding seven national championships, perennial top-ranked recruiting classes, and a program synonymous with unrelenting excellence. He underscored the immense resources available at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where immediate national championship contention is not merely an aspiration, but a deeply ingrained expectation. However, Meyer was quick to highlight the colossal “Saban Shadow” any successor would operate under, a pressure cooker unlike almost any other in college football. Kalen DeBoer, who ultimately left Washington to take the reins in Tuscaloosa, now faces the monumental task of maintaining that lofty standard.

Brady Quinn, a former NFL quarterback and prominent analyst, countered with a compelling argument for the Michigan Wolverines. Jim Harbaugh’s departure for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers in January 2024, just weeks after leading Michigan to a national championship, created a unique vacancy in Ann Arbor. Quinn emphasized that Harbaugh left behind not just a championship trophy, but a robust, mature roster and a deeply ingrained winning culture built on toughness and discipline. For a coach inheriting such a situation, the path to Big Ten contention and even national relevance seemed more direct, requiring less of a “rebuild” and more of a strategic “reload.” Sherrone Moore, Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator, was elevated to the head coach position, inheriting a team widely considered poised for continued success.

Reggie Bush, a former Heisman Trophy winner, threw his weight behind the enduring, albeit often unrealized, potential at Texas A&M in College Station. Despite a tumultuous and expensive recent tenure under Jimbo Fisher, Bush pointed to the Aggies’ unparalleled financial resources – frequently cited as among the best in the nation – and their state-of-the-art facilities. Crucially, he highlighted the deep and fertile recruiting base within Texas, a consistent source of top-tier talent. Bush contended that a coach who could finally harness these extraordinary assets could build something truly special in the highly competitive SEC, even despite the historical challenges of the division. Mike Elko, formerly Duke’s head coach and a former A&M defensive coordinator, was ultimately tasked with unlocking this latent potential.

Matt Leinart, another former Heisman Trophy winner, expressed a preference for the opportunity at the University of Washington. Fresh off a thrilling College Football Playoff National Championship appearance, the Huskies, under Kalen DeBoer, had built significant momentum and established a winning culture. Leinart saw the chance to lead a program into the newly expanded Big Ten Conference with an established winning foundation as a major draw. However, he acknowledged that DeBoer’s sudden move to Alabama did necessitate some roster adjustments and coaching staff transitions. Following DeBoer’s departure, Jedd Fisch moved from Arizona to take the Washington job, continuing the program’s upward trajectory.

The discussion also briefly touched upon the Arizona job, which became available after Fisch’s move to Washington. Now poised to enter the Big 12 Conference, the Wildcats represented a high-ceiling opportunity for a coach to make a significant impact in a new league, building on the respectable foundation Fisch had laid. Brent Brennan was subsequently hired from San Jose State to lead the Wildcats into their new conference era.

The “Big Noon Kickoff” debate ultimately underscored the multifaceted nature of college football’s top coaching jobs. Each opening – from the immense pressure-cooker environment at Alabama, where expectations demand immediate national titles, to the high-ceiling potential at programs like Texas A&M or even Arizona with their conference realignments – came with its own unique calculus of pros and cons. The panel essentially weighed the allure of inheriting immediate success against the long-term build opportunities, and what specific temperament and coaching philosophy would best fit each high-stakes situation. The subsequent hires in these programs now face the challenge of proving which analyst had the keenest eye for the industry’s most attractive, yet demanding, gigs.