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Breaking down 2018 college football coaching carousel

By Andrew Hammond

EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 1: Head coach Chip Kelly of the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter against the Arkansas State Red Wolves on September 1, 2012 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 1: Head coach Chip Kelly of the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter against the Arkansas State Red Wolves on September 1, 2012 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images) /
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GAINESVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 26: Josh Grady #12 of the Florida Gators takes the field during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 26: Josh Grady #12 of the Florida Gators takes the field during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Current Openings (Part 1)

Florida

What Florida needs most from their new coach, whoever that may be is a culture change. Of all the off-field issues that seemed to go away with the arrival of Jim McElwain seemed to just lay dormant and it all came out before the season. So, even with the culture change is it possible to win at Florida?

The Gators were the two-time defending champions and had solid recruiting classes during McElwain’s brief run at Florida rising from the mid-twenties to being ranked ninth in 2017. This is a program that needs discipline and a strong leader to steer the ship in the right direction.

After brief overtures to Scott Frost and Chip Kelly, it seems that the school is moving from both of them and looking at Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen. As some of you may know, Mullen was the offensive coordinator at Florida during the Urban Meyer years and had much success with the offense in Gainesville. He’s still a popular man in Gator land so making Florida a contender for the SEC East in 2018 should be a very likely thing that you will see floating around.

Arkansas

After firing Bret Bielema in the immediate aftermath of their season-ending loss to Missouri, the Razorbacks have begun to look at Auburn coach Gus Malzhan as a possible replacement but with his success at Auburn, that ship may have sailed with Auburn’s run to the SEC title game. Like Florida, what will Arkansas do if they can’t land option number one? Bruce Feldman has reported that the school may pursue Washington State head coach Mike Leach.

Arizona State

In what came as a surprise to me along with many other college football writers around the country, the Sun Devils fired their head coach after seemingly finding a way to fight his way off the hot seat. With a win against Washington, a victory over Arizona and a bowl bid you might’ve thought that we’d see Graham back in 2018 but that was not the case.

This story will have updates as soon as they come in.

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