The college football season is upon us as teams prepare to take to the gridiron for yet another season of competition, traditions and intrigue.
As is customary with any new sports season, all eyes will be on the new guys on the sideline leading new programs across the spectrum of college football.
Which eight college coaches do we have a particular interest in this fall? Some are attempting comebacks, while others are fascinating risers who are taking on their first major gigs.
Let’s see who these fresh and familiar faces are among the coaching ranks.
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1
Deion Sanders, Colorado
Is there any new coach in college football this season who has this much attention than Deion Sanders?
After he rebuilt Jackson State, Sanders landed the Power Five conference job he was hoping for at Colorado and brought his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and two-way phenom Travis Hunter along with him from Mississippi.
While the NFL great might not necessarily contend for the Pac-12 this season, all eyes will be on how successful Sanders is in getting the Buffs to competitive status in his first year on the sideline.
Knowing how much of a signature personality “Coach Prime” is, Colorado will get plenty of attention this season even if the results aren’t as appealing.
2
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
After years of impressive results at Cincinnati, Luke Fickell finally got the promotion he wanted at Wisconsin. Will he be able to return to Badgers to national prominence?
While the Big Ten schedule will be a greater challenge than Fickell faced in his days with the Bearcats, the coach could solidify himself as one of the game’s top minds if he’s able to help Wisconsin be competitive one more.
3
Matt Rhule, Nebraska
One of the biggest draws for hiring someone like Rhule is to rebuild your program, and that’s what Nebraska is going to need him to do.
Rhule struggled in the NFL, but he wouldn’t be the first coach to head back to college and succeed because the pros just aren’t where they thrive.
The coach’s work at Temple and Baylor earned him plenty of praise, and he’ll quickly become a favorite for a promotion to a bigger gig if he can get the Cornhuskers back on track after years of lean.
4
Brian Newberry, Navy
Newberry makes this list because of the controversial firing of former coach Ken Niumatalolo. Can the former Midshipmen’s defensive coordinator build on the success Niumatalolo found while he held the program’s top job?
Well, winning the Army/Navy game would be a heck of a first step. While Navy never contends for national titles, Newberry has huge shoes to fill in Annapolis. The program expects wins after Niumatalolo’s tenure.
5
Alex Golesh, South Florida
Golesh earned the South Florida gig after helping lead the explosive 2022 Tennessee offense as its coordinator. Could he be the first branch in a Josh Heupel/Volunteers coaching tree?
It’ll be fascinating to see if Golseh can bring his former program’s offensive prowess to South Florida, which could be a larger hint as to how sustainable Heupel’s system at Tennessee will be. If it can translate programs, that’s a big deal for everyone involved.
6
Tom Herman, Florida Atlantic
After struggling to help Texas get back in the national spotlight, Herman will attempt to rehabilitate his career in the same way Lane Kiffin did by coaching at Florida Atlantic.
While FAU might just be Herman’s attempt to get back to a Power Five coaching job, it’ll be fascinating to see if he finds his groove with the Owls to the point where he gets comfortable and wants to stick around for a bit.
If he can’t win at FAU, it doesn’t bode well for his prospects for larger jobs.
7
Hugh Freeze, Auburn
Whether or not you think Hugh Freeze deserved another shot at a major coaching job after his Ole Miss scandal is perfectly valid, and his return should give all SEC fans just a little pause to consider the context. However, Auburn felt comfortable enough for Freeze to be the person to fix the Tigers after the Bryan Harsin debacle.
With Freeze’s offensive history and knack for getting the most out of his quarterbacks, it’s perfectly fine to be bullish on Auburn’s prospects. With the troubling baggage Freeze brings with him to the job, it might have a much shorter leash to win in the SEC than you might expect for a new hire.
8
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
Fresh off the Herm Edwards years, Arizona State turned to the 33-year-old Kenny Dillingham to lead the program. It might be the most sneaky good hire any team made in last year’s coaching cycle.
Dillingham worked wonders at Oregon last year on Dan Lanning’s staff, helping elevate Bo Nix into a 2023 preseason Heisman Trophy contender.
It’s a refreshing change of pace for the Sun Devils, who replace Edwards with a bright, young offensive mind with plenty of potential. Don’t sleep on Arizona State in the years to come. Dillingham might be the real deal.
