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College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

5 Coaches Who Have the Best Shot at Winning their 1st National Title

Sarkisian, Freeman lead pack of those looking for their first career championship

Patrick Weider
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Sep. 9
Sep. 9

By Patrick Weider 

After Nick Saban retired and Jim Harbaugh left to go back to the NFL, there was a void of head coaches who had won national titles. Going into last year, Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney had both won two titles. Plus, Mack Brown of North Carolina had won a title while he was in Texas. Brown was forced out after the season, so we were down to two coaches who had won titles until Ohio State’s Ryan Day won the most recent title. In college football there is a group of talented head coaches who have not broken through yet. The question is: Who’s next? I have five names that have a good chance to win a title in the next few years. 

1) Steve Sarkisian – Texas 

Steve Sarkisian has turned Texas around and made them a playoff team and a program that is on the verge of a national title. He has elevated the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff for two straight years. In the Cotton Bowl, his team had the game tied 14-14 in the fourth quarter against eventual national champion Ohio State. He has upgraded the talent by both getting better players in recruiting and the transfer portal. In the last two years he has won 25 games, won the Big 12 Title, and played in the SEC Championship game. Next year he will have Arch Manning – expected to be one of the top quarterbacks in college football. Sarkisian should have a legit chance to win a national title as soon as this upcoming season. 

2) Marcus Freeman – Notre Dame

As soon as Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois last season, people were questioning if Marcus Freeman was a good enough coach to lead the Irish. Freeman went on to win 13 straight games and reached the national title game. He has done a great job of getting key transfer players like quarterback Riley Leonard from Duke. Notre Dame will probably never recruit Top 5 classes because of their high academic standards, but Freeman has found a way to maintain a higher level of success than previous head coach Brian Kelly. Freeman should be in the mix in the next few years to win a national title. 

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3) Dan Lanning – Oregon

Dan Lanning has done a nice job at Oregon in building a legit playoff team. This past season they went 13-0 and won the Big Ten in their first year in the conference. They eventually lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, but they had a great season. Lanning has gone 35-6 in three years at Oregon. He has recruited well and done a great job adding key players through the transfer portal. Adding quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the portal before last season was a great move. I will be surprised if he does not win a national title in the next five years. 

4) James Franklin – Penn State 

James Franklin has been good at Penn State, but he has struggled to get over the hump and win big games during his tenure. This past season he beat SMU and Boise State in the playoffs, but was a heavy favorite going into both games. Both were impressive wins for Franklin, and they showed progress for him and Penn State. Franklin has not beaten Ohio State since the 2016 season. If he wants to make a national title run this next season, beating the Buckeyes would be a positive first step. Franklin is bringing back a talented team and he should be able to be in the running to win the national title next year. 

5) Brian Kelly – LSU 

Brian Kelly has been a disappointing hire for three years at LSU. They have not been bad under his watch, but they have not had a great season yet. They have won 10, 10, and 9 games in his first three years. This year feels like a make-or-break season for Kelly. He brings back talented quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and landed a bunch of capable starters in the portal to help upgrade their roster. Kelly is on this list because he is a capable coach. He could win a national championship simply because the last three head coaches at LSU won it all. Kelly could be next on the list.

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