National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance with coaches who will need patience, a few coaches who could be scary very quickly, and five teams who have jumped immediately into the playoff picture.
5 Coaches Who Deserve Patience
— Please show patience to these following coaches, as I think they will get the job done but will need a couple more years.
1. Billy Napier, Florida
— My only worry for Napier is the impatience of the Gators fans and boosters. This season likely won’t go well, and next season’s schedule is a monster. If they can allow him another couple of average seasons with the way he’s recruiting and building, he can be very good for the Gators.
2. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
— Mizzou is 2-0, but they’ve beaten cupcakes, and now the hard part starts. Out-of-conference against Kansas State is rough, and LSU, Georgia, and Tennessee loom. If he has a 7-5 season, let’s hope they aren’t impatient because I think he can turn the corner in a year or two.
3. Jeff Hafley, Boston College
— I don’t think Hafley is in peril, but the loss to Northern Illinois was bad, and they barely beat FCS Holy Cross. Now FSU comes to town and will destroy BC, and a 4-8 or 5-7 season could happen. But he’s a good coach and recruiter and will need a few years to clean up the mess left by Steve Addazio.
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4. Brent Pry, Virginia Tech
— Pry is a Frank Beamer guy and will eventually do things right in Blacksburg, but it’s been a rough start. With time and his own guys, he can make this program at least respectable again.
5. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
— I know he’s not in trouble at all, but the 0-2 start isn’t ideal, and the loss to Wyoming was bad. But I have zero doubt this man is the answer to make Texas Tech scary like the Mike Leach years.
Coaches Who Will Be Scary Very Soon
— Halloween is coming. Be very scared of ghosts, goblins, and these coaches.
1. Mario Cristobal, Miami
— With the way he recruits and the fertile recruiting ground he can own, Miami could be scary. He is still a year or so away, but the Canes could be national title contenders soon.
2. Mike Norvell, Florida State
— Why is Norvell behind Cristobal with such a head start on him? FSU is in great shape, but Miami scares me more with NIL potential and the way Cristobal recruits. But Norvell could be headed for a Bobby Bowden kind of run soon, so there’s that.
3. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
— Sark has the weapons; his team is loaded for the Big 12 this year, and he can recruit. The only issue is the move to the SEC.
4. Kalen DeBoer, Washington
— DeBoer is quietly building a power program in the Pacific Northwest a la Don James. Ok, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself a little, but Washington has the resources to be nasty in the Big Ten.
5. Mike Elko, Duke
— Maybe not at Duke, but what if he’s the next coach at Texas A&M? That could be scary.
Teams That Have Vaulted Into the CFP Discussion
— And finally, these teams are in the playoff discussion already, a couple we expected and three we certainly didn’t.
1. Texas
With a signature out-of-conference win, the Longhorns have given themselves a little cushion for the rest of the regular season. Quinn Ewers looks like a Heisman candidate, and they’re a clear cut above the rest of the Big XII.
2. Colorado
The caveat here is that the Buffaloes have beaten a team that lacks any sort of defense (TCU) and another that entirely lacks an offense (Nebraska). Either way, Deion Sanders has Colorado skyrocketing in both the national conversation and in the polls. But he’s got to be wary of a Pac-12 that boasts more top-25 teams than any other conference.
3. Florida State
A lot of people had the Seminoles as a contender before the season began, but they’ve solidified their place as a frontrunner early in the season with a strong victory over LSU and the fall of Clemson. Mike Norvell deserves a lot of credit for the way that he’s rebuilt this program, especially the pass catchers on the team. Keon Coleman has paid immediate dividends.
4. Ole Miss
With all of the chaos in the SEC West, Lane Kiffin has a chance to put the Rebels in a great spot. They survived a tricky road game at Tulane, and their offense is more in-sync than anyone else in the division.
5. Miami
The ‘Canes made a statement this weekend in their victory over Texas A&M and looked primed to make noise in the surprisingly deep ACC. Miami looks much more put together in 2023, and the offense is thriving under new coordinator Shannon Dawson.
