National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance, ranking the PAC 12 top tier offensive lines for next season, some Big Ten coaches under pressure, and the coaching debate — Lincoln Riley vs. Jim Harbaugh.
Best Pac-12 Offensive Lines
— Let’s round out the top-tier offensive lines in the Power Five with the PAC 12.
1. Utah
— The Utes have balance in the run and passing attack, and led by Sataoa Laumea, they will protect Cam Rising and run the ball down opponents’ throats.
2. Washington
— Michael Penix Jr. was upright a lot last season because of Troy Fautanu and company, as they are the best pass-blocking group in the conference. Roger Rosengarten is excellent as well.
3. Oregon
— Jackson Powers-Johnson leads a group that should be even better this season and allows Bo Nix to improvise.
More Sports News
4. USC
— The trenches have been an issue for USC, but it’s getting better and better. Jonah Monheim leads an improving group.
5. Oregon State
— Joshua Gray and Taliese Fuaga lead a nasty group that can wear you down and plays with a collective chip on the old shoulder.
Big Ten Coaching Under Pressure
— Hot seat? Nah. Not these guys. But under pressure? For sure.
Mel Tucker, Michigan State
Tucker parlayed a fantastic 2021 season into a huge contract extension worth close to $100 million. And year one of that ten-year deal did not go to plan. The Spartans are even further back today than they were entering spring ball after their quarterback and top receiver both entered the portal. If they finish below .500 again in 2023, there are going to be a lot of people around the program very concerned about that contract.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Ferentz’s bosom buddy, AD Gary Barta, just announced his retirement in Iowa City, and that means that Ferentz’s job is going to more than likely start to get a lot more internal scrutiny than it has been in the past two-plus decades. It’s still baffling that Brian Ferentz has a job as an offensive coordinator, given how poor his units have been for years on end. But Barta shielded both generations of Ferentzs from a lot of public criticism. 2023 could be the year it finally crumbles for the dean of Big Ten coaches.
Mike Locksley, Maryland
Is it ever going to click for Maryland under Locksley? Yes, they’re in one of the toughest divisions in college football, but they’ve still yet to have a winning record in-conference during his four seasons at the helm. The Terrapins still feel like a team in search of an identity, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and I’m not sure if they’re ever going to find it under Locksley.
The Coach Debate: Jim Harbaugh vs. Lincoln Riley
— Let’s move to cross-conference coaching debates. And our first one happens to be a future Big Ten matchup after next season — Riley vs. Harbaugh
The case for Harbaugh:
With back-to-back wins over the Buckeyes, Harbaugh’s Michigan squad is truly back on square pegging with their archrivals. The high-level play of the offensive line on a year-in and year-out basis is a great foundation for long-term success as well, and he has finally built up enough talent and depth to out-physical nearly every team they play. And with their improved play, the Wolverines are back in the mix for high-level recruits across the country, including landing 2024 five-star quarterback Jadyn Davis. After consecutive CFP appearances, Michigan is truly back to being a true annual contender.
The case against Harbaugh:
There always seems to be some sort of issue going on with his staff in recent years. Between high turnover rates, questionable hirings, and other issues, there is a significant chance that things are as great as they seem. He keeps flirting with the NFL every year as well, which can’t be helping things.
The case for Riley:
You can make a very strong case that Lincoln Riley is the greatest offensive mind of the past decade. As a head coach, he’s only lost eight regular season games in six seasons, and his overall record of 66-13 is among the best in the country in that same time span. His moniker of being the modern-day quarterback whisperer is 100% earned, and because of that, he has also become the country’s premier quarterback recruiter.
The case against Riley:
Does he actually care about defense? It genuinely doesn’t seem like it’s the case. He continues to employ Alex Grinch as his defensive coordinator despite diminishing results every season. And given some of the postseason letdowns we’ve seen from his teams, including just this past season against Tulane in the Cotton Bowl, it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in his teams.
The Verdict:
Two years ago, this would have been Riley by a fairly large margin, but a lot has changed since then. It’s still Riley, but it’s a lot closer. The head man at USC gets the nod because of the combination of his unique offensive acumen, coaching at the school, which will again be among the elite programs in the country because of NIL and brand opportunities, and his ability to continue to recruit truly elite offensive talent every year without fail. I don’t think it would surprise anyone, though, to see USC and Michigan face off in the Big Ten title game in 2024.
