College football’s top 12 coaches with best chance at first national championship
Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn shakes hands with Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt after the game at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking the list of college football head coaches who have the best chance at winning their first national championship. Where does your favorite rank?
Urban Meyer won his third career national championship last season when he led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a win in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game as he moved one ring closer to active leader, Nick Saban, who has four rings.
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Regardless of the order you rank them, those two head coaches are recognized as the two best coaches in college football and as long as they’re patrolling the sidelines at Ohio State and Alabama, respectively, they’re going to be in the championship conversation.
But what about the coaches who have been stymied by those coaching legends or other notable active coaches with a ring like Les Miles, Steve Spurrier, Jimbo Fisher and Bob Stoops?
College football is loaded with established winners across the country and impressive young coaches just starting their ascent, but thus far have been shutout when it comes to reaching the pinnacle in the industry.
I have identified 12 head coaches who have the best chance at winning their first national title and ranked them according to who I think gets there first.
The list includes three coaches hail from the Big 12 and SEC, two from the Big Ten and Pac-12 and one apiece from the ACC and one Independent.
After reading through the list, please leave me your thoughts and opinions in the comments section or chime in on social media to continue the conversation.
Next: Jim Harbaugh